Knee Injections for Knee Pain: Just The Facts

Cortisone knee injections (aka steroid injections) are common knee treatments prescribed by orthopedic knee doctors as a means of providing temporary knee pain relief. Unfortunately, most knee pain sufferers don’t really understand what cortisone does, its side-effects, and why it’s important to consider other knee treatment alternatives before getting cortisone knee injections.

Omaha Integrated Health is a state-of-the-art wellness center that offers an integrated approach to health and healing. Our experienced professionals use the latest techniques and technologies to help you achieve your goals. Whether you’re looking to reduce pain, improve your energy level, or just feel better overall, Omaha Integrated Health can help. Call us today!

Two Types of Cortisone:

1) The first form of cortisone is the one naturally produced by our adrenal glands and released into our bloodstream in times of stress. It is considered our ‘fight or flight’ hormone.

2) The second form of cortisone is man-made or synthetic. This is the form that is injected into the knee joint to temporarily reduce swelling and inflammation in the knee. For example, Kenalog and Celestone are all name brands of synthetic cortisone injections that are used by orthopedic doctors.

If you’re looking for a knee specialist in Omaha, NE, look no further than Omaha Integrated Health. We offer comprehensive care for all types of knee pain, from sports injuries to arthritis. Our team of experts will work with you to develop a treatment plan that meets your needs and helps you get back to your everyday life. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!

What Do Steroid Injections Actually Do?

Cortisone is a type of steroid. It is not a pain reliever it is simply an anti-inflammatory. It indirectly provides knee pain relief because it reduces the fluid around the knee joint thereby relieving the pressure on the tissues in the knee.

When Should You Get A Cortisone Injection?

If you’ve had a recent injury, for example from a fall, a car accident, or playing sports and you have acute or severe swelling or inflammation in the knee joint then you should consider getting a cortisone injection. More than likely you will notice immediate relief after the shot; however, the effects will be temporary so while you’re still experiencing relief you should be searching for a REAL SOLUTION to your problem.

Knee pain can be debilitating, preventing you from doing the things you love. If you’re looking for relief, Omaha Integrated Health can help. We offer comprehensive treatment plans tailored to your specific needs, so you can get back to living life to the fullest. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!

Reasons to Avoid Cortisone Shots:

1) Steroid injections will not cure you. Results will be temporary, even if you experience a reduction in swelling, inflammation, and pain in the knee joint. After having an injection, you must be cautious, since it is not unusual to exacerbate an injury during this time. (The worst part is you won’t know if you’ve reinjured the knee until the effects of the cortisone wear off.)

2) Only three steroid injections are allowed on a yearly basis because long term and repeated use will cause bone loss, weakening of tendons, and cartilage loss in the knee joint.

3) Do not get a cortisone injection if you don’t have fluid or swelling around your knee. It won’t help you.

4) If you’re diabetic then your blood sugar will need to be monitored since it causes a spike in blood sugar levels.

5) Shots in the knee joint are painful (especially if the area isn’t numbed properly) and can cause infections.

6) Again getting a cortisone injection is not a long term solution to relieving chronic knee pain. It does nothing to heal and repair injured tissue that is causing the pain.

A Better Knee Treatment Alternative…

A safer more effective knee treatment alternative to knee injections is cold laser therapy. Cold laser therapy is a painless, non-invasive knee treatment option that allows physicians to treat the cause of the problem thereby eliminating knee pain and inflammation. Cold laser therapy doesn’t just temporarily ‘cover up’ the pain like pain medications or knee injections. Cold laser therapy works by stimulating the healing process on a cellular level so that injured and damaged tissue can heal and repair itself faster.

Omaha Integrated Health
13906 Gold Cir Suite #200, Omaha, NE 68144
402-816-2738
https://www.omahaintegratedhealth.com