What role do medicines and injections play in treatment?

Much musculoskeletal pain can be treated at a Korean medicine clinic with Chuna manual therapy, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and exercise. However, in the acute stage when pain is so severe that sleep becomes difficult and daily life falls apart, analgesics, NSAIDs, neuropathic pain medications, or injection therapy are sometimes used alongside them.

These treatments serve to lower acute pain; they are not treatments that reverse joint and muscle movement or the underlying causes of recurring pain. Because the burden on the body also accumulates with repeated use, it is best to use them with clear goals only for the strictly necessary period, and once the acute crisis has passed, to continue recovering movement and function through Korean medicine treatment.

The duration of administration and dosage must be considered in conjunction with age and the status of the gastrointestinal tract, kidneys, and cardiovascular system, as well as other concurrently administered medications. Consult your prescribing healthcare provider if you have a history of stomach ulcers or bleeding, kidney or cardiovascular disease, or if you take anticoagulants.

The fact that pain has decreased does not necessarily mean that joint mobility and muscle strength have both been restored.

They may be used in the acute stage when pain is severe to reduce inflammation and pain relatively quickly. The effect and duration vary from person to person.

However, risks accumulate the more frequently they are repeated. Tissues such as tendons, ligaments, and cartilage at the injection site can weaken, and systemic effects such as elevated blood sugar and reduced bone health have also been reported. Depending on the anatomical site, there are studies showing that compared to short-term effects, long-term outcomes were actually poorer.

Diabetes and infection risk, along with the number and interval of previous injections, must be evaluated together. If injections are repeatedly needed, it is better to recheck the diagnosis and plan to restore movement and muscle function through Korean medicine treatment such as Chuna manual therapy, rather than continuing the same injections.

Even if pain is reduced after medication or injection, weakness in the arms or legs may occur, or sensory loss may progress. We separately assess whether actual functions such as walking, climbing stairs, lifting arms, and sitting down and standing up have improved.

Rather than abruptly increasing activity levels by exploiting pain reduction, return to daily life gradually.

If there are no warning signs in the medical history and physical examination, and management of joint movement and muscle function is needed, Chuna manual therapy, acupuncture, pharmacopuncture, and exercise may be considered. You must inform the Korean medicine doctor about your current medications and the recent injection sites and timing.

Do not arbitrarily reduce or discontinue the prescribed medication; consult with the prescribing medical team.

Whenever the efficacy of the medication diminishes and pain recurs or injections need to be repeated, and if functional limitations persist, it is advisable to reassess movement, muscle strength, and load in daily life in addition to treatments that suppress pain.

Prompt medical evaluation is recommended for new muscle weakness, changes in bowel or bladder function, or high fever.

Acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory analgesics, as well as neuropathic pain medications, have different mechanisms of action and precautions. With anti-inflammatory pain medicines, gastrointestinal bleeding, ulcers, kidney function and cardiovascular risks need to be considered. Tell your healthcare provider if you also take anticoagulants or other medicines.

Medicines for nerve pain can cause dizziness or drowsiness, so driving and fall risks need to be considered. If you are pregnant or may be pregnant, do not take this medication without consulting a healthcare provider.

Steroid injections may be used to reduce inflammation and severe pain in appropriate indications. In patients with diabetes, blood glucose fluctuations, infection status, skin condition, tissue state at the injection site, and response to prior procedures are considered together.

The appropriate interval and frequency of repeated injections vary depending on the site, condition, and patient status, so they cannot be determined arbitrarily.

While pain reduction allows for activity, it is necessary to confirm whether muscle strength, sensation, and joint movement have actually recovered. If you experience dragging of the foot, repeatedly dropping objects, joint locking, or recurrent swelling, do not judge improvement based solely on pain reduction.

Utilize the period when symptoms have improved for exercise and functional recovery, but do not suddenly increase activity levels.

You must inform the Korean medicine doctor of the names and dosages of medications currently being taken, as well as the injection sites and dates from recent injections. Bleeding risk and infection, dizziness, and sleepiness may affect treatment safety.

Do not arbitrarily reduce or discontinue prescribed medications without consulting the prescribing medical team due to treatment at a Korean medicine clinic. It is important to distinguish the roles and objectives of each treatment when planning.

Confirm the medication name and dosage, purpose of use, and expected duration, and inform the medical staff about any history of gastrointestinal bleeding, kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or infection risk. If a suspected adverse reaction occurs, consult the prescribing healthcare provider rather than arbitrarily adding other medications.

We confirm whether the treatment goal is short-term pain control to aid sleep or reducing acute inflammation to initiate activity. Subsequently, we compare not only the pain score but also actual improvements in walking and sitting, arm lifting, and muscle strength and sensation. Rather than repeating the same treatment without a goal, we regularly review the effectiveness, side effects, and alternative options.

Stopping a prescription medicine on your own because pain has eased, or adding an over-the-counter medicine with the same ingredient because the effect feels insufficient, may increase the risk of side effects. Even if the product names differ, they may contain the same analgesic and anti-inflammatory ingredients; therefore, you must inform your healthcare provider and pharmacist about any medications or dietary supplements you are taking. Consult with your prescribing healthcare provider regarding medication reduction and discontinuation.

After injection therapy, we check not only pain reduction but also muscle strength, sensation, joint movement, and daily functioning. If severe swelling or warmth at the procedure site, fever, or new neurological symptoms occur, do not dismiss them as normal; contact the treating facility or seek the necessary evaluation.

Even if the product names differ, the same analgesic and anti-inflammatory ingredients may overlap; therefore, you must inform healthcare providers and pharmacists about prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, and dietary supplements. Medication reduction and discontinuation should be discussed with the prescribing healthcare provider; even if pain after injection decreases, it is necessary to separately confirm whether muscle strength, sensation, joint movement, and return to daily activities have actually improved.