Knee Joint Injection
What Is A Knee Joint Injection?
A knee joint injection is used to treat arthritic or swollen knee joints by relieving a build up of fluid in the joint, then administering a steroid and anesthetic mixture through injection.
What does the procedure look like?
The patient is laid on the table with their knee extended, or bent to a 90-degree angle. The physician then examines the knee, determining the amount of joint fluid present and for any overlying cellulitis or concurrent conditions in the area. The physician marks the area with a pen to determine the injection site. After the skin is sterilized the physician can administer the injection. The patient may be given lidocaine to avoid discomfort, but often just stretching the skin at the site of the injection should be sufficient. Once the needle has been inserted, an aspiration is performed, which relieves fluid from the aggravated knee. Once the syringe has filled with fluid, it can be disconnected and the fluid sent for studies. The physician then attaches a syringe filled with a corticosteroid medication to the needle. After the medication is administered, the needle and syringe are removed. The knee is then cleaned and the injection site is bandaged. The patient should avoid any strenuous activity while the anesthetic is still present in the knee. Some cases may need multiple procedures or aspirations, and also require additional anti-inflammatory mediation. After six weeks, the physician may consider another round of steroid-anesthetic injection. However, these injections should not occur more than three times a year.
What is knee pain?
Knee Pain could be due to an injury like torn cartilage or ruptured ligament. In other cases, it could be a symptom of medical conditions like infection, gout, and arthritis. Depending on the underlying cause, the severity and location of the knee pain varies, as well as the accompanying symptom which may include the following: swelling and stiffness, weakness, instability, redness, warm to the touch, and inability to straighten the knees.
What is Knee Arthritis?
Arthritis is caused by wear and tear on the cartilage of the knee, causing the joints to rub against each other. This rubbing results in knee pain. The most common form of arthritis is osteoarthritis which occurs in the knee. The pain usually increases when you are active, or when moving the knees. Movement can also produce a crackling or creaking sound. Other symptoms of knee arthritis include swelling, stiffness, warmth in the joint, and limited mobility.
What is Joint Pain?
The joints may be damaged due to an injury, overuse or a health condition. The joints in the hips, legs, knees or feet are most at risk. Depending on the underlying cause and the extent of damage, the joint pain may also come with other symptoms such as swelling, redness, tenderness, loss of range of motion, stiffness, weakness, and locking of the joint.