What exactly is the difference between an injection and an infusion? Unless you have spent the last few years in medical school or you routinely work in a hospital, there’s a better-than-average chance that you may not be entirely familiar with the definition of these terms. Suffice it to say that an injection is something that you receive either just under the skin or in the muscle with a needle. An infusion also uses a needle, but it’s set up like an IV. If you’ve ever been in a hospital or had surgery, you know what an IV is like. An infusion is very similar, only it’s typically used for therapeutic purposes.
If all this has your head spinning a bit, don’t worry. Everything can be compared in much greater detail. For starters, let’s look at injections and how they are typically handled. Almost everyone has had an injection at some point in their life. If you’ve ever gotten the flu shot or if you remember getting vaccinated as a child, it was almost always with an injection. Depending on the medication in question, an injection can be given subcutaneously, or just under the skin. Alternatively, you may be given an intramuscular injection. Just as the name implies, these types of injections are given deeper into the tissue, so that medication makes direct contact with muscle tissue. In either case, both forms of injections are given with a disposable needle. These are the types of needles that you see nurses pull out of specially sealed containers, fill with the needed medication, and then dispose of in a Sharps container once the medication has been given. They’re designed for only one use and they’re not hooked up to any other special equipment.
Infusions are a different story. Think back to the IV. If you’ve ever had an IV, you know that you’re basically tethered to the IV bag until the medication is finished. Depending on the type of medication you’re receiving, this can be anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours. You also probably remember that you can’t really move your arm that much because the IV needle is in the vein. It’s not very comfortable to move around a lot and if you’ve ever done so and put some tension on the IV line, you’re reminded quite quickly to put your arm back in its proper position and keep it there. While an infusion is very much like a standard IV drip, it’s not quite the same thing.
How Is It Different?
The thing that really sets an infusion apart is the fact that it’s usually done as a form of treatment. That’s not to say that an IV drip isn’t a form of treatment, as it certainly is. However, people don’t usually have to stay in the hospital while they’re receiving an infusion, at least not long-term. In fact, most individuals walk into an IV clinic and get an infusion, then they’re able to go on their way. People get infusions for all kinds of reasons. Some receive infusions of chemotherapy when they have cancer and others get infusions for chronic pain issues when virtually all other forms of treatment have failed to produce any tangible results. It’s not uncommon to see someone who suffers from extreme back pain or neck pain receiving chiropractic care and infusion therapy simultaneously. Clearly, you’re not getting both forms of treatment at the exact same time but it is possible to be under the care of a medical professional from both types of facilities at the same time. In other words, you may receive chiropractic treatment on one day of the week and then receive infusion therapy a couple of days later. If you’re in a great deal of pain, this can be a way to try and get ahead of the issue so you can start to reclaim your life.
If you’re still not quite sure what the differences between an injection and infusion are, here are some key points:
* An injection doesn’t require any IV lines, nor does it require an IV pump.
* Injections are an effective way to administer medication.
* Infusions are much more similar to traditional IV drips.
* An infusion is typically used to treat some type of chronic issue such as pain.
If you’re one of the tens of thousands of individuals who suffer from pain every day of your life and you feel like you’ve tried everything, it might be time to consider combining chiropractic care and infusion therapy. The best way to get started is to have a frank conversation with your physician and then seek out both a qualified chiropractor and an IV clinic. They may be able to help you get your life back on track without being forced to deal with excruciating pain on a daily basis. Call us today at 205-352-9141.
