Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Kailash KothariMD Anesthesiology, Pain Medicine, FIAPM (Pain Medicine) · 30+ years experience
- No surgery required for many conditions
- Same-day procedures
- International training & advanced techniques
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Who is Intra-articular Injections for?
- Joint osteoarthritis
- Inflammatory arthritis flares
- Frozen shoulder
- Bursitis
- Tendinopathy around joints
How Intra-articular Injections is performed
- The joint is evaluated clinically and with ultrasound
- Skin is cleaned and local anesthetic applied
- Under ultrasound guidance, a needle is placed into the joint
- Medication is injected (steroid, hyaluronic acid, or PRP)
- The needle is removed and a bandage applied
Before, during & after the procedure
Before: No special preparation needed in most cases. Inform your doctor about blood thinners or allergies.
During: Takes 10-15 minutes. Ultrasound guidance ensures accurate placement. Minimal discomfort.
After & recovery: Rest the joint for 24-48 hours. Ice for comfort. Improvement begins within days for steroid injections.
Benefits of Intra-articular Injections
- Rapid pain relief
- Precise delivery under ultrasound guidance
- Multiple medication options (steroid, hyaluronic acid, PRP)
- Quick procedure
- Minimal downtime
Risks & possible side effects
- Temporary pain flare
- Infection (very rare)
- Joint cartilage thinning with repeated steroid injections
- Allergic reaction (very rare)
Conditions treated with this procedure
Frequently asked questions about Intra-articular Injections
Options include corticosteroids (for rapid anti-inflammatory relief), hyaluronic acid (for joint lubrication), and PRP (for regenerative healing). The choice depends on your specific condition and treatment goals.
Steroid injections are generally limited to 3-4 per year per joint. Hyaluronic acid and PRP injections can be repeated more frequently as they do not carry the cartilage-thinning risk of steroids.
Ultrasound guidance ensures the medication reaches the exact target within the joint, improving accuracy and effectiveness compared to blind injections. At PCI, all joint injections are performed under ultrasound guidance.
Medical references
This page is informed by guidance from the following authoritative medical sources: