Suffer from the chronic aches and pains of inflammatory conditions like arthritis? Or perhaps you have chronic pain from an old injury from trying to perfect your golf swing? Then you’ve probably received a steroid shot to help reduce the swelling and pain. Orthopedic specialist Dr. James Talkington has long administered anti-inflammatory steroid injections, relying on his knowledge of anatomy to make sure the medicine is administered in the correct area.
In recent years though, radiological imaging technology has grown increasingly portable. Practitioners have added imaging techniques, such as ultrasound, to “see” through the skin and tissues. Dr. Talkington routinely utilizes ultrasound-guided injections to improve accuracy and efficacy for injections.
When You Need Ultrasound-Guided Injections
Inflammatory conditions that cause joint or tendon pain often need to be controlled with a corticosteroid, viscosupplementation (joint lubricant), or local anesthesia shots. Some of these conditions are:
- Arthritis (joint inflammation)
- Bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled joint pads known as bursa)
- Gout (uric acid crystals collect in the joints, causing painful inflammation)
- Synovitis (inflammation of the lining of the joint)
- Tendonitis (inflamed tendons)
These conditions can affect the feet, ankles, knees, hips, spine, hands, wrists, elbows, or shoulders. Living with chronic pain can make daily tasks and activities unduly strenuous, but when severe pain flares up, it can completely disrupt your daily life.
Sometimes joint pain is caused by overuse or stress, or it can be the result of muscle, tendon, or ligament degeneration. Whatever the cause, maintaining mobility, strength, endurance, and flexibility is the best way to manage the problem and prevent worsening symptoms. Controlling the inflammation and pain with cortisone shots helps patients stay more active. It’s critically important, though, that the injection be administered in the correct placement to both effectively alleviate the pain, and avoid any incidental damage to the area.
Why You Should Get Ultrasound-Guided Injections
Many studies have shown that ultrasound-guided injections are more accurate and improve patient outcomes. The ultrasound is non-invasive and proves a useful tool for examining interior structures in the body. We can also more easily monitor for any pathological changes to interior body parts over time.
Do you suffer chronic musculoskeletal pain? Dr. James Talkington has been practicing orthopedic medicine for over 30 years. The combination of Dr. Talkington’s experience and use of advanced techniques, such as ultrasound-guided injections, ensures your customized treatment plan is the best possible care you can receive.
