Shoulder Joint Injections

Shoulders are prone to rotator cuff injuries, dislocations, and arthritis, causing pain and reducing function. Commonwealth Pain and Spine’s expert team offers shoulder joint injections to treat these problems at their offices across Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois. If other treatments aren’t helping, these injections might. Call your nearest office today or schedule a consultation online to learn more about benefiting from shoulder joint injections.

What are shoulder joint injections?

Shoulder joint injections treat shoulder pain and loss of function. The most common treatments are:

Steroid injections

Steroids are potent drugs with anti-inflammatory effects. Injecting steroids into the joint eases inflammation and irritation. It also prevents the pain nerves from sending out such strong signals and reduces levels of pain-triggering chemicals.

Nerve blocks

Nerve blocks are local anesthetic injections that numb pain temporarily. They can contain steroids as well.

Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation uses hyaluronic acid, a natural lubricating fluid. Injecting hyaluronic acid into the shoulder eases stiffness and pain by enabling the bones to slide over each other rather than catching and rubbing.

What conditions might require shoulder joint injections?

Shoulder pain has many causes. Injuries suffered in a car or work accident, fall, or while playing sports can stretch or tear the tendons, muscles, cartilage, and ligaments securing the joint. The rotator cuff muscles and tendons covering the joint are especially vulnerable to injury. Fractures (broken bones) and dislocations (joint separations) cause severe shoulder pain.

Overuse damage is also a significant shoulder pain cause. The shoulder’s ability to rotate in a wide arc increases the risk of soft-tissue irritation and inflammation from repeating the same movements over long periods. Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder) develops if the ligaments weaken and shorten because you can’t use your arm.

Arthritis is the most likely cause of long-term shoulder pain. Of the many kinds, osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are the most common. Years of joint wear-and-tear cause osteoarthritis, while rheumatoid arthritis results from a problem with your immune system that damages the joint linings.

Many patients with shoulder pain do well with physical therapy and medication. The Commonwealth Pain and Spine team might suggest shoulder joint injections if these treatments prove ineffective.

What happens during my shoulder joint injections?

The Commonwealth Pain and Spine team performs shoulder joint injections as outpatient procedures so that you can return home after treatment. Your doctor injects a local anesthetic to numb the area, then injects the steroid, anesthetic, or hyaluronic acid into your joint.

The team uses fluoroscopy or ultrasound diagnostic imaging to guide the needle. This ensures that they avoid tissue damage and inject the drug into precisely the right place.

Call Commonwealth Pain and Spine today or book an appointment online for effective pain relief with shoulder joint injections.