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Types of knee injections
Cortisone, gel, nerve blocks and ablation compared: how each works and who it suits
The main types of knee injections are cortisone (a steroid that calms inflammation for weeks to a few months), hyaluronic acid or “gel” (a lubricant for arthritic knees that can help for up to six months), a genicular nerve block (numbing medicine on the small nerves that carry knee pain, used as a test), and genicular radiofrequency ablation (heat that quiets those nerves for six to twelve months or more). Draining fluid from a swollen knee is often done in the same visit. The right choice depends on whether the pain comes from inflammation, arthritis or the nerves, and what you have already tried.
If your knee pain has not settled with exercise, weight management and medicine, an injection can be the next step, either to calm a flare so you can keep working on strength, or to delay surgery. The options work in different ways, so it helps to know what each one does before your appointment. The videos show the most common ones.
Types of knee injections compared
- Cortisone (steroid): calms inflammation in a flare of arthritis or bursitis; relief in a few days that lasts weeks to a few months; usually limited to a few a year; see cortisone shot in the knee and pes anserine bursitis
- Hyaluronic acid (gel): adds lubrication to an arthritic knee; works more slowly and can last up to six months; see knee gel injections
- Genicular nerve block: numbing medicine near the small nerves around the knee; mainly a test to see if those nerves carry your pain
- Genicular radiofrequency ablation: heat quiets the same nerves for six to twelve months or more when a block works; see genicular nerve block and RFA
- Knee aspiration: draining fluid from a swollen knee eases pressure and can be tested; see draining fluid from the knee
Which knee injection is right for you?
- A sudden flare with swelling: draining the fluid and a cortisone injection are often first
- Mild to moderate arthritis that keeps aching: a gel injection may give longer, steadier relief
- Long-standing arthritis pain, or pain after a knee replacement: a genicular nerve block, then ablation if it works
- Not a candidate for surgery, or wanting to delay it: nerve ablation is one of the main options; see knee arthritis treatment
Your physician examines the knee and reviews imaging before recommending one.
What to expect at a knee injection
Most knee injections take a few minutes. The skin is cleaned and numbed, and ultrasound or X-ray guidance helps place the needle accurately, as in the videos. You may feel pressure and a short sting. Most people walk out and go back to light activity the same day, avoiding hard exercise for a day or two. Pain procedures are performed at all three offices, and your physician explains where and when yours will be scheduled.
Injections work best with exercise
An injection lowers pain; it does not rebuild the muscles that protect the knee. Pairing it with physical therapy for knee pain, offered at our Brooklyn and Staten Island offices, gives the longest-lasting result. For an overview of other options, see chronic knee pain treatment.
More videos of knee injections
More clips from our YouTube channel @precisioncaremedical showing the different types of knee injections.
Related care at Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance
Knee injections near you
Looking for a knee pain doctor near me, or a cortisone shot near me? Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance treats knee pain at all three offices, where our pain physicians, Ashley Marcus, MD in Brooklyn, Jake Stephen, DO on Staten Island and Yuri Gordin, MD in Manhattan examine the knee and explain which option fits. For a knee injection in Brooklyn, our Brooklyn pain management office on Shell Rd is close to Manhattan Beach, Midwood and Marine Park.
On Staten Island, our Staten Island pain management office on Richmond Rd is near Dongan Hills, New Dorp and Eltingville. In Manhattan, the Precision Care Spine & Pain Center in Midtown Manhattan is close to Midtown East and the Upper East Side and a direct ride from Washington Heights and Spanish Harlem. Request an appointment or call the office closest to you.
150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022
(212) 840-0135
Questions patients ask
What is the most common type of knee injection?
Cortisone is the most common. It calms inflammation quickly and is often used for an arthritis flare, while gel injections and nerve treatments are used when cortisone does not last.
Which knee injection lasts the longest?
Genicular radiofrequency ablation usually lasts longest, often six to twelve months or more. Gel injections can last up to six months, and cortisone weeks to a few months.
Do knee injections hurt?
Most people feel a brief sting and pressure. The skin is numbed first, and imaging guidance helps place the needle accurately.
How many knee injections can you have?
Cortisone is usually limited to a few a year in the same knee. Gel injections can be repeated about every six months, and ablation can be repeated when the nerves recover.
Can a knee injection help me avoid surgery?
For many people, injections combined with exercise control pain well enough to delay or avoid a knee replacement. Your physician reviews how much damage the knee has.
Where can I get a knee injection near me?
Precision Care Medical & Sports Performance treats knee pain at all three offices:
- Brooklyn2781 Shell Rd, Suite 101, Brooklyn, NY 11223(718) 648-1234 · Get directions
- Staten Island1630 Richmond Rd, Suite 101, Staten Island, NY 10304(718) 339-7100 · Get directions
- Midtown Manhattan150 E 55th St, Suite 401, New York, NY 10022(212) 840-0135 · Get directions
Physical therapy for the knee is offered at the Brooklyn and Staten Island offices only.
Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.
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