The Good and Bad of Game Day Injections
Game day injections work like a magic pain relief bullet for some athletes but they may also pose complications if not administered correctly or if the individual does not comply with doctor guidelines, reveals a new clinical review published in the September/October issue of Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach.
“All soft tissue injections for pain control whether it is a corticosteroid, local anesthetic or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like Toradol have potentially serious side effects that must be considered, especially in pregame settings. Our review investigated the clinical indications for soft tissue injections, possible complications and the current outcome studies available,” said lead author, Matthew Matava, MD, Associate Professor of Orthopaedics at the Washington University School of Medicine.
Matava and his team analyzed current information regarding the uses of corticosteroids (cortisone), local anesthetic pain relief agents and the NSAID Toradol. Authors suggested that it is critical that the sports medicine professional be aware of the various agents and their varying pharmacologic characteristics.
Local anesthetics such as lidocaine, allow for an immediate assessment of pain relief and as a confirmatory diagnostic method when the source of discomfort or injury is in question. Allergic reaction is one of the most common complications with this form of pain relief in athletes. This type of injection into an injured tendon or ligament is likely to increase the risk for ruptures or other degenerative processes, said the authors.
Toradol is the only NSAID currently available in an intramuscular or intravenous form in the U.S. The study in Sports Health, highlights the lack of published information available on Toradol’s use in athletics. The most common side effects include stomach upset, increased bleeding possibility and renal failure. The increased bleeding risk with high levels of Toradol is especially significant, in collision sports such as football.
(Source) Press
Comments
Trackbacks
Leave a Comment