Steroid Joint Injections

A steroid joint injection is a procedure to inject steroid medicine into a joint. Steroid medicine decreases pain and inflammation. The injection will contain an anaesthetic (numbing medicine) to decrease pain. It may be done to treat conditions such as osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, or tennis elbow. The injections may be given in your knee, ankle, fingers or shoulder.

WHAT CONDITIONS ARE TREATED

Osteoarthritis
Tennis Elbow
Frozen Shoulder
Trigger finger
Sports Injuries

The TREATMENT PROCESS

Step
1

PRIOR TO TREATMENT

The first appointment may be a quick over-the-phone discussion and will involve a discussion with our clinician who will discuss your concerns and why you may be considering steroid joint injection treatment and whether this is the right treatment option for you. Our medical practitioners will then guide you through your treatment information. You can discuss every aspect of your treatment with no obligation to go ahead. Our medical practitioners are extremely knowledgeable and highly trained and will happily answer any questions you have. If you feel ready to go ahead, we can book your treatment in for a date and time that suits you.

Step
2

TREATMENT

On the day of your treatment, you will be given some more information about your treatment and will also have an opportunity to ask any last-minute questions you may have. The initial stage involves our clinician will examine your joint and thoroughly clean your skin with an antiseptic. The medical practitioner gives the local anaesthetic as a combined injection with the steroid using a single needle. You’ll usually be able to go home when you feel ready. It’s best for friends or family to drive you home.

Step
3

POST TREATMENT

You’ll be able to leave the clinic as soon as your treatment has been completed, we advise rest for 48 hours. We will also advise over-the-counter analgesia post-treatment. We believe that the highest quality aftercare is just as important as the treatment itself, so we’re here to support you. Aftercare will be explained to you before you leave our clinic and you have the opportunity to ask us anything if you need. If you have any questions or concerns at all, you can always contact Dermalogic Aesthetics at any time.

BOOK A COMPLIMENTARY CONSULTATION

Steroid Joint Injection

£100.00

Our steroid joint injection treatment is available in Coventry.

Profile Registered Aesthetics Doctor & General Practitioner (GMC)

FULL PROFILE

Dr Nabeel Malik

Registered Aesthetics Doctor

Benefits of having this treatment with us:

We are Fully Qualified medical practitioners. Therefore all practitioners undertaking treatments come from a medical background and have a university degree in pharmacy or medicine.
Our team has years of experience in aesthetic treatments. We ensure all treatments are carried out to the highest standards, to achieve optimum results.
We pride ourselves on patient care and experience, therefore, our experienced team will ensure that your visit and treatment is as informative, comfortable and professional as possible
We have very high patient satisfaction. Our patients are very happy with their results resulting in many returning to have additional areas treated. We also have many that recommend friends and family to our clinics.
We are committed to evidence-based practice and use premium products. We use FDA and CE approved products for the treatments.
We are registered with Save Face. This government approved register is the highest level of recognition available for professionals working within aesthetic cosmetic medicine within the UK.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

You’ll have the opportunity to ask your medical practitioner any questions as part of your consultation, but to start the ball rolling here are the answers to some that our patients most frequently asked questions.

Can steroid joint injections manage my symptoms long-term?

Steroid joint injections aren’t usually used as a long-term treatment. Steroid injections may help to ease symptoms such as pain, stiffness and swelling, and make it easier for you to have other treatments, such as physiotherapy. Your medical practitioner may also recommend anti-inflammatory medicines, rest, ice or heat. It’s also important to look at, and think about, changing how you do certain activities if they may have brought on your symptoms. This may help stop the problem coming back.

Your medical practitioner may suggest that you only have a limited number of injections in each affected joint, to reduce the chance of getting side-effects. These include possible damage to your cartilage and tendons.

If you still have pain or swelling after a course of steroid injections, speak to your medical practitioner about alternative treatments.

How often can I have a steroid joint injection?

Some studies have suggested that repeated injections of steroids into your joints can damage the cartilage covering the ends of your bones. To reduce the chance of this, medical practitioners try not to use these injections more often than every three months in the same joint. No more than a maximum of four injections in a year are recommended.

If you still have pain or swelling after a course of steroid injections, speak to your medical practitioner about alternative treatments.

Do I still need to do my exercises?

Yes, you should still complete the exercises set by your physiotherapist. Your physiotherapist may also encourage you to complete more intensive mobilisation treatment in the days after the treatment while the joint is less painful.

How many steroid injections am I allowed to have?

You usually need to wait at least 6 weeks between injections. Medical practitioners normally recommend no more than three injections to the same area in the space of 12 months.

How quickly does the injection take to work?

Shorting acting soluble steroids usually begin to give relief within a few hours. Longer acting steroids may take around two weeks to become effective, but these types usually ease symptoms for a longer period.

How long will the effects of an injection last?

It really depends on a number of factors. Some longer lasting, less soluble steroids can be effective for two months or longer. Sometimes improvement can be none at all. Factors include what else the patient may be doing to themselves, for example, if you have tennis elbow, and you have a steroid injection and then continue aggravating the problem you may get limited benefit. However, if you also make changes to your lifestyle, sports, do rehab exercises, and see a physiotherapist it is likely the effects of the steroid injection will last much longer.

What side effects can an injections cause?

This will depend on where the steroid is injected and what type of steroid you receive. Milder forms such as hydrocortisone tend to have weaker side effects than the stronger mixtures of methylprednisolone and triamcinolone.

Pain and discomfort for a few days in the injected area
Temporary bruising or collection of blood under the skin
A flushed complexion
An infection, causing redness swelling and pain
Paler skin at the injected area
Loss of fat at the injected area
A rise in blood sugar (more likely for diabetes sufferers)
Risk of tendon rupture

Can I go straight back to work?

If you feel okay and aren’t in too much pain it is fine to return to work immediately. However, if your job involves heavy lifting, you should aim to reduce your workload for several days following.

Can I drive straight after the injection?

Yes, as long as you aren’t in too much pain and feel you can safely control the vehicle. However, it is advisable to wait and relax for a short period immediately after the injection before driving a vehicle.

Can I drink alcohol while on steroid injections?

Yes, there is no specific reason to avoid alcohol after receiving a steroid injection.

Do steroid injections affect pregnancy?

Single steroid injections are not likely to affect fertility or pregnancy. However, if you are pregnant it is strongly advised that you seek a doctor’s advice before receiving a steroid injection. If in any doubt, do not have a steroid injection.

Do steroid injections affect breastfeeding?

If an injection is given during breastfeeding, small amounts can pass into your breast milk. While this is unlikely to be harmful to your baby, you should still consult with a doctor before receiving a steroid injection. If in any doubt, do not have a steroid injection.