Intra-articular Hip Injection
The hip joint is primarily designed to function as a load-bearing joint. Constant sitting, trauma, and other activities that put pressure on the joint can cause hip pain.
Inflammation of the joint commonly causes acute pain in the area. As the hip joint is essential in many movements, such discomfort would have a significant impact on the quality of life of an individual.
What is an intra-articular hip injection?
Substances such as steroids, local anesthetics, or a combination of both are used in intra-articular hip injections. Synthetic steroids are substances that mimic the effects of steroid hormones, particularly cortisol, that are found naturally in the body.
Steroids decrease inflammation in the tissue, which in turn reduces the pain in the affected joint. Unfortunately, it may take a while before the anti-inflammatory effects of the steroid are seen, so the pain may persist for a couple of days.
How is an intra-articular hip Injection performed?
You will be put under local anesthetic while you’re sitting upright or lying on your chest to minimize pain and discomfort. Your doctor will use ultrasound technology to make sure the needle is placed properly. Once the needle is properly placed, the steroid medication is slowly administered.
What should you expect after the procedure?
After the procedure, driving would be impossible to do, and any exercise that would involve the affected joint is not advised for the next 24 hours. Any pain medication that has been prescribed previously would still be required until the anti-inflammatory properties of the medicine take effect. The duration and degree of pain relief are different from person to person, so multiple doses may be given until you feel completely pain-free.
Is an intra-articular hip Injection right for you?
If you have hip osteoarthritis, are already experiencing stiffness in your hips, and your pain medications don’t seem to work as well as they used to, then an intra-articular hip injection may be beneficial for you.
An intra-articular hip injection in Torrance is one of your options to alleviate your pain. With our expert pain management doctor at the Torrance Pain Institute, we are confident that we would be able to provide the best treatment for you.