Corticosteroid Injections

Overview - What is a Corticosteroid Injection?

We often encourage patients to exhaust several conservative treatment options, including intraarticular cortisone injections, prior to scheduling surgical intervention. Cortisone is a strong anti-inflammatory medication that, if injected into the affected joint, may provide substantial pain relief for weeks to months.

These injections are very helpful both from a therapeutic and diagnostic standpoint. For patients who have more than one potential source of pain, an intraarticular cortisone injection helps to differentiate whether the majority of symptoms are coming from within the joint itself or from another source such as the back, a tendon, or other structure.

Injections are performed in the hip joint under ultrasound guidance, making them minimally invasive and ensuring accurate placement. Patients can typically drive themselves home after the procedure. Knee injections generally do not require imaging guidance.

Candidacy - Who Is a Good Candidate?

A corticosteroid injection may be appropriate if you have:

• Hip or knee arthritis causing significant pain or swelling
• Trochanteric bursitis or other inflammatory hip conditions
• Inflammatory joint conditions including rheumatoid arthritis or gout
• Pain that is limiting your ability to participate in physical therapy
• A desire to manage symptoms non-surgically before considering surgical intervention

What to Expect

Corticosteroid injections are performed in office and require no special preparation. The injection is performed using ultrasound guidance for accurate placement in hips. Knee injections generally do not require imaging guidance. Most patients experience only mild discomfort during the procedure and are able to drive themselves home afterward.

Diabetics should monitor blood sugars more frequently for several days following the injection, as cortisone may temporarily raise glucose levels. Other potential side effects include insomnia, headache, dizziness, feeling warm or flush all over and soreness at the injection site. Intraarticular cortisone injections can be repeated as often as every three months.

Recovery Timeline

Frequently Asked Questions