Joint Injections for Arthritis Care Q&A

Arthritis is a condition you can manage yourself to some extent, but you’ll still want to see a professional about it. If you’ve tried conservative therapy (such as over-the-counter pain relievers) that hasn’t worked for you, then it might be time to see a doctor. Also, sudden and excessive pain and swelling (and possibly fever) are cause for concern, especially for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as these symptoms could be signs of infection. Additionally, if your pain doesn’t improve with rest, or if you have arthritis pain along with other conditions, like stomach ulcers or GERD, then you’ll want to see a doctor about medications.

As a chronic condition, arthritis should be treated with the assistance of a professional, so if you haven’t found one yet to help you with your arthritis, seek a professional out.

The most common cause of joint pain is arthritis, and the most common type of arthritis, osteoarthritis, can be treated by a primary care doctor. A particular kind of primary care doctor known as an internist is especially qualified to help elderly people with chronic conditions like arthritis. This kind of professional can perform X-rays and provide anti-inflammatory pain medications, joint injections, and other treatments.

Some patients might benefit from seeing another professional too, like an orthopedist or a rheumatologist. However, many patients just don’t need to see one of these other professionals, as a primary care doctor/internist is often fully capable of treating arthritis. If necessary, a primary care doctor/internist can provide a patient with a referral to see one of these other specialists.

Joint injections can work especially well for many patients. Corticosteroid injections are the first line of defense against symptoms of osteoarthritis and other joint pain in the shoulders, knees, or hips of patients, and they typically offer relief for two to three months. For many other patients, hyaluronic acid injections can work, and they’re usually tried when corticosteroid injections don’t work. Hyaluronic acid injections last for four to five months, and sometimes even a year. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections can be effective in treating osteoarthritis pain and can promote healing too. Placental tissue matrix (PTM) injections may be another option for some patients.

There’s a very good chance that a joint injection will work well to reduce or even eliminate your joint pain for many months. Also, injections can be complementary to weight loss and various therapies, like physical therapy and bracing. An internist is very capable of providing these treatments and all the other support you’ll need.

Yes, we do! Dr. Nassar MD is your local internist in Redlands. He can help adults and senior patients with arthritis or other chronic conditions. Joint injections, medications, and therapies are among the treatments he provides at his clinic, and if you would like to explore these options further, he would be happy to speak with you about them. Call the office of Dr. Nassar MD today. You can book a simple consultation with the doctor to learn everything he knows about arthritis and its treatments. Visit our clinic today located at 255 Terracina Blvd Suite 105 Redlands, CA 92373. We serve patients from Redlands CA, Loma Linda CA, Mentone CA, Highland CA, Moonlight Rim CA, Grand Terrace CA, El Casco CA, Greenspot CA, and surrounding areas.