Steroid Injection Service

Our injection service has been specifically developed for patients to gain fast-acting pain relief that targets the inflammation and the cause of your pain.

If you are struggling with basic daily tasks, leisure activities, looking after the kids, or sleeping, and your pain is not improving, a steroid injection may be the answer. 

What is injection therapy?

An injection is a highly effective method of delivering the pain-relieving product directly to where it is needed to reduce inflammation and pain.

 There are a few different treatment options available, all of which have been proven to be effective at reducing pain.

 1. Corticosteroid – a corticosteroid is a strong, fast-acting, anti-inflammatory medication which has been used for decades to effectively treat musculoskeletal pain. Corticosteroids are often mixed with a short-acting anaesthetic, ensuring a comfortable experience.

 2. Hyaluronic acid – hyaluronic acid replicates a joint’s natural lubrication and has been shown to provide significant pain relief and protect arthritic joints. It can take a few weeks to start working, and in some cases, this medication can be mixed with the faster-acting corticosteroid medication. This treatment option can be used on a yearly basis to help preserve joints without causing any harm to the body, and so can be extremely useful for active patients who wish to prolong activities and delay joint replacement surgery. Hyaluronic acid can also be mixed with a short-acting anaesthetic, ensuring a comfortable experience.

 3. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) – PRP is a research-based treatment used primarily for tendon injuries. PRP cells have been shown to be effective at kick-starting the healing process and therefore speeding up recovery. For PRP to be effective, a course of three injections is recommended. This involves taking a small amount of blood from your arm and spinning out the PRP cells utilising a centrifuge. The extracted PRP is then injected back into you at the site of the injury. Once again, PRP can also be mixed with a short-acting anaesthetic, ensuring a comfortable experience. 

 Other techniques that can only be achieved under guidance include:

1.  Aspiration or the removal of excess fluid from joints and cysts. Often, a corticosteroid is used after an aspiration.
2.  Hydrodilatation – a hydrodilatation procedure is used for patients suffering from the pain and stiffness associated with frozen shoulder.  During this technique, a large volume of sterile water mixed with corticosteroid and local anaesthetic is injected into the shoulder joint.  This stretches the joint with the aim of reducing pain and increasing function.  This can only be achieved under ultrasound guidance.

 Although injections are a rapid, evidence-based technique aimed directly at the source of your pain, they are not a stand-alone treatment. To ensure you treat the underlying condition, it is essential that you undertake a course of physiotherapy after an injection. We work closely to ensure you get the best possible treatment.

If you feel you would benefit from a steroid injection, please feel free to contact us.