Joint injections

You may be a candidate for a joint injection if you have joint pain or inflammation — in the knee, shoulder, hip, ankle, elbow, or wrist, for example — related to conditions such as osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, bursitis, or certain tendon problems, especially when first-line measures like oral medications or physical therapy have not brought enough relief.

During your consultation, the specialist reviews your medical history, the medications you take — including blood thinners — your allergies, and conditions such as diabetes, since corticosteroids can temporarily raise blood sugar. How many injections you have received before also matters, because repeating them too often in the same joint is not advisable. Depending on your case, the specialists at Healthcare by the Sea will help you decide whether an injection is a good option for you.

Joint injections are usually performed in an office or procedure room. The skin over the joint is cleaned with antiseptic and, in many cases, numbed with a local anesthetic spray or injection to make the procedure more comfortable.

The doctor guides a thin needle into the joint — using ultrasound guidance when helpful for added precision — and, if there is excess fluid, may draw it out first to relieve pressure. The medication is then delivered inside the joint and the needle is removed, with a small bandage placed over the site. The whole procedure usually takes just a few minutes.

Afterward, you stay for a short observation period while the team makes sure you are feeling well. As an outpatient procedure, most patients return home later the same day, with clear instructions and the attentive support of our team.

Everything starts with a consultation: the specialist reviews your medical history, examines the joint and, when needed, uses imaging studies to confirm the source of your pain and decide whether an injection is the right treatment.

Tell your doctor about all the medications and supplements you take; medicines that increase bleeding, such as blood thinners, should be paused only if your doctor instructs you to and with the timing they specify. Also let them know if you have a fever, an active infection, or broken skin near the joint, and if you live with diabetes, ask how to monitor your blood sugar in the days that follow. If you smoke, stopping is a good idea.

Although many people can go on with their day, it is a good idea to have someone come with you and drive you home, especially if a joint in your leg is being injected. Our team in Puerto Vallarta can help you coordinate these details — especially if you are traveling from another city or from the U.S. or Canada.

After the injection, it is normal to feel soreness, pressure, or mild pain at the injection site. Some people notice a temporary increase in pain during the first 24 to 48 hours — known as a post-injection flare — which usually settles with ice applied for short periods and the pain reliever your doctor recommends.

Plan on resting the joint for a day or two, avoiding strenuous activity or heavy loads on it as instructed. Relief may be noticeable within days, and how long it lasts varies from person to person: in many cases it holds for weeks or months. Your doctor will explain how to continue with the rest of your plan — physical therapy, for example — and how often it would be prudent to repeat the injection if it is ever needed again.

Go to the emergency room right away if you develop a high fever, pain that gets worse instead of better, increasing redness, warmth, or swelling in the joint, or fluid leaking from the injection site, and notify the doctor who performed your procedure as soon as possible.

Medical reference source: Mayo Clinic.