Interventional Procedures
Joint Injections
Corticosteroid or viscosupplement placed into a painful shoulder, hip, knee or other joint under image guidance.
Time in the office
The injection itself takes only a minute or two once the joint is located and numbed, and most appointments are complete within 20 minutes.
When relief starts
Relief typically begins within three to seven days as the anti-inflammatory effect builds, and benefit commonly lasts from several weeks to a few months depending on the joint and the severity of arthritis.
What it is
Joint injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly into an arthritic or inflamed joint, where it acts locally rather than throughout the body.
We use image guidance for deep joints such as the hip to ensure the medication reaches the joint space.
What to expect, step by step
The skin is cleaned and numbed; the injection itself takes only a minute or two.
Ultrasound or fluoroscopy is used where accuracy requires it.
Most appointments are complete within 20 minutes.
Recovery
Resume light activity the same day; avoid strenuous loading of the joint for 24 to 48 hours.
A temporary increase in soreness in the first day is common.
Typical results
Relief typically begins in three to seven days.
Benefit commonly lasts weeks to several months.
Injections work best when used to enable a strengthening program for the surrounding muscle.
Risks and considerations
Serious complications are uncommon, but no procedure is risk-free and you deserve the honest version before you consent.
- Temporary increase in joint soreness for a day or so, sometimes called a steroid flare
- Small risk of infection introduced into the joint, which is why sterile technique is essential
- Thinning of nearby skin or fat with repeated injections in the same spot
- Temporary blood sugar elevation in patients with diabetes
- Cumulative cartilage effects with frequent, repeated steroid injections into the same joint over time
Common questions
Is this a steroid injection or a gel injection?
Which joints can be injected?
Can I keep exercising the joint after the injection?
How many injections can one joint have per year?
Conditions this treats
Joint Injections is most often recommended for the conditions below, once the source of pain has been confirmed.
- ArthritisDegenerative and inflammatory joint disease of the spine, hips, knees and shoulders.
- Musculoskeletal PainPain of the muscles, tendons, ligaments and joints throughout the body.
- Athletic InjuriesSport and training injuries of the spine and joints, managed with an emphasis on return to activity.
- Work-Related InjuryOccupational spine and joint injuries, with documentation and coordination for return-to-work planning.
Related treatments
- Epidural Steroid InjectionsAnti-inflammatory medication delivered precisely around an irritated spinal nerve root to relieve radiating arm or leg pain.
- Facet Joint InjectionsSteroid and anesthetic placed inside an arthritic facet joint to confirm the pain source and calm inflammation.
- Medial Branch BlocksA precise diagnostic block of the small nerves carrying pain from a facet joint, used to plan longer-lasting treatment.
- Radiofrequency AblationRadio waves used to interrupt pain signals from confirmed facet or sacroiliac nerves, often giving relief for a year or more.
Ready to get a real diagnosis?
Most patients are seen within two weeks. Call our office or send a request and our staff will help you choose the most convenient location.