What Type of Pain Injection Do I Need?
Whether your pain is caused by a work injury, sports injury, car accident or another cause, pain can affect every area of your life, from your mental state to your ability to work or even enjoy personal activities.
Injections are less invasive than surgery, and they offer promising results. These injection treatment options are ones you may want to consider:
- PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections: In this type of injection, your own cells are used to treat serious musculoskeletal injuries. Blood is taken from the patient, and white blood cells and platelets are extracted from the blood using a centrifuge. Some of the extracted and “activated” platelets are then injected into a surgery site. This allows for the enhanced growth of reparative cells and faster healing, which, in turn, helps relieve the pain. Since the cells come from your own body, there is a reduced risk of the body rejecting them.
- Cortisone injections: These injections help reduce inflammation and thus pain at the injection site. Usually, the syringe used contains a combination of corticosteroid and local anesthetic. Corticosteroid is a steroid hormone that has been proven to control inflammation and pain. Cortisone injections are especially recommended for arthritis, though they are also commonly used for other types of pain, including back pain and arthritis.
- Other injections: Some doctors recommend steroid injections or even at-home injections to help manage a variety of pain conditions.
How Do I Know Which Pain Injection Is Best For Me?
The type of injection you need and whether you even have to face a needle at all depends on many factors, including your medical history and the type of injury or pain you’re experiencing, as well as its severity. Your goals with managing your pain will also be considered.
When you discuss your pain with a doctor or review your options for injections to manage your pain, your doctor may ask about allergies, previous treatments you have tried and your overall health. After a thorough review, a medical professional can help determine which injection may be right for you. Or, your healthcare professional may recommend other options.
Every person is different, and at Alliance Orthopedics, we understand that. We know that while injectables relieve pain for some patients, it doesn’t work for others. It’s important to review each patient’s needs to offer a personalized treatment plan. After all, our goal is to help you get rid of your pain quickly and effectively.
If you’re suffering from pain in New Jersey, our three convenient locations and our team of experienced professionals are here to help. We’ve been able to make a difference in the lives of many patients suffering from pain in the back, neck, shoulders, joints and more. We have even been able to help some patients who have tried multiple forms of pain management without success. If you’re in pain, you shouldn’t have to live with it. Make an appointment with Alliance Orthopedics today.