Pain Treatments
Hand Joint Injection
The joints in the hand are small and prone to the development of arthritis with excessive use and wear and tear over time. A hand joint aspiration or injection is done for pain, swelling, or discomfort that will not resolve with simple conservative measures.
How is a hand joint injection performed?
The doctor will numb your skin near the joint with medication. Then, guided by palpation, he will:
Insert a thin needle into the joint space
Inject an anesthetic (for short term relief) or steroid or platelet rich plasma (for longer term relief)
The medicine then spreads into the joint space, thereby hopefully reducing nerve inflammation and pain. Usually, the procedure takes less than 15 minutes and you can go home the same day.
How do steroids work?
What are the risks?
What happens after the procedure?
