Infiltration consists of giving an injection with corticoid medications, anesthetics or hyaluronic acid to treat injuries, inflammation or reduce pain. This procedure is done, in most cases, in joints such as knee, spine, hip, shoulder or foot, although it can also be done in muscles or tendons.
The purpose of infiltration is to treat the disease where the injury or inflammation occurs, especially in the most severe cases or when there has been no improvement with other pill or topical treatments, being widely used in the treatment of arthrosis, in addition to also helping to recover tendonitis., epicondylitis or bruises that happen due to sports practices, for example.
Whoever infiltrates the joints is the doctor.
What is it for
Although they can be done in different parts of the body, such as muscles and tendons, infiltrations within the joints are the most common. They can be made with different types of medications, which are chosen by the doctor according to the main objective, which can be to reduce pain, decrease inflammation or increase the amount of synovial fluid, which is a liquid that acts as a kind of lubricant inside the joints.
Thus, in addition to relieving pain, infiltrations are useful to combat the progression of joint wear, reduce swelling and improve joint functionality, allowing for a better quality of life.
Some medications that can be used for infiltrations are:
1. Anesthetics
Anesthetics are usually applied in case of severe or chronic pain and usually promote pain relief soon after application. Due to the immediate and temporary effect, anesthetics are usually used to confirm that the source of the pain is even within the joint, to better define the treatment or schedule surgeries, for example.
2. Corticoids
Corticosteroids are potent anti-inflammatory drugs and can be applied alone or in conjunction with an anesthetic, in order to combat pain and inflammation within a joint. Corticosteroid infiltration is usually performed every 3 months and it is not recommended to do excessive applications in the same place, as this can increase the risk of side effects and be harmful.
Some of the main corticoids used in the infiltration of joints Methylprednisolone, Triamcinolone, Betamethasone or Dexamethasone, for example, and their effect on the joint lasts between days to weeks.
3. Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a component of synovial fluid, which is the natural lubricant that exists within the joints, however, in certain degenerative diseases, such as osteoarthritis, there may be a loss of this lubrication, which is responsible for most of the symptoms.
In these cases, the doctor can inject this acid into the joint, in a technique called viscosupplementation, which is able to create a protective film that slows the progression of wear and alleviates pain.
Generally, the treatment consists of 1 application per week, for 3 to 5 weeks, and, although the effect is not immediate, being started gradually about 48 hours after the procedure, its results are much longer lasting, and may last for several months. See the effects, contraindications and price of hyaluronic acid injections.
How it is done
The infiltration procedure is relatively simple but should only be performed by an experienced doctor in the doctor's office, requiring disinfection of the skin and the use of sterile materials.
Initially, local anesthesia is performed and then the medication is applied, which can be done with the help of an ultrasound or radiography exam, to determine exactly the location. The complete procedure of a joint infiltration takes 2 to 5 minutes and although it causes some pain, it is mild and bearable.
After the procedure, complete recovery should appear in 1 to 2 weeks. Those who practice physical activity should not return to training in the first week and, if it is difficult to walk without a limp, the doctor may suggest the use of crutches to avoid damaging the spine or the other knee.
In addition, preferably, after the infiltration the person should continue performing physical therapy, hydrotherapy and muscle strengthening to strengthen the muscles, improve the movement of the affected joints, decrease pain, increase elasticity and decrease the progression of arthrosis, thus avoiding placement prosthesis.
Side effects
After the injection into the joint, it is common to have a little swelling and pain and that is why it is recommended to rest to let the medicine work. The risk of infection also exists, but it is very low.
This procedure should be avoided by people who use anticoagulant drugs, who have diseases that impair blood clotting so that there is no risk of bleeding, or by pregnant women and breastfeeding women. It should also not be performed on people with allergies or who have an infection in the region. In addition, it should be used with caution in athletes, as corticosteroids and anesthetics can be detected in blood tests and are on the list of prohibited drugs.
