Skip to Main Content

When should you aspirate a joint?

Joint aspiration is usually done when a joint becomes swollen and painful. Aspirating the fluid allows for the release of the build-up of pressure-causing pain and allows fluid to be sent for proper diagnosis. If your healthcare provider feels like giving medicine into the joint space will help your pain, it will be done during an aspiration.

Joint swelling or fluid build-up can be caused by several conditions, including:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Gout
  • Psoriatic arthritis
  • Septic arthritis
  • Joint injuries
  • Tendinitis

What is joint aspiration (arthrocentesis)?

What kind of doctor does joint aspiration?

How long does it take to recover from a joint aspiration?

Can you drive after a knee aspiration?

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.