Recent studies show that patients that received intra-articular injections of non-opioid anesthetics felt less pain and were walking further more quickly. When compared to the traditional nerve block alone, intra-articular injections added to the short-term recovery of total knee patients.
I have found this to be true in my practice as well. For the past several years many patients have been able to go home the same day after partial and total joint replacements with the use of intra-articular injections. To read more about this study Click Here.