When to Consider Injections for Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative condition that develops because of wear and tear on your joints. The bad news is that researchers haven’t yet found a way to reverse the damage OA causes. But there is good news, too.

The right treatment(s) can slow the progression of your osteoarthritis and make it less uncomfortable — or even painless — for you. More good news: you have lots of options you can explore. 

We can help. Angel J. Garcia, MD, and our team offer dedicated osteoarthritis management at the El Paso Center for Family & Sports Medicine. We come alongside you to learn about your symptoms and your lifestyle, then personalize a treatment plan designed to help you and your joints. 

Your treatment plan might include physical therapy or oral medication to address the joint inflammation contributing to your pain. Dr. Garcia may also recommend targeted injections.

Understanding injections for osteoarthritis

You shouldn’t leap to injections right after you get diagnosed with OA. But if you’ve been trying other osteoarthritis treatments for a few months and you’re still in pain, it’s time to talk to Dr. Garcia.

Joint injections work using a corticosteroid. This is a type of steroid hormone that directly fights inflammation.

That makes it particularly effective for OA because the inflammation is part of what causes your pain and progresses the degeneration in your joints. By injecting the corticosteroid into the space between your bones, Dr. Garcia can target that inflammation. 

Joint injections don’t work for everyone. If your joint responds to the treatment, you should get relief within a few days, with full results by the end of the week. The relief doesn’t last forever, but it can help for up to a few months. 

Too many injections can damage your joints. As a result, Dr. Garcia generally limits patients to three or four a year. 

Creating the right OA management plan for you

Injections can bring you meaningful relief from your joint pain, but only temporarily. To get more comfortable joints long-term, Dr. Garcia always pairs these injections with other treatments. 

That might mean physical therapy, which is more than just stretching and strengthening exercises. To support your affected joint(s), Dr. Garcia might include massage, electrical nerve stimulation, or ultrasound therapy to reduce inflammation. Or he might suggest occupational therapy if your OA makes it painful for you to work. 

The best osteoarthritis treatment plans also include lifestyle changes, which help slow joint degeneration. Here, Dr. Garcia generally recommends:

• Regular exercise to strengthen the soft tissues that support your joints
• Reaching or maintaining a healthy weight to avoid excess joint strain
• Eating a healthy diet to limit inflammation in your body

He can also help you apply noninvasive pain relief options, such as hot and cold therapy you use at home, as well as orthotics and braces. 

The big takeaway here: if you’re not getting relief from your other OA treatments, talk to Dr. Garcia about injections. He can help you explore how they would fit into your osteoarthritis treatment plan. Contact our office or schedule an appointment online.