Can Acupuncture and Joint Injections Relieve Pain Without Surgery in Jersey City, NJ?
At Harborside Sport & Spine, Dr. David Sylvester and our multidisciplinary team offer advanced acupuncture and joint injection treatments designed to eliminate chronic pain without the need for invasive surgery. By combining modern medical techniques with traditional therapies, we provide a holistic path to recovery that helps you return to your active lifestyle quickly and safely. Contact us now for more information or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 75 Montgomery Street, Suite 603, Jersey City, NJ 07302.


Table of Contents:
What types of pain conditions can be treated with acupuncture and joint injections?
How do non-surgical pain treatments compare to traditional surgical approaches?
Are acupuncture and joint injections safe for long-term pain management?
How do results compare between acupuncture and joint injections?
Which Option is Right for You?
Integrated Relief: Combining Acupuncture, Joint Injections, and PT at Harborside Sport & Spine
At Harborside Sport & Spine, we offer a variety of advanced therapeutic options—including acupuncture and joint injections—to help manage and relieve pain for our patients. Our experienced team integrates these treatments into personalized care plans for a wide range of musculoskeletal and neuropathic conditions.
Acupuncture is an evidence-based, holistic therapy rooted in traditional Chinese medicine and is frequently recommended at Harborside Sport & Spine for conditions such as chronic lower back pain, osteoarthritis, neck pain, migraines, tension headaches, fibromyalgia, and pain related to sports injuries. Many of our patients find that acupuncture provides significant relief, particularly when combined with physical therapy and other conservative treatments.
Joint injections are another effective pain management tool at our practice. These minimally invasive treatments often involve corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid and are used to address pain and inflammation associated with joint conditions like osteoarthritis (in the knee, hip, or shoulder), rheumatoid arthritis, gout, bursitis, tendinitis, rotator cuff injuries, frozen shoulder, and sacroiliac or facet joint pain related to the spine. Our skilled providers use advanced imaging guidance to ensure safe and precise delivery of injections, maximizing their therapeutic benefit.
At Harborside Sport & Spine, we specialize in non-surgical pain treatments designed to help our patients achieve lasting relief, improved mobility, and a better quality of life—without the risks and downtime associated with traditional surgery. Our comprehensive approach combines physical therapy, chiropractic care, advanced pain management techniques (such as targeted injections), and personalized lifestyle modifications to address a wide range of musculoskeletal conditions, from chronic back pain and osteoarthritis to sports injuries and soft tissue strains.
Non-surgical treatments are often the first line of care for most pain-related conditions, as they carry fewer risks and allow patients to avoid complications like infections, blood clots, or adverse reactions to anesthesia that can accompany surgical procedures. At Harborside Sport & Spine, we focus on reducing pain and inflammation, restoring function, and empowering patients with the tools they need to prevent future injuries—all without altering the body’s anatomy.
While surgery may be necessary in certain situations—such as severe joint degeneration or herniated discs that do not respond to conservative care—we believe that most patients benefit from exhausting non-surgical options first. Surgical interventions can offer long-term relief for select cases, but they also involve longer recoveries, increased costs, and a higher risk of complications. Even then, surgery does not always guarantee complete pain relief.
Acupuncture is a key part of our integrative therapy services. When performed by our trained and licensed practitioners, acupuncture is generally very safe. Most patients experience only minor side effects—such as slight soreness or mild bruising at the needle site—which typically resolve quickly. Rare complications, such as infection or injury, are extremely unlikely thanks to our strict adherence to sterile techniques and professional standards. For many patients seeking long-term pain management, acupuncture is a low-risk option that can be used alongside physical therapy, chiropractic care, and other treatments we provide.
Joint injections are another valuable tool in the management of conditions like osteoarthritis, sports injuries, and inflammatory joint disorders. At Harborside Sport & Spine, our experienced clinicians perform these injections with precision and care, using corticosteroids, hyaluronic acid, or other medications as appropriate. While joint injections generally offer significant pain relief with minimal risk, potential complications can include infection, bleeding, or, with repeated use, joint structure changes. Our team discusses these risks with each patient and ensures that any injection therapy is carefully monitored and integrated into a broader rehabilitation and recovery plan.
We believe that both acupuncture and joint injections can be safe and effective components of your personalized pain management strategy—when administered by qualified professionals and tailored to your unique needs. At Harborside Sport & Spine, your health and safety are our top priorities. We encourage you to discuss all available treatment options with our providers so we can help you make informed decisions about your long-term well-being.
Acupuncture, a cornerstone of traditional Chinese medicine, is one of the integrative therapies available at our clinic. By inserting thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body, our licensed practitioners aim to stimulate your body’s natural pain-relieving mechanisms and improve joint function. Research shows that acupuncture is especially helpful for chronic joint pain conditions like osteoarthritis of the knee. While it may take several sessions to notice significant improvement, acupuncture is a safe, medication-free option with minimal side effects—an excellent choice for patients seeking holistic, non-pharmacologic care.
For patients needing more immediate and targeted relief, our medical team offers joint injections, including corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid. These treatments are delivered directly into the affected joint to quickly reduce inflammation and pain. Many patients experience relief within days, with results lasting from several weeks to months, depending on the condition and injection type. Joint injections are particularly beneficial for those with acute flare-ups or inflammatory joint issues. However, they do carry some risks—such as infection or cartilage damage—with repeated use, making it important to tailor the treatment plan to each patient’s needs.
Our experienced team at Harborside Sport & Spine takes a personalized approach to your care. We carefully consider your medical history, the underlying cause of your joint pain, and your treatment preferences. Some patients benefit from combining both acupuncture and joint injections as part of a comprehensive pain management strategy. While neither treatment cures the underlying disease, both can significantly improve symptoms and enhance your quality of life.
Our licensed practitioners offer acupuncture, an evidence-based technique rooted in Traditional Chinese Medicine, as part of your personalized treatment plan. This gentle therapy involves the precise placement of fine needles to stimulate your body’s natural healing processes. Acupuncture can help reduce pain, alleviate muscle tension, improve circulation, and promote relaxation—making it a valuable complement to other rehabilitative treatments.
For patients experiencing persistent joint pain, swelling, or inflammation, we provide targeted joint injections, including corticosteroids and hyaluronic acid. These minimally invasive procedures are performed by our experienced medical team and are ideal for managing conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, and localized joint issues that haven’t responded fully to conservative care. By delivering medication directly to the affected area, joint injections can offer rapid relief and make it easier to participate in physical therapy.
Physical therapy is at the core of our philosophy at Harborside Sport & Spine. Our skilled physical therapists design individualized exercise and rehabilitation programs tailored to your specific needs and goals. Through a combination of hands-on manual therapy, corrective exercises, and patient education, we aim to restore your strength, flexibility, and mobility—empowering you to get back to the activities you love. Contact us now for more information or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 75 Montgomery Street, Suite 603 Jersey City, NJ 07302. We serve patients from Jersey City NJ, Hoboken NJ, Weehawken NJ, West New York NJ, Guttenberg NJ, Secaucus NJ, Harrison NJ, Kearny NJ, Newark NJ, Belleville NJ, Lyndhurst NJ, East Orange NJ and Elizabeth NJ.
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Chiropractic and Physical Therapy Services
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