Covered by OHIP?
Most services are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
Waiting Time
Your timeframe depends on the type of procedure.
OHIP Covered Services
Most services are covered by the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)
WILDERMAN MEDICAL CLINIC
About Joint Injections
Pain in joints, tendons, and bursae (small fluid-filled sacs located between joints, muscles, and tendons that function to decrease friction) can result from physical injury due to overuse, excessive pressure, impact, or simply sitting/standing in a fixed position for a prolonged period.
Although mild physical injuries often heal with time, some types of injuries require more serious medical attention.
Most frequently damaged areas of the human body
The joints, bursae, and tendons are some of the most frequently damaged areas of the human body; they bend, twist, get overused, and are subject to a great deal of movement.
Because of this, our office treats many patients who have a variety of injuries in these areas.
Causes
Injections to the joints are often a result of osteoarthritis, arthritis, overuse, or just wear and tear. We offer many types of injections to alleviate or reduce pain in the joints, depending on a patient’s particular complaints.
Tendon injuries are just as common as joint injuries. These can also be from overuse, wear, and tear, or improper work or exercise techniques. As in the case of joint pain, we offer an array of injections to alleviate or reduce tendon pain, depending on a patient’s needs.
Bursae
Bursae are small fluid-filled sacs located between joints, muscles, and tendons that function to decrease rubbing, friction, and irritation. Bursitis is the inflammation and irritation of bursae, resulting in pain and severely decreased mobility of affected regions.
These injuries can be treated in much the same way as joints and tendons are also treated, depending on the needs of the patient.
Our office offers a variety of injections, based on the needs of the patient.
Joint Injection Comparison
| Pros | Cortisone | PRP | Hyaluronic Acid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powerful anti- inflammatory drug | Autologous, meaning it comes from your own body, so it is natural and the injections carry less risks | Is a gel, key component of a joint fluid | |
| Fast acting relief of pain and inflammation | Studies have shown long term improvement and increased recovery time | Reduces pain and joint friction for 6 months on average | |
| Relatively short relief | Can help with acute and chronic disorders | Adds cushion to protect joints | |
| Improves viscosity | |||
| Cons | Cortisone | PRP | Hyaluronic Acid |
| Risk of bone loss, elevated blood pressure, elevated blood sugar, bone erosion/death; cartilage damage; cataract, glaucoma, pain flare, etc. | Pain flare for a short time after injection | Known allergy to hyaluronic acid | |
| Limited amount can be injected per visit, per joint, and per year | Relatively high cost | Pain flare and swelling for a short time after injection |
