Shoulder Joint Lubrication
The natural lubricant of the joints is called hyaluronic acid. This lubricant has now been concentrated and can be injected through a needle into the joint in order to increase shoulder lubrication. The lubricant tends to stimulate cartilage cells in order to provide a cartilage repair process to decrease inflammation and decrease the breakdown of damaged cartilage. In arthritic joints, it tends to provide a smoother feeling joint, less pain, and less inflammation. Shoulder injections are done as a single, combined injection, rather than a series of injections. It often lasts from three months to a year in appropriate patients. The procedure is performed in the office with a small local anesthetic at the shoulder.