Do Injections Delay the Need for Joint Replacement Surgery?

Key Takeaways

• Joint injections can provide temporary pain relief and improve mobility in the specific area they are used, potentially helping patients postpone surgery.
• Patients with joint complications may be injected with corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, or emerging biologic treatments like platelet-rich plasma.
• Injections do not cure the source of joint degeneration, such as arthritis, and their effectiveness often decreases over time. 
• Joint replacement surgery remains the most reliable long-term solution for joint pain and mobility issues that severely affect daily life.

Exploring Injections as a Treatment Option

Joint conditions are some of the most common sources of chronic pain and limited mobility. In fact, about 58.5 million US adults have arthritis, and 25.7 million of those individuals claim that arthritis limits their ability to perform certain activities. Fortunately, several treatment options are available for patients experiencing worsening symptoms. 

For the most part, treatment options often fall into two main categories: conservative measures such as oral medications and joint injections, or surgical intervention in the form of joint replacement, causing many patients to weigh the pros and cons of injections vs joint replacement. 

Joint injections can offer a minimally invasive, but temporary, relief from localized symptoms, while procedures like a knee replacement or hip arthroplasty are intended to address the underlying condition and offer long-term benefits. In most cases, people only use joint injections to prolong their need for surgery. 

Knowing how these different treatment methods may be leveraged on your path to recovery is essential. Read through the guide below to learn about the various types of injections, their pros and cons, and when joint replacement becomes a more effective long-term solution.

Common Types of Injections for Joint Pain Relief

The following types of joint injections are commonly used to relieve joint pain. By consulting a qualified medical professional, you can learn which of the three options below, if any, are the most likely to benefit you, based on your specific situation.

​​Corticosteroid Injections

Corticosteroid injections are able to quickly calm inflamed tissues by mimicking the body’s natural anti-inflammatory hormones. This targeted approach reduces swelling, irritation, and discomfort, allowing the affected joint to move more freely.

Within a few hours to a few days after being directly inserted into the affected joint space, corticosteroid injections can provide pain relief in knees, hips, shoulders, elbows, wrists, ankles, or smaller joints in the hands and feet. Therefore, these injections are commonly found in arthritis treatment.

Typically, the relief provided by corticosteroids lasts anywhere from several weeks to a few months, depending on factors like the severity of the joint condition and the patient’s overall health. Even though these types of joint injections are considered helpful for short-term use, repeated corticosteroid use is often restricted due to potential side effects that can accompany repeated injections, such as cartilage damage. Plus, follow-up injections may yield less efficacy and shorter pain relief durations.

Hyaluronic Acid for Viscosupplementation

Viscosupplementation is the process of injecting hyaluronic acid (HA) directly into the joint, adding to the HA that is already naturally found in the patient’s joint fluid, which is there to lubricate and cushion the joint. So, viscosupplementation can improve shock absorption and reduce friction between bones. Patients with mild to moderate osteoarthritis, particularly in their knees, often report substantial relief following HA injections.

When compared to corticosteroids, the relief delivered by viscosupplementation is usually more gradual, meaning patience is key. Nevertheless, for those who experience significant improvement, the positive effects of viscosupplementation may last for several months, depending on the patient’s unique circumstances. However, it is essential to keep in mind that results vary widely.

Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Other Biologic Options

In recent years, emerging biologic treatments, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), have gained more attention as possible alternative therapies, potentially substituting for some traditional injections.

PRP involves extracting the patient’s own blood, processing it to concentrate platelets and growth factors that promote healing and reduce inflammation, and reinserting that platelet-rich plasma back into the patient’s affected joint. 

Early studies suggest that these treatments may offer pain relief and improve joint function for some patients with arthritis or joint injuries. However, results can vary, and research is still evolving, meaning that PRP and other biologics are not yet considered standard care, and insurance coverage is typically limited.

Since PRP and other biologic therapies are still being studied, many dependable medical centers like the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale only offer corticosteroid and viscosupplementation injections, as these two are forms of evidence-based care that are proven to deliver reliable and lasting results.

Joint Injections vs. Joint Replacement Surgery

When considering treatment options for joint pain, patients must understand that joint injections and joint replacement surgery differ significantly in purpose, duration of relief, and long-term outcomes, as illustrated in the table below.

Limitations of Joint Injections

Joint injections have become an essential part of many patients’ care plans, as they can help individuals maintain mobility and manage their pain, making it easier to walk, exercise, and perform daily tasks. 

Despite their short-term benefits, joint injections do come with certain limitations that typically make them a less effective solution than other treatment options like surgery. Some examples of constraints relating to joint injections are:

• Fleeting relief –The benefits experienced after joint injections typically wear off after a few weeks or months, rendering them ineffective for long-term pain management.
• Decreasing effectiveness with repeated use – With the temporary relief offered by joint injections, some patients are tempted to use them for treatment repeatedly, but follow-up injections may not work as well.
• Health risks – Although joint injection side effects are considered rare, potential issues include infection, further joint damage, allergic reactions, or flare-ups at the injection site. These health risks may grow with repeated use.
• Not a cure for underlying joint degeneration – Injections may treat symptoms of joint-related diseases, but they do not erase the root cause, meaning the patient’s joint may continue to deteriorate over time.

The Silver Lining: Injections Can Delay the Need for Surgery

Even though injections do not cure joint diseases like arthritis, they can be useful for minimizing pain while waiting for a hip replacement, knee replacement, or other joint surgery that is designed to provide long-lasting relief. In fact, by reducing inflammation and alleviating discomfort, injections may minimize a patient’s pain long enough to delay surgery for several months, assuming their joint damage is not yet severe.

Additionally, the window of relief offered by joint injections can give patients a chance to focus on weight management, muscle strengthening, and other lifestyle factors that can enhance their eventual surgical outcomes.

Factors to Consider Before Choosing Injections or Surgery

Before deciding on joint replacement surgery vs. non-surgical options like joint injections, it’s essential to work with your medical provider to weigh health factors and personal goals. Some relevant factors to keep in mind include:

• Severity of joint damage – Patients with severe arthritis may not experience substantial benefits from joint injections compared to patients who only have moderate symptoms.
• Age, activity level, and overall health – Younger, highly active patients may be inclined to use injections for temporary relief. In contrast, older patients may prefer the longer-term solution of joint replacement surgery.
• Mobility goals – If maintaining mobility for a specific event or a short period of time is your main priority, injections may be beneficial. For lasting results, surgery may be the best option.
• Cost and insurance coverage considerations – Although surgery demands higher upfront costs, not every type of joint injection is covered by insurance, meaning repeated treatments can become costly over time.

When Joint Replacement is the Best Option

Suppose joint injections no longer provide a satisfactory amount of relief for a patient, and pain and stiffness have returned after use. In that case, surgery may be the next step. Some examples of indicators that joint surgery may be needed to improve your quality of life, mobility, and independence are:

• If you have difficulty walking
• If climbing stairs is challenging
• If you have trouble performing daily activities

Unfortunately, the signs above may indicate that conservative treatments are no longer sufficient. Still, there is a lot that goes into the decision-making process preceding surgeries. For instance, experienced surgeons like Dr. Shane Martin consider imaging results, patient goals, and overall health when determining whether joint replacement is the best course of action.

Finding the Right Path to Lasting Relief

When deciding between injections vs joint replacement, patients must recognize that these treatment options have different purposes. Injections can help manage symptoms and improve quality of life in the short term, buying time before surgery. However, since joint injections cannot stop the progression of joint damage, they are not a permanent solution.

For patients whose pain is somewhat manageable as is, injections may be an effective way to postpone surgery. Still, joint replacement is usually the best path to long-term comfort and mobility. If you have already been given a treatment plan, whether it includes joint injections or not, consider getting a second opinion from the medical professionals at the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale.

Our joint specialists can help you understand your options and design a treatment plan based on your unique lifestyle and goals. Contact the Joint Replacement Center of Scottsdale today to schedule an initial consultation to discuss our joint injection offerings and potential surgery to ensure you have the best chance of experiencing lasting relief.