Frequently asked questions

Sonographers (radiographers) or radiologists (doctors) that have specialised training in the technique of ultrasound. They carry out a great number of these examinations and will provide a descriptive report of their findings to your doctor.

Ultrasound images complement other forms of scans and are widely used for many different parts of the body. They can also be used to study blood flow and to detect any narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, for example, in the neck.Ultrasound is also used for intimate examinations; for example, of the prostate gland in men or the womb or ovaries in women. For some of these examinations, it may be necessary to place a small ultrasound probe in the vagina or the rectum to look at internal structures. If you are having an intimate examination the radiologist or sonographer will describe the procedure to you before and seek your informed consent.

Evidence suggests steroid injections administered under ultrasound guidance are far more accurate than without. Needle placement can be carefully monitored and can target the problem area.Ultrasound-guided steroid injections can provide significant pain relief, reduce inflammation and improve joint mobility for those suffering with long-term joint pain, as well as in the management of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

Both knees can be injected at the same sitting. We would be required to take a little more blood and a second sterile kit would be used to obtain the APS (Autologous Protein Solution).

There is minimal risk. You may experience a small amount of discomfort at the injection site and occasionally redness and swelling. Very rarely, as with all clinical procedures, you may develop an infection.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

Sometimes you can get bruising and discomfort at the site where blood is taken from your arm and around the site of the injection around the knee. Paracetamol can be taken but it is advised to avoid anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen/voltarol for 1 week before treatment and 2 weeks post-treatment.

During the procedure, blood is drawn from your arm and in a clinical environment separated to obtain a concentrated nSTRIDE APS solution. This solution (about 3ml) is then injected into the osteoarthritic knee. During the injection, you may experience a minor pinch and discomfort.After the treatment, it’s normal to experience some knee pain and stiffness, which subsides after about 2 days. You should minimize physical activities for 14 days after treatment to increase the efficacy of the injection. Osteoarthritis pain starts to decrease in approximately one to two weeks following the nSTRIDE injection.After a few weeks, pain and discomfort are alleviated, and the attained results last for approximately 1-2 years. Although this treatment is deemed one of the best in the industry, it is still not a cure for osteoarthritis.

Steroid injections, also called corticosteroid injections, are anti-inflammatory medicines which are used to treat a wide range of painful joint conditions. A steroid injection administered under ultrasound guidance can be more targeted than without.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

Yes, unlike a steroid injection where there may be a limit to the number of injections you can receive, nSTRIDE can be repeated in the future if necessary.

nSTRIDE and PRP injections are similar in that both are autologous treatments that utilise blood proteins to promote tissue healing. The key difference between the two is that nSTRIDE contains white blood cells (leukocytes) and anti-inflammatory proteins (cytokines), which are not present in PRP injections. Also, unlike PRP, which requires several injections to attain desirable results, nSTRIDE is a one-time injection providing results that typically last between 1 to 2 years.Compared to keyhole surgery, nSTRIDE is a non-invasive procedure with minimal to no downtime, and it can be performed within an hour. For patients with moderate osteoarthritis, keyhole surgery is often not considered to be beneficial, but nSTRIDE tends to slow, halt, and even reverse osteoarthritis progression. As a non-invasive and autologous procedure, nSTRIDE carries few risks, unlike surgery. In severe cases however, nSTRIDE cannot be used in place of total knee replacement but could delay the need for surgery.