Knee Injection
Your knees are tough joints; they cushion your landing when you jump, like in basketball, and they take all the torque when you run, like in soccer. Knees bridge the intersection between the femur in your thigh and the fibula and tibia in your shin. Knees have a complex structure of ligaments and tendons that allow you to bend and stretch your knees.
Knee Injection NYC — SPIN Sports Pain Specialists
Ready to get rid of your knee pain?
Same-day knee injection appointments available.
So, when knee pain strikes, visit a sports injury specialist to find out about your treatment options. There are many reasons why your knee (or knees) are hurting, including: If it does not settle with rest, a knee pain doctor in Midtown Manhattan can identify exactly which structure is involved.
- Knee injury
- Knee sprain
- Arthritis in your knee
- Ligament tear
- Meniscus tear
- Tendonitis
- Bursitis
- Kneecap pain
With so many possible causes for your pain, your experienced pain management specialist needs to determine exactly what's wrong with your knee. The diagnosis — arrived at through a physical examination, medical history and, if necessary, additional imaging tests — determines the treatment. But an injection can ease the pain and inflammation in your knee.
Types of Knee Injections
Not all knee injections are the same. At SPIN, we offer several types depending on your diagnosis:
Cortisone (Corticosteroid) Injections
The most common type. Cortisone reduces inflammation quickly - typically providing relief within 3-5 days. Used for arthritis, bursitis, and tendonitis.
Hyaluronic Acid (Gel) Injections
Also called viscosupplementation, these lubricate the knee joint and are used primarily for osteoarthritis. Relief builds over 4-8 weeks and can last 6-12 months.
PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) Injections
PRP uses growth factors from your own blood to stimulate healing. Used for partial ligament tears, chronic tendonitis, and moderate arthritis.
Genicular Nerve Block
A targeted injection that blocks nerve signals causing chronic knee pain. Used when arthritis or post-surgical pain hasn't responded to other injections.
Intra-Articular Injections
Directly into the knee joint space - the technique used for most cortisone, gel, and PRP injections at SPIN.
Is a Knee Injection Right for You?
Whether any of these treatments are right for you is a question only your pain management doctor can answer after reaching your diagnosis. Often, your doctor starts you out with conservative treatment options, like rest, over-the-counter pain relievers and physical therapy. But when these remedies don't provide the needed reduction in pain, one of these injections for knee pain may be the next step. Surgery, such as partial or total knee replacement, is always the last option, if nothing else worked.
Getting Injections for Knee Pain
You can get same-day knee injections at the Sports and Pain Institute in NY. After your diagnosis is determined and your treatment is decided, you're made comfortable on an x-ray table. Your doctor relies on fluoroscopic images in real-time to guide the needle to the exact spots in your knee that the medicine has to reach.
Whether you receive a genicular nerve block knee treatment, knee injections for arthritis, steroid injection for knee pain, or viscosupplementation injections, you have the same procedure. All injections, in fact, contain some local anesthetic to instantly relieve your pain, although the effects of the anesthetic last only a couple of hours. After the procedure, you can go home, where you should relax for the rest of the day.
Ready to find relief from knee pain?
Dr. Melepura's Midtown Manhattan clinic offers same-day appointments for evaluation and treatment.
Risks and Side Effects
All knee injections are safe and all have a track record of success. But risks and side effects, though rare, can happen. Every kind of knee injection carries the risk of infection, but you can avoid that by keeping your knee clean and dry. Particular risks of each type of knee injection include:
- Cortisone injection knee risks: Tendons may become weaker, your bones may become thinner and the injection can damage a nerve.
- Genicular nerve blocks knee risks: An itchy rash may develop, or in some cases, pain relief isn't noticeable until a month or more after the injection.
- Viscosupplementation injections into your knee risks: You may experience Inflammation, stiffness, and soreness. It's also possible the treatment just doesn't work for you.
These risks and side effects are minor compared to the potential benefit of several pain-free months. Talk to your doctor about the risks before deciding to get a knee injection.
What to Expect After a Knee Injection
There are different outcomes depending on the kind of the issue and the injection's type. Steroid injections help promptly relieve knee pain and inflammation. You may feel a temporary "steroid flare-up" in pain that can last two days following the injection. Afterward, the discomfort in your joint will reduce, giving you long-standing pain relief. Pain relief can recover your knee functions that have been impaired by inflammation.
Another type of knee injection called visco-supplementation injection involves injecting a gel-like fluid called hyaluronic acid into the inflamed knee joint. With this knee injection, you may not feel any immediate benefit. Many patients report some pain relief after several weeks of the course of injections, while others may benefit even months after the first injection.
You may experience some swelling, heat, redness, itching, rash, bruising around your joint, and a build-up of fluid in your treated knee. These reactions are usually mild and transient.
How soon does a knee injection work?
Cortisone injections typically provide relief within 3-5 days, peaking around 7-10 days. Gel (hyaluronic acid) injections build more gradually - full effect in 4-8 weeks.
What Can I Do After the Knee Injection?
If there aren't any issues after the procedure, you are free to go home. You may be advised to:
- Avoid strenuous activity for the next 48 hours, including swimming or running
- Do not take hot tubs
- Avoid exposure to something that can carry infection through the needle track for the next 24 hours
- Monitor for side effects, such as an allergic reaction or an infection
- Take pain relief medication if you feel discomfort
Light activities, like walking, are allowed.
Can I walk after a knee injection?
Yes. Most patients walk normally immediately after. We recommend avoiding high-impact activity for 24-48 hours.
When can I exercise after a knee injection?
Light activity is fine within 24-48 hours. Return to full exercise after 2-3 days for cortisone. For PRP or gel injections, allow 5-7 days of reduced activity.
Resting the joint after the injection is important to allow the inflammation to lessen. It's best to stay active once you can exercise without feeling the discomfort or pain. However, it's dangerous to overexert. Overexertion can damage your knee joint, making the whole steroid injection treatment useless.
Can I Shower After a Knee Injection?
It's okay to take a shower the same day. But, it is best to not take a bath, a hot tub, or go to a sauna or pool for at least 48 hours after the injection.
How long does a cortisone shot in the knee last?
Most patients get 6-12 weeks of relief. Some get 6+ months depending on the underlying condition.
The extent of the inflammation and overall health play a vital role in the duration of the injection effects. If you pair the injection with physical therapy or other rehabilitation treatments the relief can be prolonged.
How many cortisone shots can you get in your knee?
We typically recommend no more than 3-4 per year in the same joint. Frequent repeat injections can weaken cartilage over time. If cortisone provides diminishing returns, gel or PRP may be considered.
We try to avoid repeating the procedure by making the first injection as effective as possible. Only if there's a need, the procedure can be repeated. All the details can be discussed during your follow-up visit to a doctor.
Knee Injection Cost in NYC
The cost of a knee injection in NYC depends on the type of injection, your insurance coverage, and whether imaging guidance is used.
Insurance Coverage
Cortisone injections are typically covered by most insurance plans when medically necessary. Hyaluronic acid gel injections are covered by many plans for qualifying osteoarthritis diagnoses. PRP is usually not covered by insurance.
Out-of-Pocket Costs
If paying out of pocket: cortisone injections typically range from $100-$300. Gel injections range from $400-$1,000 per series. PRP ranges from $500-$1,500 per injection.
At SPIN
We accept most major insurance plans. Our team will verify your benefits before your appointment. Contact us to confirm coverage.
Knee Injections in NYC at SPIN
Looking for knee injections in NYC? At SPIN, all knee injections are performed in-office by Dr. Febin Melepura - a board-certified pain management specialist in Midtown Manhattan.
- Image-guided injections for precision placement
- Same-week appointments available
- All injection types: cortisone, gel, PRP, genicular nerve block
- Conveniently located in Midtown Manhattan
- Most major insurance plans accepted
100+ Real Stories from Our Patients
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura - Your Knee Injection Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to knee pain is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
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"I felt listened to and truly understood by Dr. Melepura. Started PT the very next day. They were very friendly and I didn't feel rushed at all. Already recommended them to my friends who have or continue to play through pain."
Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Injections
Most patients describe a brief pinch at the injection site. We use ultrasound or fluoroscopic guidance for accurate placement and include a local anesthetic. Most patients return to normal activity within hours.
By necessity, the doctor may inject a syringe into the knee joint and remove a small amount of joint fluid. It will alleviate the pressure and pain from the knee.
Knee injection is a type of procedure in which medications are injected into the knee joint to treat the pain. Types of injections include steroid shots, hyaluronic acid injections, and genicular nerve block. A genicular nerve block works by blocking the nerves that carry pain signals from your inflamed knee.
A steroid shot (or a cortisone knee shot) works by immediately reducing inflammation in your joint. Hyaluronic acid is normally present in healthy knee joints and helps lubricate them. But people with osteoarthritis (joint inflammation) generally lack enough amounts of this gel-like, elastic fluid in their joints.
Benefits of hyaluronic acid injection:
- Replaces the elasticity of your joint fluid
- Improves lubrication
- Eases pain from osteoarthritis
- Improves mobility
- Increases your physical activity level
Cortisone reduces inflammation quickly - best for arthritis flares and tendonitis. Gel (hyaluronic acid) injections lubricate the joint gradually - better for moderate osteoarthritis where long-term support is the goal.
Cortisone shots typically last 6-12 weeks. Gel injections can provide relief for 6-12 months. PRP results often last 6-18 months as the regenerative process takes effect.
Yes, bilateral knee injections can be performed in the same visit when clinically appropriate. Our physician will assess both knees during your consultation.
The most common side effect is a temporary cortisone flare - increased soreness for 24-48 hours. Less common effects include temporary skin discoloration. Serious complications like infection are rare with sterile technique.
Steroid injections are safe if used in appropriate doses. These injections are a common treatment for arthritis, tendonitis, and muscle and joint inflammation. To treat arthritis pain, the dosage of injections shouldn't be more than four injections every 12 months.
Nevertheless, potential side effects can happen with larger doses and frequent use. Repeated steroid injections can cause arthritis aggravation, weakening of the tendons and bones, and gradual damage to the joint and its cartilage. Hence, their frequent use should be restricted.