What Happens During An Ultrasound-Guided Injection?

Joint pain can be unrelenting.

It transforms your entire life. Everyday activities that you may have taken for granted have now become the source of discomfort and even agony. You can no longer participate in your favorite sports. Instead, you have to take a seat on the bench instead of running on the field.

Don’t worry:  There is hope. Through carefully placed ultrasound-guided medication injections, we can provide the relief that you need to help you get back to your normal routine.

But you may wonder, what is an ultrasound-guided injection? What are its benefits and how can it help me?

As leading orthopaedic physicians in Raleigh, we’re glad to answer some of your most commonly asked questions about this procedure.

The Care You Need from Orthopedic Surgeons in Raleigh, Conveniently Located

We’re one of the oldest, most well-respected orthopedic practices in Wake County. Our decades of experience enables us to guide you seamlessly from diagnosis to recovery. 

But our tradition of caring doesn’t stop there. We also have in-house physical therapy services to aid in your treatment and recover…all in one convenient location.  

Is chronic joint pain keeping you from the activities you love? Just contact us to request an appointment.

What Is an Ultrasound-Guided Injection?

An ultrasound-guided medication injection utilizes ultrasound technology to give our physicians an accurate view of the precise area that is causing pain. We then use this ultrasound image to guide the injection needle into the problem area.

Typically, this type of injection takes less time and is less painful than traditional injections.

What Happens During an Ultrasound-Guided Injection?

First, we place a sterile gel onto your skin where the pain is located. We place the ultrasound probe near the source of the inflammation. The ultrasound signals are translated into an image projected onto a screen.

From there we insert the needle to precisely the area needed, using the ultrasound images as a map. Once in place, we inject the medication.

What Are the Benefits of an Ultrasound-Guided Injection?

There are several benefits of ultrasound-guided medication injections. These include:

Accuracy

Because our physicians carefully monitor the ultrasound, we can see exactly where we need to administer the medication. This is not only safer and more accurate, but it also means the medication has the best chance of pinpointing the problem area. As a result, it is the best chance to relieve the pain.

Efficiency

Another one of the benefits of an ultrasound guided medication injection is that it takes minimal time. The procedure will be completed much sooner than a standard injection.

Ease of Access

Joints are complex structures. They have to be flexible enough to allow the body to perform all kinds of tasks of everyday living. In some cases, the area that needs the injection may only be millimeters in size. This means that an ultrasound-guided medication injection enables us to access the area easily due to ultrasound imaging.

Minimal Risk

This is a very safe procedure that carries minimal risks. Ultrasound technology has been around for more than two decades, and it has demonstrated a safe track record.

Because we can accurately follow where the needle is located, we reduce the risk of complications.

No Radiation is Involved

An ultrasound utilizes sound waves. These waves bounce off structures and are translated into an image that is projected onto a monitor. This enables our orthopaedic doctors in Raleigh to precisely monitor the needle’s location.

How Long Does It Take to Recover From an Ultrasound-Guided Injection?

It’s important to rest the joint where the injection was administered. You should take it easy for the first 24 to 48 hours.

Remember that the medication doesn’t work instantly; it may take a while before you feel the full effect.

Am I a Candidate?

If you have severe joint pain that hasn’t been helped by more conservative treatment, then you could receive benefits from an ultrasound guided injection.

Take Advantage of the Benefits of Ultrasound-Guided Injections at the Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic of Raleigh

At the Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, we concentrate on getting you back to the life you enjoy.  We also emphasize conservative treatment; we don’t consider surgery until other options have been tried. For nearly 50 years, our fellowship-trained and board-certified orthopaedic surgeons in Raleigh have provided the best in personalized care.

We also offer care that is both state-of-the-art and affordable. For example, if you need to have a joint replacement, ask us about our “bundle payment” program.

See why we’re the leading provider of orthopedic services in Raleigh. Schedule an appointment today.

But ultrasound-guided injections aren’t the only option we offer. We recognize that every patient is different, and that’s why we tailor each treatment plan accordingly. We see you as an individual, not just a medical record number. 

Next, we’ll take a look at another innovative treatment that can help you return to the activities you enjoy.

What Is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Therapy and How Can It Help You?

Imagine that a devastating injury has kept you from the sport you love, and a college scholarship hangs in the balance.

Or perhaps you had to give up running a marathon after months of training.

Or it could be that everyday tasks have grown increasingly difficult due to arthritis.

These are some of the situations where patients can benefit from PRP.

We’ll take a closer look at Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy, what it is, how it helps you and how to determine if you’re a candidate.

What Is PRP Therapy?

PRP stands for platelet-rich plasma therapy.

We were one of the first orthopedic practices in the Triangle to offer this effective and revolutionary treatment. PRP therapy falls into a category of medicine called regenerative medicine, in which your body’s own cells are used to repair itself naturally.

To fully understand the process, we first have to examine how your body reacts to an injury.

How Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Assists in Healing

Your blood is composed of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Platelets are cells in the blood that act like the “first responders” for tissue repair. They are vital for forming clots that stop bleeding. They are also an important component in the body’s healing process by providing the cell growth to enable the body to repair itself.

During a PRP injection, we supply a concentrated growth factor of 4 to 8 times what the body produces naturally. Using an ultrasound [link to: https://raleighboneandjoint.com/orthopaedic-services/ultrasound-guided-medication-injection/ ] for guidance, we target the damaged tissue and inject the PRP cells directly to the problem area.

When the area is injected into a damaged area, it prompts your body to start an inflammatory response. This inflammation is the first stage of healing.

What Is PRP Therapy Good For?

This treatment helps both professional athletes, weekend warriors and those who have sustained a sports or repetitive motion injury. It helps those who have arthritis or other joint problems, and it’s a wonderful alternative to surgery.

Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy treats several common conditions such as:

• Spinal disc or joint diseases
• Osteoarthritis
• Ligament sprains
• Torn ligaments
• Tendonitis
• Issues involving the rotator cuff
• Golfer or tennis elbow

Talk to us for more information so we can determine how this innovative treatment can help you.

What Happens During Platelet-Rich Plasma Treatment?

First and foremost, we take time to get to know you. We recognize that every patient is different, and we strive to treat you as an individual by creating a plan tailored to you.

This is why we promise that we’ll always have time to answer all your questions—please don’t hesitate to ask us anything.

We’ll talk to you about how your issue is affecting your everyday life, including hobbies, activities, work and tasks of daily living. If you’re a weekend warrior, we want to know the injury or condition has transformed your performance.

Then, we’ll take an image of your injury or problem area—this may be an X-ray, MRI or an ultrasound.

We will then draw some blood from your arm and process it. This is necessary to separate the platelets from the other components of your blood. We then take this platelet solution and, using an ultrasound-guided needle, we carefully inject it directly into the damaged tissue.

Typically, the process takes around 30 minutes.

How Long Does It Take Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy to Work?

The answer depends upon the severity of the problem or injury. There are also different protocols to follow after treatment to successfully treat various injuries.

For example, suppose you have a chronic overuse injury such as tennis elbow. A PRP injection will help relieve the pain and repair the tissue, but you will also need to adjust your movement and technique, so you aren’t at risk for developing another overuse injury in the future.

Depending on injury and body part, multiple injections are required for complete relief.

Studies have proven Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy to be more beneficial than steroids and placebo.

Who Can Benefit From PRP Therapy?

Anyone who has had an acute injury or chronic pain stemming from a tendon, muscle or ligament can find relief through this treatment.

Studies have consistently shown that PRP therapy has a success rate of more than 80 percent, resulting in long-term relief for these patients.

How Does Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy Compare to a Steroid Injection?

Steroid injections will eliminate pain, but often don’t treat the underlying problem. Therefore, this prompts the need for more steroid shots over a longer period of time.

While they eliminate discomfort, they only provide temporary relief because they do not treat the underlying problem.

How Long Have PRP Injections Been Used?

PRP therapy was originally started in the 70s by dentists who used the technique to help rebuild bone around the teeth. Gradually, its use expanded to sports medicine and professional athletes.

Can PRP Therapy Be an Alternative to Surgery?

Yes!

In most cases, particularly when tendons, muscles, or ligaments are involved, PRP can be an effective, safe alternative to an operation.

PRP therapy can be a more efficient and economical option because it often eliminates the need for surgery, and it also eliminates dependence on repeated steroid injections.

At the Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, we take a conservative approach to surgery—we want to exhaust all non-surgical options before we consider an operation.

Is PRP Stem Cells?

No. PRP is not stem cells. It uses the elements from your body’s own blood to speed healing through tissue growth.

To be clear, PRP is NOT putting new cells in your body. It is using your body’s own platelets to help itself naturally.

Is There Any Danger of Tissue Rejection?

Because the platelet cells used come from your own blood, there is no possibility that your body will reject them. Therefore, this is an extremely safe course of treatment that offers tremendous benefits.

The Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic is the Triangle Area Leader in PRP Therapy

Searching for PRP Therapy in the Raleigh or Triangle Area? It’s important to select a provider who has performed the procedure extensively in order to ensure that you get the results you need.

At The Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic, we have performed thousands of PRP procedures and have a track record of successfully helping patients throughout the Triangle with a variety of injuries.

So, if you’ve torn a ligament due to an accident or injury, if you’ve severely injured a muscle due to sports, or even if you’ve experienced issues related to repetitive motion tasks, this therapy can dramatically transform your life to get you back to the activities you enjoy without pain and without surgery.

But we offer something else at The Bone and Joint Surgery Clinic—personalized treatment.

We believe in being partners in your medical care. This is why we carefully evaluate each individual situation and provide the education you need to make an informed decision. We work together as a team to start you on your journey of healing.

See why we are the leading orthopedic physicians of choice in Raleigh and the surrounding areas.

Contact us today. We would consider it a privilege to care for you.