Are Corticosteroid Injections Causing Your Osteoarthritis to Progress at a Faster Rate?

There are new studies that show the use of corticosteroid injections has caused patients with osteoarthritis to progress at a faster rate, mainly in the areas of their knees and hips. These studies have shown that while the patients may not feel accelerated pain from this progression, it is important for patients to be aware that they may be pushed into joint replacements later in life due to the further use of these corticosteroid injections. Here at Van Law Firm, we can help get you compensated if the use of corticosteroid injections has caused your osteoarthritis to progress!

The Risks of Receiving Corticosteroid injections

There are risks to a patient when receiving corticosteroid injections and physicians should make these risks known before receiving this treatment. Some side effects include:

• Nerve damage
• Tendon weakening or rupture
• Cartilage damage
• Infection

These side effects are more likely to occur with repeated use of these injections and if the physician negligently administers high-dose corticosteroid injections that put their patients at risk. If you feel that after receiving a corticosteroid injection you experienced any of these side effects, please contact us at Van Law Firm to see if you’re eligible for compensation.

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Symptoms of Osteoarthritis

The symptoms of osteoarthritis are slowly developed and progress over time. Some of the more prevalent symptoms include:

• Pain
• Tenderness
• Stiffness
• Swelling
• Bone spurs
• Popping & cracking in the joints
• Loss of normal flexibility

A physician may diagnose a patient as having osteoarthritis by conducting imaging tests, such as X-rays or MRIs, or through lab testing. Lab testing includes looking at blood tests or analyzing a patient’s joint fluid.

What Are Hyaluronic Acid Injections?

Hyaluronic acid injections are an alternative to corticosteroid injections and studies have shown that these injections do not cause a patient’s osteoarthritis to progress faster. This injection is meant to provide some cushion to your affected joint, but some studies have shown that this is no better than a placebo because it seems to provide no relief regarding pain.

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What Are Corticosteroid Injections?

Corticosteroid injections, also known as cortisone injections, are injected into a patient’s joint to help relieve pain and inflammation that is being caused by osteoarthritis. The medication injected into patients only lasts a couple of weeks. A patient is limited to 3 or 4 corticosteroid injections a year because studies have shown that this medication can worsen joint damage over time and continued use.

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What Is Osteoarthritis?

Osteoarthritis occurs when a patient’s protective cartilage starts to wear down and causes the bones to rub against each other, which will cause the patient’s bones & connective tissues to deteriorate over time. This mainly affects the joints of a patient’s knees, hips, hands, and/or spine. The joint pain will cause stiffness and could restrict patients from completing daily tasks.

How to Manage Osteoarthritis

This disease can be managed by maintaining a healthy weight and working out regularly. A physician may suggest the use of injections, either corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid to help improve a patient’s pain level and joint function.

Treatment Options for Osteoarthritis

The treatment options for this disease vary based on the severity of the patient’s pain, the progression of the disease, and the physician’s opinion. A physician can prescribe medications to relieve a patient’s pain such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (ibuprofen), or Duloxetine. 

If medications don’t relieve a patient’s pain, a physician can refer the patient to take part in therapy. Therapy options offered for this disease include physical therapy to strengthen the muscles around the affected joint, occupational therapy to make everyday tasks easier on the patient’s body, or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation to relieve pain for the short term. 

Lastly, a physician can refer a patient to a different approach to surgery or other procedures. Some of these procedures include corticosteroid injections, hyaluronic acid injections, a re-alignment of the patient’s bones, and the last resort of a joint replacement.

An Attorney Can Help You

If you or someone you know has suffered a serious injury or has had severe progression with their osteoarthritis due to receiving a corticosteroid injection, please contact us at Van Law Firm for a free consultation. The Van Law Firm can help you attain the compensation you need.