Joint Injections

What is a Joint Injection?

A joint injection is a targeted treatment that delivers medication directly into a painful or inflamed joint. These injections typically contain a combination of local anaesthetic and corticosteroid to reduce inflammation and provide pain relief. Some injections may use hyaluronic acid or other substances depending on the joint condition.

This treatment benefits patients with various joint conditions including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, bursitis and other inflammatory joint conditions. It's particularly helpful for those who haven't responded adequately to oral medications or physiotherapy.

How Joint Injections Work

Joint injections work by delivering anti-inflammatory medication directly to the source of pain and inflammation. The procedure may use ultrasound guidance to ensure precise placement of the medication within the joint space.

The local anaesthetic provides immediate pain relief, while the steroid medication reduces inflammation over the following days. This combination helps break the pain cycle and can provide relief lasting several months.

What to Expect When Receiving Joint Injections

Before Your Treatment: Before your joint injection, you'll have a consultation to review your medical history and previous treatments. Your specialist will conduct a physical examination of the affected joint and review any relevant imaging such as X-rays or MRI scans. They will also discuss whether you need to stop taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, before the procedure.

During Your Treatment: During the procedure, which typically takes 10-15 minutes, your specialist will clean the skin with antiseptic and may use local anaesthetic to numb the area. They might use ultrasound guidance to ensure precise needle placement. While you may feel brief pressure or mild discomfort, the procedure is generally well-tolerated.

After Your Treatment: After your injection, you'll remain in the clinic for a short monitoring period of 15-30 minutes. The joint may feel numb for a few hours, and you might experience temporary increased pain as the anaesthetic wears off. You can apply ice to the area to reduce any discomfort.

Risks and Complications of Joint Injections

While generally safe, potential risks include:

• Temporary increase in pain
• Infection (very rare)
• Minor bleeding or bruising
• Skin colour changes around injection site
• Allergic reaction to medication
• Joint infection (extremely rare)
• Tendon weakening if injected too frequently

Your specialist will discuss these risks and how they relate to your specific case.

How to Recover Following Joint Injections

Day of injection:

• Rest the joint for 24-48 hours
• Apply ice if needed for comfort
• Avoid strenuous activities
• Keep the injection site clean and dry

Following days:

• Gradually return to normal activities
• Follow any prescribed exercise programme
• Monitor your response to the injection
• Continue with recommended physiotherapy

Long-term management:

• Maintain joint-friendly exercise habits
• Follow up with your healthcare team as advised
• Keep track of how long pain relief lasts
• Consider timing of future injections if needed

References

NHS: Joint Pain Management

Arthritis Research UK: Joint Injections

British Society for Rheumatology guideline