What Is The Cost Of Knee Pain Injections? Input From A Pain Doctor

A knee pain injection cost that is provided by Board Certified pain management physicians is an investment in health. Struggling with knee pain can be detrimental if the source of the pain is not adequately diagnosed and treated.

Fortunately, there are successful treatment options available that use the latest techniques in regenerative medicine to combat knee pain. These treatments avoid unnecessary knee replacement surgery and long-term narcotic use to maximise health and get you back to where you want to be! The injections can reduce inflammation and increase mobility in the knee joint via injections into the knee.  Recovery times are a lot faster than surgery and narcotics are kept to a minimum. Let’s take a look at the latest minimally-invasive knee pain injections.

Hyaluronic Acid Injections/Viscosupplementation

Hyaluronic acid is produced naturally in the body and is responsible for lubricating joints, such as the knee joint. It makes sure the joint maintains the slippery surface needed to allow cartilage-covered bones to glide against one another. Hyaluronic acid helps to reduce friction in the joints and also cushions the joints by acting as a shock absorber in case of an impact or injury.

If you have knee pain, hyaluronic acid injections into the knee can provide successful and immediate pain relief. Your pain doctor will inject hyaluronic acid to supplement the existing lubrication in the knee joint, thereby increasing joint fluidity and movement. In cases of knee osteoarthritis, the knee joint may not produce enough hyaluronic acid. As a result, hyaluronic acid injections are an excellent way to improve joint movement and reduce pain and inflammation.

During this procedure, your pain doctor will remove a small amount of hyaluronic acid from the knee joint. This creates more space for the fresh hyaluronic acid to be injected. Your pain doctor will then ask you to relax your knee joint and may administer a local anesthetic to increase comfort levels. Using a syringe, your doctor will then inject hyaluronic acid directly into the knee joint to target the area directly. Sometimes, pain doctors may use imaging equipment such as X-ray or ultrasound for more direct guidance to the area of pain.

Hyaluronic acid injections are a great way to increase knee joint comfort and alleviate pain. Only a few injections are required, recovery is quick, and you may feel an immediate improvement in your condition. In particular, these injections are highly effective for individuals who have knee osteoarthritis.

Platelet Rich Plasma PRP

A Platelet Rich Plasma PRP injection is an excellent treatment for osteoarthritis and tendonitis. It can also be used to treat sports injuries and tendinosis. It works on the principle that the growth factors in your own blood can be injected directly into an area of pain to stimulate the development of healthy, new cells.

Your pain doctor will take a small amount of blood from you to retrieve the growth factors in your blood. They will then inject this directly into your knee joint to promote the growth of new, healthy tissue in the knee. Your pain doctor will also give you a local anesthetic to numb the area before the procedure so that you feel more comfortable.

Platelet Rich Plasma is a relatively new area of pain medicine and is believed to be a healthy treatment choice as it uses your own body’s healing properties.  It is an excellent way to increase healthy tissue growth in the knee joint without long-term pain medication or invasive surgical options.

How Much Do Knee Injections Cost?

Knee pain injections cost around $1500 in the United States and 2-3 injections may be required depending on the nature of the knee pain. However, it is important to consider the benefits of choosing conservative treatments such as injections against the long-term recovery rates and risks of knee surgery and rehabilitation.

Conservative treatments offer quicker recovery periods, avoid over-reliance on narcotics and can be tailored around your lifestyle. Speaking to a qualified pain management physician will help you to decide the best option based on your current circumstances and provides flexibility in treatment choices.

Why Do I Have Knee Pain?

Now that we have discussed the best treatment options for knee pain, let’s take a look at potential causes. Knee pain is common and can develop as a result of an injury, a genetic predisposition, or even due to environmental factors. If left untreated, knee pain can lead to further health complications. That’s why it is important to consider visiting a pain management physician. Below are some of the most common reasons people have knee pain:

• Bursitis – when your joints become painful, tender and swollen.
• Dislocated knee cap – the knee cap changes shape after a trauma or sudden movement.
• Knee effusion – when excess fluid builds-up in the knee joint. This can be caused by arthritis, injury, or a condition called prepatellar bursitis.
• Tendonitis – when the tendon swells up and becomes tender and painful after a tendon injury.
• Sprains and strains – when muscles and ligaments are stretched too much.
• Osteoarthritis – the most common arthritis and usually occurs with age.

As we can see, there are lots of reasons knee pain can develop. A pain physician is an expert at assessing and diagnosing knee pain conditions. They will ask questions, perform an examination and may give you an X-ray or ultrasound scan to see the problem area. Using this information, they will work with you to establish the best treatment options that suit your lifestyle and get you back to full health.

Should I See A Pain Doctor?

A pain doctor is an interventional pain and spine specialist who has undergone rigorous training to expertly diagnose and treat functional pain. This is usually in the spine, bone or joints of the body. A pain doctor believes in the importance of listening to a patient and establishing conversative treatment options that promote healing in the body using minimally-invasive techniques.

Due to the ambiguous nature of knee pain, it is important you seek medical advice from a pain management physician. Many orthopedic surgeons are quick to suggest surgery, but this is not always necessary or the best treatment option. Pain physicians are qualified experts in the field of pain medicine who accurately assess and diagnose knee pain. They have access to the latest treatments in regenerative medicine and provide high levels of patient care.

At the VIP Medical Group, minimally-invasive procedures for maximizing health is at the heart of what we do. With Board Certified world-class pain doctors, access to the latest treatments and state-of-the-art facilities, the VIP Medical Group is a Center of Excellence for patient care and outcomes.