Hip Joint Injection (Femoral + Obturator Nerve Block)
Why do I need a hip joint injection?
The hip is one of the largest and most important joints in the body, as it supports a significant proportion of an individual’s weight. It can develop wear and tear due to its consistent levels of movement and loadbearing. When osteoarthritis develops, people often experience pain and stiffness in hip, which could significantly reduce the ability and motivation to remain mobile and function normally.
Nerve blocks in the hip are non-surgical procedures for the treatment of constant pain in the joint, which may be due to wear and tear, or other causes such avascular necrosis of femur (a condition where the blood supply to the head of the thigh bone is compromised) and pain that might exist after hip replacement surgery. The hip injections that we do at Atlas Pain Care could provide relief from chronic hip joint pain in the medium to long-term
How is a hip joint injection performed?
A hip joint nerve block is done by injecting pain relieving medication close to the small branches of the main nerves (Femoral and Obturator nerves) that supply the hip joint, under X-ray guidance. You will be helped to change into a hospital gown and positioned on your back on the procedure table. The groin area will then be cleaned with antiseptic and draped. Following which the skin is numbed with a small needle and the nerve is blocked using a longer needle under X-ray guidance. The procedure normally takes 15-20 minutes. You will then be observed in our recovery area for a short while and later discharged home. When the pain relief is good, but short lived, a pulsed radiofrequency lesioning of the two small branches of the nerve could provide long-term benefit. In this procedure, an electric needle is guided under image-control to be positioned closer to the nerves, which are then gently stunned with the pulsed radiofrequency current.
How effective is a hip joint injection and what are the risks with this procedure?
The procedure often takes full effect in a week or two post-injection. A hip injection can achieve several months’ worth of joint pain relief. The risk of complication from a hip joint injection is very low. However, there could be bruising, swelling or inflammation at the injection site.
Please read our FAQ section to know more about the do's and don'ts prior to and after the procedure.