Hip Pain
Hip pain is any form of pain in or around the hip joint. Hip pain is not always felt directly over the hip. Instead, it may be felt in the middle of the thigh or in the groin. Similarly, pain in the hip might actually be a sign of a problem in the back, rather than in the hip itself.
To direct appropriate treatment at the underlying problem, it is very important that the main causative factor or hip pain is correctly diagnosed. There are normally two main causes of hip pain – fractures and insufficient blood flow to the hip.
Intra-Articular Injections
Intra-articular steroid injections are a prescribed line of treatment for relief from joint-pain. Intra-articular injections with local anesthetics or corticosteroids can be used for the treatment of inflammation in the joint.
Intra-Articular Hyaluronic Acid Injections
Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections are a prescribed line of treatment for relief from joint-pain caused by osteoarthiritis. The body naturally creates hyaluronic acid to lubricate the joints and keep them functioning smoothly. It also acts as a natural shock absorber, keeping the bones from bearing the full force of impact when putting stress on the joint.
Osteoarthritis is a condition where the hyaluronic acid in the affected joint thins. Intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections therefore add to your body’s natural supply, replenishing the joint’s ability to lubricate itself and absorb shocks.
Procedure
A local anaesthetic (lidocaine 1%) is administered and the hyaluronic acid is then injected into the joint. Once completed, an iodinated contrast is injected to observe immediate distribution of the hyaluronic acid and local anaesthetic and confirm which joints are being treated.
Specialists dealing with intra-articular injections generally instruct their patients to maintain a simple diary of pain for at least a week’s duration after the injection. The commonly recommended entry in the diary is pain vs. previously expected pain or same physical workload.
Outcomes
The intra-articular hyaluronic acid injections are administered with the aim of providing two to six weeks of pain relief. The most common short-term side effects are minor pain at the injection site and minor build-up of joint fluid. These get better within a few days.
