The local anaesthetic will start to reduce your pain within a few minutes of the injection. This pain relief will last for 1-2 hours. The steroid will take longer to start working; sometimes it can be nearly 1-2 days after the injection before you start to feel better.

The joint you have had injected will hopefully feel better for up to 3 months and sometimes longer, but everybody is different so it may not last this long. If you have had previous injections and they have not lasted this long, then it would be advisable to have your condition re-assessed and a new treatment plan decided with your clinician.

It is recommended to rest the joint that has been injected for 48 hours. This helps the injection work better. If this is impractical, then it is advisable to avoid any strenuous exercise for the following 48 hours. A general principle is to move the joint injected as normal but do not lift or push heavy objects for a week after the injection.

The steroid can make your blood sugar higher than normal. You need to check your blood more often for a week. You may need to increase your insulin. Contact your diabetes specialist for advice if your blood sugar is high.

If you are taking an anti-TNF therapy or other biologic therapies, we can still inject your joints. You must be especially quick to tell us if you have any signs of infection in your joint (see below).

You may take other medications with steroid injections. It is important you tell us if you are taking a drug that thins your blood (an anticoagulant) such as Warfarin. You should bring your monitoring booklet showing your recent INR results. You should arrange a repeat INR 3 days after the injection.

There will be slight discomfort during the injection due to the needle. The local anaesthetic will minimize pain. 

Generally you will be able to leave after your injection, as long as you have felt well. Very rarely people can have an allergic reaction to the drugs. If you had an allergic reaction you get a rash on your skin, feel your face swelling up or feel you can’t breathe properly. If this happens, we will be able to treat you immediately.

We do not want to give you too many joint injections. The most we will give you is 4 in a year, into the same joint. Very occasionally we will give you more than this if there are special reasons. However, there is a small risk of frequent injections causing cartilage damage, especially in weight-bearing joints. Your clinician will be able to advise you more specifically about this risk.

This really depends on your current vitamin levels and concerns. You will have a one to one consultation with one of our practitioners, who will be able to create a treatment plan according to your lifestyle and objectives.

Some patients experience facial flushing after an injection or itching at the injection site. These symptoms should settle within the first few days.
Skin changes – very occasionally you may see some thinning or discoloration of the skin may occur at the site of the injection. This is called de-pigmentation and may take longer to fade; sometimes it has a permanent effect.
Menstrual disturbance – women may have some changes in their normal cycle after an injection. This is more likely if you have more than one joint injected. If it lasts longer than one cycle you should see your doctor.
If you have any reactions that you are concerned about you should contact your GP or attend A&E. You could alternatively call 111 for advice.

Side effects are rare. Very occasionally people notice a flare in their joint pain within the first 24 hours. This usually settles within a couple of days.
The most important but very rare side effect of treatment is infection in your joint. This is very rare (for every 20,000 joint injections no more than one of them would get an infection).
Importantly, you should remember that if you have an infected joint it will not get better with the rest and ice packs we suggested. if your joint feels like it is getting more and more painful and swollen, please contact us. If you have a high temperature and your joint becomes;
Hot, Red, Swollen, Painful