Injection Therapy / Conservative Treatments

Dr. Reddick uses a variety of specialty injection therapies as a conservative treatment for those in pain but who may not be ready for surgery. These therapies may include

Corticosteroid Injections

What is a Cortisone Injection?

Cortisone is a corticosteroid released by the adrenal gland in response to stress and is a potent anti-inflammatory agent.

Indications for Cortisone Injections

Cortisone injections are recommended in injuries that cause pain and inflammation, and those that don’t require surgical treatment.

Cortisone Injection Procedure

Artificial preparations containing cortisone are injected directly into the affected joint to relieve pain and reduce inflammation. The effects of cortisone injections may last for several weeks.

Risks and Complications of Cortisone Injections

Cortisone injections offer significant relief in pain and inflammation; however, they are associated with certain adverse effects. The most common side effect is a “cortisone flare”, a condition where cortisone crystallizes and causes severe pain for a brief period that lasts for a day or two. Cortisone flare can be minimized by applying ice to the injected area. Other adverse effects include whitening of the skin and infection at the injection site, a transient elevation in blood sugar if you are diabetic.

Hyaluronic Injections

A Hyaluronic acid injection (viscosupplement) is used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) in patients who have already been treated with pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen) and other treatments that did not work well. Hyaluronic acid is similar to a substance that occurs naturally in the joints. It works by acting like a lubricant and shock absorber in the joints and helps the joints to work properly. One treatment, which may consist of between one and three injections, usually offers symptom relief for four to five months, but sometimes up to one year. However, pain and stiffness will return. Repeated injections sometimes yield declining results, so it is important to keep your progress noted with Dr. Reddick and Jayme to determine a future treatment path.

Zilretta

ZILRETTA is the first and only FDA-approved treatment for osteoarthritis knee pain that uses extended-release microsphere technology, studied in multiple clinical trials on hundreds of patients. ZILRETTA microspheres slowly and continuously release medicine into your knee for about 3 months. The ZILRETTA microspheres are tiny particles that are so small, they cannot be seen by the naked eye. They contain a medicine called triamcinolone acetonide, which helps reduce pain and inflammation caused by osteoarthritis. Once injected directly into the knee, the microspheres stay put, slowly and continually releasing their medicine for about 3 months. The medication stays in the knee, where it is needed the most. The medication may not be for everyone, so you’ll want to discuss your medications and potential side effects with Dr. Reddick or Jayme before undergoing an injection.