Ultrasound Guided Injection Specialist
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Louis Peter Re, Jr., MD
located in Midtown West, New York, NY
When you have serious shoulder pain, instability, or stiffness due to conditions like osteoarthritis, tendinitis, or frozen shoulder, an ultrasound-guided injection is often highly effective. At his office in the Midtown West area of Manhattan, New York City, fellowship-trained and board-certified shoulder specialist Louis Peter Re Jr., MD, offers injections using ultrasound guidance for maximum precision and symptom relief. Call the office or use the online scheduling tool to book your appointment anytime.
Ultrasound Guided Injection Q & A
What is an ultrasound-guided injection?
An ultrasound-guided injection is a highly precise in-office treatment method. In this type of procedure, Dr. Re uses a handheld ultrasound transducer to visualize the area of damage. He injects an anesthetic and then performs the injection directly where you need it.
Ultrasound imaging allows Dr. Re to see underlying tissues in detail as he guides the needle into the proper spot. This is important because in a highly complex joint like the shoulder, the target treatment area could be only millimeters wide.
What do you inject during an ultrasound-guided injection?
Dr. Re injects substances like platelet-rich plasma (PRP) or hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) directly into damaged tissue or joints.
PRP
PRP is a concentrated blend of your blood plasma (the liquid) and the healing platelets. Dr. Re uses the cutting-edge Arthrex® Angel® system to remove the platelets from your blood and then concentrate them into your plasma.
This makes a solution that's up to 18 times as powerful as your blood's normal healing abilities. PRP can boost your recovery speed and greatly alleviate the pain of shoulder damage and injury.
Hyaluronic acid
Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring protein that can treat degenerative damage from osteoarthritis. Synthetic hyaluronic acid is a thick substance that can work as a buffer between the bones that make up your joint if you've lost natural cartilage there.
This injection can help reduce swelling and pain. Hyaluronic acid injections are most common in the knees, but may help with joint problems in other areas.
Pain medication
When you have persistent inflammation, swelling, and pain in a joint or in other tissue, Dr. Re may recommend an ultrasound-guided injection using pain medication.
The most common medications for pain, inflammation, and swelling relief include anti-inflammatory and corticosteroid drugs.
Dr. Re recommends the right type of ultrasound-guided injection based on your injury or condition to make sure you attain maximum symptom relief.
What happens after ultrasound-guided injections?
Ultrasound-guided injections are an in-office procedure that typically takes just a few hours in the office. Although the actual injection lasts only a few minutes, it takes time to administer anesthesia and determine the ideal placement for your injection.
Additionally, after your injection, Dr. Re also monitors you for a short period before you go home. Dr. Re gives you specific instructions for recovery. In general, injections require no downtime.
Ultrasound-guided injections can stop your symptoms, and might even help you put off surgery. Call the office of Louis Peter Re Jr., MD, or schedule online to find out more.