Joint Injections for Knee Osteoarthritis

Knee osteoarthritis results from a breakdown of the cartilage that covers and protects the bones. In the absence of this cartilage, the bones can become damaged leading to swelling, pain and stiffness. This painful and uncomfortable condition can initially be treated with painkillers or non-drug treatments like heat or ice. But when these fail to produce any favourable results, doctors may suggest joint injections. Cheshire is home to My Knee Doc, your trusted knee specialist and we can provide various joint injections for painful knees.

Corticosteroids

If you are using this injection for the first time, the doctor may first remove any extra fluid from your knees before giving the injection. These injections reduce inflammation and give you rapid relief within one or two days.

If you are a first time user, you may experience significant relief for your joint pain. But this relief is rarely a permanent solution and will usually last for 3 to 4 months. This type of joint injection should not be taken for more than two to three times in a year because that might damage the cartilage-producing cells in the knee.

Hyaluronic Acid

The fluid inside your knees has hyaluronic acid as one of its most important components. As a result of osteoarthritis, the hyaluronic acid levels can change. Injecting it into the knees as a supplement can be helpful in improving the supply of this important substance in your joints.

This injection is usually given when the more widely used methods like medication or steroids have failed to give comfort. This is also helpful for people who are allergic to certain painkillers.

The effects of Hyaluronic acid injections can last longer than steroids and are less harmful to the joint. This treatment is not widely available on the NHS.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

Injecting Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) is a, comparatively, new treatment method. Platelets are a kind of blood cell that has natural healing properties. This is a widely acclaimed treatment process for relieving tendon damage and other forms of injury.

But this is a new entrant for joint injections. For this, a sample of your blood is taken out. It is then processed to create an injectable fluid that contains a higher concentration of platelets. This is then injected into your knees.

The results of PRP injections for early arthritis and in younger patients who are developing symptoms of arthritis are have been very encouraging.

At My Knee Doc, we have a team of expert doctors who can give you comfort and relief to every kind of knee pain and discomfort.

Contact our joint injections Cheshire team for more information.

Call 0161 464 6399 now to make an appointment.