MSK STEROID INJECTIONS SOUTHAMPTON & FAREHAM

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Steroid injections are a non-surgical option for treating painful, stiff, and swollen joints. They are also effective in reducing pain and inflammation associated with bursitis and injured or inflamed tendons.

These injections contain hydrocortisone, a medication designed to alleviate inflammation in joints and soft tissues. By relieving pain, stiffness, and swelling, steroid injections can improve mobility and provide relief for a number of months.

Watt Health offers steroid injections performed by Dr Sam Phillips, a GP with a special interest in Sports and Exercise Medicine.

What are Steroid Injections?

Steroid injections combine a local anaesthetic with a corticosteroid, such as hydrocortisone, to treat pain and inflammation caused by arthritis or injury.

These injections can be administered directly into joints or around inflamed tendons and bursae to provide pain relief.

So How Does it Work?

The steroid is released gradually, reducing pain and swelling for several months. In some cases, the effects may last up to a year. While repeat injections are possible, it is generally advised to limit them to three or four per year, as frequent use may damage the cartilage within the joint.

Who Can Benefit From Steroid Injections?

Steroid injections can effectively reduce joint and soft-tissue pain, improve your function, and get you moving again. Dr Phillips uses steroid injections to treat pain and inflammation in a range of conditions, including:

• Osteoarthritis of the knee, ankle, toes,shoulder, elbow, wrist, base of the thumband fingers.

• Tennis Elbow

• Golfer’s Elbow

• Frozen Shoulder

• Tendinopathies

• Bursitis

• Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

• Mortons Neuroma

• Ganglion Cysts

• Trigger Finger

During the Procedure:

Dr Phillips will discuss your problem, examine you and confirm your appropriateness for the procedure, as well as any concerns you may have.

• He will clean the skin above the injection site to reduce your infection risk.

• He will then inject a mixture of hydrocortisone and local anaesthetic using a fine needle into the site, before withdrawing the needle and applying a plaster or small dressing to the wound.

• The local anaesthetic will work immediately to ease the pain. As this wears off, you may experience more pain for 24 hours before the hydrocortisone starts to act to reduce inflammation – typically feeling the full affect at around 1-2 weeks.

What are the benefits of steroid injection:

Steroid injections ease pain, reduce swelling and restore movement without surgery.

Steroid injections can provide symptomatic relief while other treatment measures start to take effect, such as lifestyle measures, physiotherapy and shockwave treatment.

What are the Risks of Steroid Injection?

All joint injections carry risks; Dr Phillips usesbest practice and care to reduce the risk of complications.

Individual pros and cons of treatment can be discussed in the consultation.

In general, the complications of steroid injections include:

• Pain following the injection.

• Swelling around the injection site.

• A small risk of infection of the joint fluid or the injection site.

• Damage to the nerves and tendons around the injection, which can rarely be severe.

• The steroid medication can weaken or thin the tissue in and around the joint.

• The steroid can thin the skin and the fat under the skin causing lasting changes.

• The injected steroid is absorbed in low levels into your bloodstream. If you have diabetes, it may make your blood sugar control more difficult for a few weeks.

Been told an injection may be beneficial for your issue? Get in touch to see if Dr Phillips can help you!