Targeted Treatment When It Is Appropriate
Injections have become an important part of modern orthopaedic care. When appropriately selected, they can help reduce pain and inflammation, improve function and, in some situations, support rehabilitation.
However, an injection is not simply a treatment for pain—it should be used for the right patient, for the right condition, at the right time.
My approach is to first understand the underlying problem and then determine whether an injection has a meaningful role in the overall treatment plan.
What types of injections may be considered?
Depending on the condition, joint and individual circumstances, orthopaedic injection treatments may include:
Corticosteroid injections – primarily for reducing inflammation and pain in selected joint and soft-tissue conditions.
Hyaluronic acid injections – used in selected patients with symptomatic osteoarthritis, with the aim of improving symptoms and function.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) – prepared from the patient's own blood and used in selected musculoskeletal and tendon conditions. Evidence and expected benefits vary depending on the condition.
Other biologic or regenerative approaches – considered selectively and only when there is a reasonable clinical basis for their use.
Image-guided injections – ultrasound or other imaging may be used when accurate placement is particularly important.
Injections are not for everyone
The same injection does not work equally well for every patient. The diagnosis, severity of the condition, age, activity level, previous treatments and individual goals all influence the decision.
I discuss the potential benefits, limitations and risks of an injection before recommending it. In many situations, injections are most useful when combined with appropriate exercise, physiotherapy, rehabilitation and lifestyle measures.
A part of a larger treatment plan
An injection may provide a window of pain relief that allows a patient to participate more effectively in rehabilitation. In other situations, it may help control symptoms while we monitor the progression of a condition or consider other treatment options.
Importantly, injections should not be used simply to postpone a necessary treatment indefinitely.
My philosophy
Treat the cause. Relieve the symptoms. Preserve the joint.
The goal of injection treatment is not merely to give temporary relief. It is to help the patient move better, participate in rehabilitation and maintain function whenever possible.
I consider injections as one component of individualized orthopaedic care, alongside exercise, rehabilitation, medication, lifestyle measures and surgery when surgery is genuinely necessary.
The right injection, for the right patient, at the right time.