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Home » Services » Joint Preservation » Joint Injections
For patients presenting with joint pain due to arthritis, the first step is usually conservative treatment, which includes but is not limited to medication and physical therapy (or a home exercise program).
If conservative treatment is not successful, you will likely proceed to interventional methods, or joint injections. The most common joint injections both seek to alleviate pain and increase range of motion. They are:
Steroid injections (or corticosteroid injections) work to reduce swelling and inflammation in the joint. They are commonly used in the knee, hip, and shoulder to relieve pain and swelling, but can also be used to treat pain in other joints including the elbow, wrist, and ankle.
There are benefits and drawbacks to steroid injections, including:
Speak to your physician to find out if steroid injections may be a good option for you.
Hyaluronic acid is a natural lubricating component in the lining of your joints. However, as we age, our bodies produce this substance at a lower quantity and quality. In patients suffering from osteoarthritis, the hyaluronic acid thins even further, causing friction and pain as the joint operates.
Hyaluronic acid injections, also referred to as viscosupplementation, inject this substance back into the painful joint, coating and lubricating it to reduce friction and pain and increase range of motion.
Currently, the FDA has only approved viscosupplementation for use on the knee, but there is evidence to support its use in the hip and shoulder as well. These injections can be given safely if steroid injections have proven ineffective.
Fun Fact: Viscosupplementation is also referred to as “rooster comb injections” because many pharmaceutical companies extract hyaluronic acid from the cartilage of rooster combs. Synthetic hyaluronic acid can also be used for these injections.
Speak to your physician to find out if hyaluronic acid injections may be a good option for you.
In most cases, insurance plans will cover the approved use of steroid injections and viscosupplementation. However, every insurance company has its own standards and guidelines, so it is best to verify your individual coverage prior to scheduling your joint injection.
Mission Trail Medical Plaza
3327 Research Plaza, #215
San Antonio, TX 78235
Christus Santa Rosa NW, Tower I
2829 Babcock Rd., #700
San Antonio, TX 78229
PHYSICIANS: Stephen C. Drukker, M.D. , Emmanuel C. Nwelue, Jr., M.D. , Kevin L. Kirk, D.O., F.A.O.A. , W. Parker Abblitt, M.D. , Alan E. Hibberd, M.D. , Mickey S. Cho, M.D. , David T. Hughes, D.P.M. , G. Lane Naugher, M.D. , Jonathan S. Duncan, M.D. , Jessica F. Rutstein, D.P.M. , David R. Espinoza, M.D. , Stephen T. Gates, M.D. , Brandon J. Goff, D.O.
Resolute Retail Plaza
601 Creekside Crossing #106
New Braunfels, TX 78130
The Orthopaedic Institute
400 Concord Plaza Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78216
PHYSICIANS: Randall C. Marx, M.D. , Casey D. Taber, M.D. , Charles E. Bryant, M.D. , Alexander S. Rowland, M.D. , Frank J. Garcia, M.D. , Eduardo Moreno, M.D. , Stephen T. Gates, M.D. , Lauren E. Karbach, M.D. , Christian A. Woodbury, M.D. , S. Josh Bell, M.D. , B. Christian Balldin, M.D. , Matthew C. Swann, M.D. , Ronald W. Connor, M.D. , Robert U. Hartzler, M.D., M.S. , Justin Robbins, M.D. , David R. Espinoza, M.D. , Eloy Ochoa, Jr., M.D. , Anthony Montanez, M.D. , G. Lane Naugher, M.D. , Ephraim K. Brenman, D.O., R.M.S.K.
Ridgewood Orthopaedic Center
19138 US-281 N
San Antonio, TX 78258
PHYSICIANS: B. Christian Balldin, M.D. , David T. Hughes, D.P.M. , Bryan W. Kaiser, M.D. , Richard L. Ursone, M.D. , Scott R. Seidel, D.C. , Alexander S. Rowland, M.D. , Brad S. Tolin, M.D. , G. Lane Naugher, M.D. , M. Brandon Dobson, M.D. , Lauren E. Karbach, M.D. , Casey D. Taber, M.D. , Jonathan S. Duncan, M.D. , S. Josh Bell, M.D. , Joseph Poku, M.D. , Alan E. Hibberd, M.D. , Ephraim K. Brenman, D.O., R.M.S.K. , Stephen C. Drukker, M.D. , David R. Espinoza, M.D. , Matthew C. Swann, M.D. , Charles E. Bryant, M.D. , Brandon J. Goff, D.O. , Justin Robbins, M.D. , Sergio Viroslav, M.D. , Jessica F. Rutstein, D.P.M. , W. Parker Abblitt, M.D. , Robert U. Hartzler, M.D., M.S. , Frank J. Garcia, M.D. , Ronald W. Connor, M.D. , Eloy Ochoa, Jr., M.D. , Randall C. Marx, M.D.
Schertz Parkway Professional Plaza
5000 Schertz Parkway, #600
Schertz, TX 78154
Westover Hills Medical Plaza I
11212 State Hwy 151, #150
San Antonio, TX 78251
PHYSICIANS: S. Josh Bell, M.D. , Kevin L. Kirk, D.O., F.A.O.A. , Anthony Montanez, M.D. , Nicholas Nira, D.C. , Brandon J. Goff, D.O. , Frank J. Garcia, M.D. , Casey D. Taber, M.D. , Eloy Ochoa, Jr., M.D. , G. Lane Naugher, M.D. , Jonathan S. Duncan, M.D. , Christian A. Woodbury, M.D. , Stephen T. Gates, M.D.
Grayson Heights
1422 East Grayson St, #102
San Antonio, TX 78208
Quarry Area
The Orthopaedic Institute
400 Concord Plaza Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78216
Ridgewood Orthopaedic Center
Ridgewood Orthopaedic Center
19138 US-281 N.
San Antonio, TX 78258
Schertz
Schertz Parkway Professional Plaza
5000 Schertz Parkway, #600
Schertz, TX 78154
Medical Center
Christus Santa Rosa NW, Tower I
2829 Babcock Rd., #700
San Antonio, TX 78229
Westover Hills
Westover Hills Medical Plaza I
11212 State Hwy 151, #150
San Antonio, TX 78251
WorkSmart at Grayson Heights
Grayson Heights
1422 East Grayson St, #102
San Antonio, TX 78208
Brooks City Base
Mission Trail Medical Plaza
3327 Research Plaza, #404
San Antonio, TX 78235
New Braunfels
Resolute Retail Plaza
601 Creekside Crossing #106
New Braunfels, TX 78130