There are two types of injections, those that are administered outside the joints (extra-articular) and those that are administered into the joints (intra-articular).
Extra-articular injections are catergorized as intramuscular, intradermal and subcutaneous. The purpose of Intra-articular injections is to insert the therapeutic substance into the affected joint.
Extra-articular Injections
→ Intramuscular injection: It is commonly administered on the gluteal muscle (buttocks) using anti-inflammatory drugs and aims to relieve the pain immediately.
→ Mesotherapy: A pioneering method used in muscle spasms, mainly in the neck - thoracic - lumbar spine, which consists of the use of a mixture of muscle relaxant and other agents, which are inserted via intradermal injection into the affected area, with the aim of immediate relief of muscle spasm and cessation of pain.
→ Ozone therapy: Another innovative method used in intervertebral disc diseases and hernias. A mixture of oxygen and ozone is introduced paravertebrally in the area of the affected disc, with the aim of reducing inflammation, pain and the size of the hernia. Usually 8-12 injections are needed which are administered twice a week.
Intra-articular injections
The joints of the body can suffer from acute arthritis or osteoarthritis.
In the case of acute arthritis, corticosteroid injections into the joint offer immediate pain relief and improvement in symptoms.
In the case of osteoarthritis, a hyaluronic acid injection is recommended. Hyaluronic acid assists to better absorb the vibrations received by a joint and to slow down the progression of osteoarthritis. These injections are administered once a week, from 3 to 5 times, and the type of hyaluronic acid used is decided based on the stage of osteoarthritis.
