INJECTIONS

Orthopaedic Injections

Orthopaedic injections deliver medication to a specific area of the body to assist in reducing or eliminating pain caused by inflammation. Injections may not completely eliminate all severe orthopaedic pain symptoms, be it immediately or permanently, but they can serve to significantly aid in pain reduction and allow increased comfort and function with activities of daily living.

Orthopaedic injections are often a first step to treat patients without surgery, helping to eliminate pain caused by inflammation and aid in the healing process.

The goal of orthopaedic injection therapy is to provide the patient with enough pain relief from orthopaedic problems such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or sports injury to help transition from inactivity to physical therapy. Our orthopaedic specialists utilize injections to help increase a patient’s mobility and break the pain cycle that often persists after an injury. 

Anti-inflammatory injections can also serve as a diagnostic tool by helping to localize the source of the symptoms. We also have the ability to perform ultrasound-guided injections for accuracy.

Types of orthopaedic injections

  • Anti-inflammatory injections Cortisone or steroid shots are injections that help to relieve pain and inflammation in a small area in the body, such as a specific joint or tendon. This type of injection offers quick relief for inflammation and is most commonly used in the wrist, spine, shoulder, knee, hip, elbow or ankle.
  • Viscosupplementation injections – Viscosupplementation shots contain hyaluronic acid, a lubricating gel-like fluid. The injection goes directly into the joint, decreasing friction during movement and reducing pain associated with osteoarthritis while improving the range of motion of the joint.
  • Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections – PRP therapy uses injections of a patient’s own platelets to accelerate the healing of injured joints, tendons and soft tissues. Specific conditions that can be treated with PRP include:
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Tendonitis/chronic tendon injuries
    • Back and spine conditions
    • Nerve damage and injury
    • Ligament and muscle injuries
    • Non-healing wounds
  • Stem cell injections – At the forefront of non-surgical orthopaedic treatments, stem cell injections use a patient’s own stem cells to treat osteoarthritis and soft tissue injuries. Regenerative stem cells are harvested from a patient’s bone marrow in the pelvis or hip bone. These cells can help rebuild soft tissue, cartilage and bone, making them an excellent resource for speeding up the healing process and improving overall function.

Non-Surgical Orthopaedic Treatment

At Cary Orthopaedics, our sports medicine and rehabilitation physicians are bone and joint experts who strive to decrease pain and enhance performance. Injection therapy is one aspect of our integrated whole-body approach to orthopaedic care. We focus on your quality of life to prevent, identify and treat any orthopaedic condition that may cause temporary or long-term impairment. From complicated multiple traumas to injury prevention for athletes, we will develop a comprehensive program tailored for your condition and to meet your goals.

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