Injection Therapy

Joint pain can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, making daily activities difficult and reducing overall mobility. Joint steroid injections, also known as corticosteroid injections, are a common treatment option for managing inflammation and pain in various joints, including the knees, shoulders, hips, and spine. These injections are widely used for conditions such as arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and more.

What Are Joint Steroid Injections?

Joint steroid injections are a type of treatment where corticosteroid medication is injected directly into a joint to reduce inflammation and alleviate pain. Corticosteroids are synthetic drugs that mimic the effects of cortisol, a hormone naturally produced by your adrenal glands. They work by suppressing the immune system and reducing the production of substances that trigger inflammation.
In many cases, joint steroid injections are combined with a local anaesthetic to provide immediate pain relief while the corticosteroid takes effect over the course of a few days.

Benefits of Joint Steroid Injections

Joint steroid injections offer several advantages, making them a popular choice for managing joint pain and inflammation:

• Quick Pain Relief
• Reduction of Inflammation
• Minimally Invasive
• Targeted Treatment
• Improved Quality of Life

Conditions Treated with Joint Steroid Injections

These injections are often recommended for the following conditions:

• Shoulder pain (rotator cuff impingement, tendinitis, frozen shoulder, osteoarthritis)
• Knee pain (osteoarthritis, torn meniscus, tendinitis)
• Hip Pain (osteoarthritis, bursitis, tendinitis)
• Tennis and golfer`s elbow
• Ankle pain (tendinitis, osteoarthritis, impingement)
• Wrist pain (tendinitis, osteoarthritis)
• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis
• Morton’s Neuroma

Types of injections: 

• Ostenil – Hyaluronic Acid
• Monovisc– Hyaluronic acid
• Cingal – Hyaluronic acid and Corticosteroid
• Corticosteroid

The Procedure: What to Expect during

The process of receiving a joint steroid injection is typically quick and minimally invasive:

1. Preparation: The skin around the injection site is cleaned and sterilized. Sometimes, a numbing agent is applied to the skin.
2. Injection: Using a fine needle, the clinician injects a mixture of corticosteroid and anaesthetic directly into the joint.

The entire procedure usually takes less than 30 minutes

The procedure: What to Expect after?

Some discomfort after the treatment could be experienced. To manage the pain use ice packs or paracetamol.

• Do not take anti-inflammatory medications (inc. Ibuprofen and diclofenac)
• Prepare to take few days of relative rest.
• Contact your health care professional if you have any further concerns.

Potential Side Effects of Joint Steroid Injections

While joint steroid injections are generally safe and the procedure is carried out with great care and caution, some rare side effects and risks are possible

• Temporary flare up of symptoms, numbness, pins and needles and tingling.
• Bruising, redness of swelling at the site of injection.
• Facial flushing.
• Changes in skin pigmentation or dimples in the skin.
• Changes in blood sugar; if you have diabetes, please discuss with your clinician.
• Tendon, blood vessel, nerve damage; very rare.
• Infection; very rare.
• Changes in vision; very rare.

Who Should Avoid Joint Steroid Injections?

Joint steroid injections may not be suitable for everyone. Your clinician may advise against this treatment if you:

• Have a current infection or sepsis.
• Are allergic to corticosteroids or anaesthetics.
• Have poor control over diabetes or blood pressure.
• Children under 18 years
• Recent fracture at the area of the treatment
• Joint replacement to the area of treatment

Some precautions are required for other medical conditions or for patients taking certain medications; however, these will be discussed with you by your clinician prior to your injection.