Which infiltration for which pain?

Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug used to quickly relieve the pain associated with an acute inflammatory attack due to osteoarthritis or injury. It also reduces the need for medication and helps people get back to work.

• Tendinitis
• Bursitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Arthritis
• Epicondylitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome

Cortisone is injected into the area to be treated, sometimes under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. The joint should rest for a 2 to 7 days following the infiltration, depending on the case. It causes almost no side effects.

This is a short-term treatment: the effects are usually felt 24 to 48 hours after the injection. The product is eliminated from the body after four to six weeks, but the relief can last up to three months and even longer. Cortisone infiltration is not a regularly repeated treatment and should be limited to three per year per injection site.

Viscosupplementation supplements hyaluronic acid, a substance found in joints and periarticular structures such as tendons and ligaments. It is primarily used to slow the breakdown of cartilage caused by osteoarthritis, but it can also help heal certain injuries.

• Joint pain related to osteoarthritis

This product is injected under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. The joint should be at rest for 2 to 7 days following the infiltration.

The injection may cause local pain and slight swelling, which can be relieved by applying ice, but these side effects are rare and short-lived.

The effects of the product may appear after a few days or even a few weeks and last for several months. For tendon and ligament injuries, one or two infiltrations are usually sufficient. As aging accentuates osteoarthritis, it is recommended to repeat the infiltration once a year.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a sample of your own blood that is centrifuged to increase the concentration of platelets in the plasma. Because platelets contain bioproteins essential to the healing process, PRP infiltration promotes tissue repair and pain reduction.

The PRP is injected into the area to be treated under ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance. A reasonable rest period of two weeks after the infiltration is recommended.

Since PRP comes from your own blood, the risk of rejection or allergic reaction is virtually non-existent.

The effects can be seen after a few weeks. The doctor can judge if a second infiltration is necessary.