Your wrists are small joints that you can’t manage without. Think of everything you’re able to do with healthy wrists! Now imagine what life would be like if you felt pain every time you moved your wrist. For many ailments and injuries, a cortisone wrist injection relieves the pain and swelling fast. And the best place to get a wrist injection is at the top pain clinic in Manhattan. Make an appointment with the pain specialists at our pain management center in NYC for fast, reliable and comfortable care.
Your wrist is a joint that’s a lot more complex than you may have ever realized. Not only does it have to rotate 360 degrees, but it also houses and protects the structures and nerves that move your hand. There are a considerable number of muscles, tendons and ligaments squeezed into a surprisingly narrow passage. And it all has to work seamlessly to work at all.
Daily use of your hands applies considerable stress to your wrists. The medical conditions that result from overuse and injury are remarkably common in wrists. Cortisone wrist injections have been in use for decades. And despite the many advances in modern medicine, they remain the fastest and most effective form of relief.
Wrist Injury and Conditions
Since your wrist plays such a major role in making your hand movement possible, a large number of problems can arise, such as:
All of these conditions can result in significant pain and discomfort. Carpal tunnel syndrome especially has become increasingly more common with the arrival of the modern keyboard. Typing and texting have drastically increased the amount of pressure on your median nerve that runs through the narrow confines at the base of your hand. Just the slightest inflammation squeezes this nerve to the point of pain and discomfort.
Most conditions that affect your wrist are uncomfortable, but they also directly affect your function and range of motion. Minor cases are treatable with rest and immobilization using wraps or splints. But most people aren’t able to take the time out from their demanding jobs and busy lives for this to be a feasible solution. That’s another reason wrist injections are so popular for treating wrist pain.
Cortisone Injection in the Wrist
This steroid drug isn’t the same as the type used illegally by athletes. Cortisone focuses on inflammation. And when this hormone-mimicking substance is combined with a local anesthetic, you feel pain relief almost immediately when you receive an injection. Meanwhile, the steroid medication begins working on your underlying inflammation.
The Wrist injection Procedure
At Pain Management NYC, the leading pain clinic in Manhattan, we provide a comfortable environment equipped with the latest medical technology. Your treatment begins with a comprehensive physical examination and a review of your medical history; we only proceed with a cortisone injection once a definitive diagnosis is confirmed.
After our specialists determine that an injection is the best course of action, they identify the precise location for the procedure. The skin is thoroughly cleansed and disinfected. For complex cases, your physician may use real-time X-ray guidance (fluoroscopy) to ensure the needle is placed with pinpoint accuracy. While the injection itself causes minimal discomfort, a topical anesthetic is available upon request to ensure a completely painless experience.
What to Expect from Your Cortisone Wrist Injection
After your injection is complete, your pain should dissipate. But your wrist pain may return to full strength when the local anesthetic wears off. This is normal, as anti-inflammatory properties of the corticosteroid medication may take several days to begin working. In the meantime, you can take over-the-counter painkillers to dull the pain.
Pain relief begins once the cortisone has a chance to ease your swelling. The pain-relieving effects of the injection can last anywhere from six weeks to two months. You can have another wrist injection after six weeks, but you can only get three per year. Any cortisone injection in the wrist side effects and risks are minimized by having your injection administered by the experts at Pain Management NYC.
Don’t let wrist pain limit your daily activities or affect your quality of life. Our experienced pain management specialists in Manhattan use advanced diagnostic techniques and minimally invasive wrist injections to target the root cause of your discomfort. With personalized treatment plans and a patient-centered approach, we help you regain mobility, reduce pain, and return to doing what you love. Schedule your appointment today and take the first step toward lasting relief.
Written by Dr. Leon Reyfman, MD, FIPP, RPh
(Pain Management Doctor)