Steroid injections

Steroids occur naturally in the human body. Artificial steroids act like natural steroids to reduce inflammation in an affected area or joint but also have a wider whole-body effect. Steroid injections have been used for many years as a quick and effective treatment for soft tissue conditions, joint pain, and inflammation. The effects are usually short lasting, up to 3 months, usually 4-6 weeks, but can give a window of opportunity to engage with rehabilitation and a home exercise program for longer lasting benefits.

Steroid injections are often recommended for people with painful conditions such as:

Tendonitis: This inflammation or irritation of a tendon can be found in various parts of the body, including the shoulder (rotator cuff tendonitis), elbow (tennis elbow or golfer’s elbow), wrist, hip, knee (jumper’s knee), and ankle (Achilles tendonitis).

Bursitis: Bursitis is the inflammation of the small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion the bones, tendons, and muscles near your joints. It often occurs in the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee.

Arthritis: Injections can help manage the pain and inflammation associated with various forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.

Plantar Fasciitis: This condition, causing pain in the heel or bottom of the foot, can be treated with injections to alleviate pain and promote healing.

Ganglion Cysts: These noncancerous lumps often developing along the tendons or joints of your wrists or hands can be treated with injections to reduce their size and associated discomfort.

Neuromas: These benign growths of nerve tissue can cause pain or discomfort, and  injections can be used to alleviate these symptoms.

Trigger Points: These are painful “knots” in your muscles. They can be relieved with injections guided 

Remember, while injections provide an effective method for treating a variety of conditions, they are just one component of a comprehensive treatment plan. 

When a local anesthetic is injected, this can reduce your pain within a few minutes of the injection. The steroid affect will take slightly longer to occur, usually 1-2 days but can be up to a week. Within this time, you can continue to manage your pain through gentle movement, analgesia, ice, or heat packs. It is advised that you take a few days of relative rest from vigorous or excessive exercise / stress of the joint / area affected after the injection.

The effects of the steroids should only really last for up to 4-6 weeks, but the benefits can last longer periods of time, particularly if used in conjunction with a rehabilitation program. Steroid injections can promote an anti-inflammatory response which will help to reduce pain and swelling allowing you to focus on your rehabilitation exercises.

Most people have steroid injections without any side effects. It is normal to experience slight discomfort and pressure during the time of the injection, and occasionally you can experience post injection pain within the first 24 hours. This usually settles by itself a few days, however taking painkillers such as paracetamol may help (please check with your pharmacist). There is a risk of infection at the site of the injection or in the joint, but this risk is minimised using safe technique within a clinic setting. With steroid injections there is a small risk of bruising, thinning or colour changes locally in the skin at the injection site.

The steroid dose is very low therefore normal side effects of steroid tablets are very rare. However, it is important not to overuse injections and it is advised not to have more than 3 per year at any 1 site.

Steroid injections can lower your immune system so any vaccinations 2 weeks before or after the injection should be avoided. Similarly, you should be clear of any signs of infection, particularly COVID ideally for 4 weeks prior to the injection.

Initial assessment plus follow up appointment to carryout injection £225