Steroid Injections Treatment
IF YOU NEED A STEROID INJECTION, PLEASE SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH ONE OF OUR ORTHOPEDIC SPECIALISTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
What are Steroid Injections?
Doctors use steroid injections to deliver corticosteroid medication directly into an affected joint, tendon, or soft tissue. They inject the medication to target inflammation at its source and reduce swelling in a specific area of the body. This treatment works by calming the immune response in the injected tissue, which help decrease irritation and improve function over time.
What Conditions Do Steroid Injections Treat?
Steroid injections effectively address various hand and wrist conditions, such as trigger finger, De Quervain’s tendinitis, joint arthritis, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Trigger finger occurs when a finger or thumb becomes stuck in a bent position. Steroid injections diminish inflammation in the affected tendon sheath, relieving the catching or locking sensation. Furthermore, injecting steroids into the tendon sheath reduces inflammation, enhancing movement in De Quervain’s tendinitis. This condition impacts the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist, resulting in pain and swelling.
Injecting steroids directly into the affected joint can diminish inflammation and pain, offering temporary relief and enhancing joint function in cases of joint arthritis. Arthritis often causes pain, stiffness, and swelling, which can limit mobility. Moreover, steroid injections can decrease swelling around the median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome. This condition involves compression of the median nerve in the wrist, resulting in numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers. By alleviating symptoms, steroid injections potentially circumvent the need for surgery.
How Long Do Steroid Injections Symptoms Last?
The duration of pain relief from steroid injections varies depending on the condition being treated and the individual patient. Some patients may experience immediate relief that lasts for several months, while others may need multiple injections over time to maintain symptom control. Healthcare providers can offer more specific information about the expected duration of relief based on the patient’s condition and response to treatment.
Treatment Alternatives to Steroid Injections
Doctors often use several treatment options instead of steroid injections depending on the condition and severity of symptoms. They recommend physical therapy to improve strength, restore movement, and reduce pain through guided exercises and hands-on treatment. Providers also advise activity modification to reduce strain on the affected area and prevent symptoms from worsening. In some cases, clinicians prescribe non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) to help control pain and inflammation.
When patients need additional support, doctors may use alternative injection therapies such as hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to improve joint lubrication and support tissue healing. Providers may also recommend bracing or splinting to stabilize the area and promote proper alignment. If conservative treatments do not provide enough relief, doctors may consider minimally invasive procedures or surgery to address the underlying issue directly.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO AN ORTHOPEDIC HAND AND WRIST SPECIALIST IN DALLAS, FORT WORTH, OR THE LONE STAR STATE, GIVE US A CALL AT 817-697-4038, OR CONTACT US OVER THE WEB. TELE-MEDICINE APPOINTMENTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.
