Joint Injections
For the right patient, an injection can be done in the same visit where the problem is diagnosed, with no separate referral and no second waiting room.
IM Clinic performs in-office joint injections for select patients, including knee joint injections, shoulder injections, and hip bursa injections. Whether an injection is appropriate depends on your diagnosis, what you have already tried, and your other medical conditions, all of which is determined at an office visit.
What we inject
Knee joint injections, shoulder injections, and injections of the bursa at the outside of the hip, the common source of hip-area pain that hurts when lying on that side. We do not perform injections into the hip joint itself; those generally require image guidance and are done by radiology or orthopedics, and we will arrange that referral if it is what you need.
"Select patients" means what it says
An injection is not the answer for every joint problem, and it is not the first answer for most. It fits best when the diagnosis is clear, when conservative measures have been tried or are being tried alongside it, and when your other conditions do not make it a poor idea. Diabetes, infection risk, blood thinners, and recent injections in the same joint all factor in. We will tell you plainly if you are not a good candidate.
Why having it done here matters
The alternative is usually a referral, a wait of several weeks, and an appointment with someone who has never met you. When it is appropriate to do in our office, you get it in the office from a team that already knows your history and can follow up on how it worked at your next visit. If it did not work, that information goes straight back into your plan rather than into a report someone mails over.
What to expect
The injection itself takes a few minutes. Some soreness afterward is normal, and relief typically builds over several days rather than arriving instantly. Injections relieve symptoms; they do not repair the underlying joint, which is why we pair them with physical therapy, activity changes, and the rest of the plan rather than treating them as the whole treatment.
It is part of a bigger plan
Injections work best as one piece of managing joint problems. See our page on joint and back pain for how we approach the evaluation, when imaging is worth ordering, and when a specialist is the right call.
Common questions
Can I get an injection at my first visit?
Sometimes, if the diagnosis is clear and you are an appropriate candidate. Often we want to examine you, review what you have already tried, and discuss it before proceeding. Call the office at (256) 715-9598 and we can tell you what to expect.
Do you inject the hip joint?
No. We inject the bursa at the outside of the hip, which is a common source of hip-area pain. Injections into the hip joint itself typically require image guidance and are performed by radiology or orthopedics, and we will refer you if that is what you need.
How often can an injection be repeated?
There are limits on how frequently a joint should be injected, and they depend on the joint and your situation. We will go over the specifics with you rather than repeating injections indefinitely.
Does insurance cover it?
Joint injections are generally covered when medically indicated. Coverage and your out-of-pocket cost depend on your plan, so call or text us at (256) 715-9598 and we can check.
Do I have to be an established patient?
Injections are offered as part of ongoing care here rather than as a standalone procedure, so yes. Registering takes a few minutes online.
Other care we provide
Primary Care
An ongoing relationship with a care team that knows your history, not a chart handed to a stranger.
Preventive Care
Annual physicals, screenings, and Medicare Annual Wellness Visits that catch problems early.
Telemedicine
Video visits from home or work for follow-ups, medication checks, and many routine concerns.
Same-Day Care
Same-day and next-day sick visits for established patients, at your own clinic rather than an urgent care.
Weight Loss & GLP-1
Physician-supervised weight management, including GLP-1 medications when they are the right fit.
Appointments
How to get an appointment
Two paths, depending on whether we have seen you before.
New patients
Register, then we'll call you
Complete your registration online. It takes a few minutes. Our office contacts you to schedule your first visit and verify your insurance before you come in.
Existing patients
Request in the portal or the app
Send an appointment request through the patient portal or the athenaPatient app and our staff will schedule it. You can also text us at (256) 715-9598. For anything same-day or urgent, please call. The phone is faster.
Prefer to talk to someone? Call (256) 715-9598 during office hours: Monday through Wednesday 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Thursday and Friday 7:30 AM to noon. That same number accepts text messages.
Accepting new patients
Come see if we are a good fit for you. Register online in a few minutes, or call and we will walk you through it.
Already a patient? Request an appointment in the portal or use the athenaPatient app.