Knee OA Management: When to Consider Joint Injection Therapy

Arthritis is a common condition, and osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form. OA develops because of wear-and-tear on your joints. It’s not surprising, then, that it usually affects joints that get a lot of use and experience a lot of strain, like your knees. 

Your knees must continually work to keep you mobile while bearing the weight of your body and absorbing the shock of your steps. All of that can take a toll on these joints, leading to OA.

If you have stiff, painful knees, come see Dr. Jonathan Carlson at Hawai’i Pain & Spine on the Windward side of O’ahu in Kailua, Hawai’i. 

As an expert in knee pain, Dr. Carlson can help you determine if it’s arthritis, and more specifically, osteoarthritis. If it is, he explores treatment options with you. 

For a lot of people, that includes joint injection therapy. 

Why joint injection therapy is so helpful with OA

You have options for alleviating osteoarthritis pain in one or both knees. Some of them — like weight loss or physical therapy — are difficult to maintain. You don’t necessarily want to become reliant on oral pain medications you have to take daily, though. 

Knee joint injection therapy provides a powerful alternative. It allows Dr. Carlson to provide treatment in a targeted way, rather than with something systemic like oral pain medications. With image guidance technology, he can be ultra-precise about applying the injection. 

Beyond that, the treatment results can help you find relief for weeks or months. 

There’s no recovery time with this form of care, either. You can receive your injection in a few minutes and continue with your day.

If you’re looking for a convenient way to meaningfully reduce your OA-related knee pain, ask Dr. Carlson about joint injections. 

Getting a personalized knee osteoarthritis care plan

Here at our office, Dr. Carlson tailors a treatment plan to you and your knee(s). Let’s take a closer look at two of the joint injection therapies he might recommend for you:

Steroid injections

Arthritis, including OA, is characterized by inflammation. Injecting a steroid into the affected joint targets that inflammation. That’s because steroids work to fight inflammation. 

Plus, Dr. Carlson usually combines the steroid with a local anesthetic. That means you should get near-immediate relief from your knee pain. The anesthetic wears off, but the steroid should fight the inflammation for months. 

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)

Platelet-rich plasma uses a small sample of your blood to deliver growth factors into your tissue. Injecting PRP delivers these natural resources so your body can better do its work of healing the area. 

Studies show PRP specifically helps with knee osteoarthritis. 

Dr. Carlson offers other forms of joint injection therapy, including stem cell-based treatment and joint fluid replacement (viscosupplementation). 

To see which option might be right for you, call our office today to schedule your appointment with Dr. Carlson.