Johns Hopkins Arthritis Center
My co-worker had a series of Supartz shots six months ago and has had great results. But now the pain is back. Her old doctor retired and the new doctor said he didn’t think she can have anymore shots or series of shots. Can she? How long can she put off surgery, if the shots are doing her so well while they last? Is this something she can do for awhile? Years? Eager to hear back, Sandra
HI Sandra,
There are no clinical trials to say how many courses of shots a patient can take, and what their long-term safety might be. However, in many cases, we do repeat the series of injections in patients whose symptoms return. I don’t know too many docs who do it more than twice but it’s not something I’ve inquired about much in community practice. Sometimes a steroid injection works just as well, and it is only one shot and can be given about 3 times per year.
Dr. Bathon was a Co-Deputy Director of the Division of Rheumatology at Hopkins Bayview. She was also the founder and director of the Hopkins Arthritis Center.
