Injections

We inject Corticoid steroids like cortisone, which is synthetically created to mimic the body’s own natural steroids. It works by reducing inflammation, which in turn reduces pain, breaking this cycle and allowing you an opportunity to undertake appropriate rehabilitation, which can be done with the support of one of our experienced therapists to get you back to your best.

Steroid injections are great at treating any condition that has an inflammatory component to the pain. For example Osteoarthritis, tendinopathy, bursitis, damage to cartilage or labrum, synovitis and many more painful conditions.

At your initial consultation, the doctor will take time to understand your symptoms and undertake a thorough assessment to ensure the injection is right for you. It is important to let the doctor know of any known allergies, such as plasters and to inform us if you are pregnant. Please also let the doctor know if you have any medical conditions and take any regular medications including blood thinning medications. This is also a great opportunity to ask the doctor any questions you may have about the procedure.

Prior to your procedure, eat and drink as normal and take any regular medication as usual (unless advised otherwise by the doctor). Please come to your appointment wearing loose, comfortable clothing.

The injections are performed using our high-tech fluoroscopic x-ray or Ultrasound for guidance and precision, by using this image guidance for accuracy and safety, the doctor can be confident the injectate is being delivered to the desired location.

Local anaesthetic is used on the injection point to make the procedure as comfortable as possible for you, some patients experience feelings of pressure as the fluid is injected however most patients are often surprised at how quick and comfortable the process is.

The injection is a long acting steroid which may take up to 2 weeks to start working. It is often common to not feel a huge benefit for the first day or two and some people may feel worse temporarily, but this should begin to settle within a week.

The procedure can provide you with a dramatic decrease in your symptoms, often the steroid injections are curative, however occasionally the effects are short term. It is safe to repeat the procedure if this happens.

Once the steroid starts taking effect, it can ease your symptoms for anywhere from two months to a year or longer depending on you as an individual. If you do feel the effects wearing off sooner than you would have liked, please don’t worry, get in touch with our team, there is often so much more we can do to help.