How Much Does A Knee Pain Injection Cost?
Knee pain injections are one of the best ways to target pain without long-term narcotics or unnecessary surgeries. It is no secret that the United States is currently facing an opioid epidemic. Recent medical research is now beginning to highlight the damage caused to our bodies by relying heavily on pain medication. In addition, knee replacement surgery and other invasive procedures carry risks such as blood clots, infection, and long rehabilitation periods.
In the United States, knee pain injections cost approximately $1500. To receive the full benefit from these injections, 2-3 injections may be required. However, this is dependent on the type of knee pain.
Due to the drawbacks of surgery and over-reliance on drugs, knee pain injections are an investment in health for both the immediate and long-term. Knee pain injections reduce inflammation, increase mobility and offer quick recovery periods through minimally-invasive procedures. The procedures promote the body’s natural healing processes and are some of the latest treatments available in regenerative medicine. Your pain doctor will also ensure your comfort by using local anesthetic around the injection site. Speaking to a qualified pain management physician will help you decide the best knee pain treatment based on your current circumstances.
Now that we have discussed the benefits of knee injections, let’s take a look at the leading knee pain treatments:
Hyaluronic Acid Injections/Viscosupplementation
Hyaluronic acid is produced naturally in the body and is responsible for lubricating joints, such as the knee joint. It helps to reduce friction in the joints by ensuring surfaces are slippery 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.
PRP works by having a small amount of blood taken from your body. Your pain doctor will extract growth factors from your blood. These growth factors will then be injected directly into the knee joint to encourage the growth of healthy tissue in the knee joint. Your pain doctor will also give you a local anesthetic to numb the area before the procedure so that you feel more comfortable.
PRP is a relatively new area of pain medicine and is an excellent way to increase healthy tissue growth in the knee joint without long-term pain medication or invasive surgical options.
Why Do I Have Knee Pain?
As we have looked at the best knee pain treatment options, let’s discuss why you might be suffering from knee pain. Knee pain can have many causes and a diagnosis is necessary to ensure that you’re receiving the correct treatment. Incorrectly treating a knee injury or not receiving a diagnosis can create more problems and lead to further pain. This is why it is recommended that you visit a qualified pain management physician who is trained to assess and diagnose functional problems in the body.
Let’s take a look at some potential causes of 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.
Due to the numerous potential causes of knee pain, visiting a pain doctor is highly recommended. A pain physician is an expert at assessing and diagnosing knee pain conditions. 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.
What Is The Best Doctor For Knee Pain?
Health is the greatest possession and without it, life can be very difficult and limiting. This is why you should never take risks, especially with knee health. The knee joint affects our ability to run, walk, drive, and maintain mobility. If left untreated, knee pain can get worse and cause further health complications.
If you are struggling with knee pain, the best doctor to see is a pain management physician. A pain management physician is a pain doctor 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 conservative treatment options that promote healing in the body using minimally-invasive techniques.
At the VIP Medical Group, we have a team of world class Ivy League doctors who are experts in the field of pain medicine. Our doctors are Board Certified and maintain high levels of successful patient outcomes. In addition to their rigorous training and experience, they genuinely care for their patients and believe in the importance of maximising health with the best conservative treatment options.