What type of injections can be used to treat my pain?
There are broad categories of injections such as potent anti-inflammatories (steroids), gel Injections (hyaluronic acid), and biological (growth factors and/or stem cells from your own body). Most of these injections are comprised of natural constituents of your body. Steroid injections utilize cortisol, a hormone in the body that reduces inflammation for pain relief. A lubricant injection involves hyaluronic acid. This is one of the main molecules that forms cartilage (the coating of the bone within the joint). Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is an injection derived from your own blood that has been centrifuged (blood is spin down in a special machine) to obtain platelets with proteins that can aid in healing. Finally, stem cell treatments include a procedure known as bone marrow concentrate (BMC or BMAC): a sample of your own marrow that undergoes the same process as PRP to obtain not only important proteins for healing (also known as growth factors) but also a small amount of stem cells, which continued to be investigated for their ability to regenerate or regrow cartilage.
Types of Injections
- Corticosteroid Injections
- Gel Injections (Hyaluronic Acid)
- Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
- Stem Cell Treatment
