[Medical Q&A] What is the use of a closed injection? Is it harmful to the body?

Planner: Chinese Medical Association

Reviewer: Han Liqiang, deputy chief physician, Tianjin Third Central Hospital

Orthopedic clinics often have patients with tenosynovitis, tendinitis or fasciitis. The pain is severe, but oral analgesics or topical medications are not very effective. At this time, doctors will recommend patients to get a blocking injection, but some patients will refuse for two main reasons: first, the blocking injection is very painful and unbearable; second, the injected drug contains hormones, which are not good for the body. Is this really the case? The answer is of course no.

Blockade therapy is a treatment method that achieves pain relief, reduces inflammatory response and promotes tissue repair through local injection of drugs. There are two main drugs used, one is lidocaine (also known as anesthetics), and the other is glucocorticoids (such as triamcinolone acetonide, dexamethasone, etc.). The former is a drug that takes effect immediately after blocking and can relieve pain immediately; the latter is a long-term drug, mainly using the anti-inflammatory effect of glucocorticoids to reduce inflammatory response and relieve pain. Although glucocorticoids are a type of hormone drug, the amount of each blockade is very small and basically does not cause harm to the human body. As for the severe pain when the blockade injection is given, it is nonsense. The blockade injection is the same as the daily injection, and the pain level is basically the same, and it will not cause severe pain. Blockade injections are generally once a week, and 4 to 6 times is a course of treatment. Of course, whether a blockade injection can be given needs to be evaluated by a doctor. If you are allergic to the drug or have an infection, it is not suitable. Blockade therapy is a routine treatment. Although it is very safe, you must go to a regular hospital for it.