The first option for joint pain is a steroid injection into the joint. The steroid reduces inflammation and helps the joint move more smoothly with less pain.
If steroid injections don’t help, Dr. Rubin can inject a pain relief medication called sodium hyaluronate (brand names are Hyalgan, Synvisc, Supartz, or Ortho-Visc) into the knee, hip, or shoulder joint. The sodium hyaluronate will help the joint move smoothly, reducing or relieving the pain of osteoarthritis. Usually a series of injections over several weeks is needed to achieve the desired pain relief.