Non-surgical treatments for arthritis include injections into the painful joint. The two most common types of injections for arthritis are steroid injections and hyaluronic acid injections (viscosupplementation). It is important to note that joint injections are intended to reduce pain symptoms from arthritis such that patients can participate in physical therapy exercise and everyday activities in order to stretch and strengthen the arthritic joint.
Platelet rich plasma (PRP) injections are derived from a sample of the patient’s own blood. These injections contain plasma with higher concentration platelets than what is normally found in blood. PRP injections attempt to take advantage of the blood’s natural healing properties to repair damaged cartilage, tendons, ligaments, muscles, or even bone.
What is a platelet-rich plasma injection? This article offers an in-depth explanation of how PRP injection is made, and how it can be used to treat arthritis.
Although stem cell therapy is not a standard practice, many doctors are using the procedure to treat arthritis in the knee and other joints.
Because stem cells can divide and duplicate themselves, and develop into different types of cells, researchers are interested in using them to treat conditions like arthritis.
Cortisone is a man-made version of the hormone cortisol. Cortisone comes in oral, injectable, and topical forms to treat inflammation caused by autoimmune diseases, arthritis, skin conditions, and more.
Hyaluronic acid is a gel-like substance that is present in the tissues of the joints, skin, and eyes. Hyaluronic acid can also be commercially produced from bacteria and animal tissues for medical purposes.
While cortisone shots can ease joint inflammation and arthritis pain, repeated injections can damage soft tissue. Understand the limits of cortisone and how it fits into a larger treatment plan.
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