Physiotherapy
Find out more about how we can help your recovery with professional and tailored physiotherapy.
Steroid injections / joint injections are a form of cortisone – usually either kenalog or depo-medrone. Steroids can relieve pain by reducing inflammation.
In Sports Medicine they are usually given as an injection into or around an inflamed joint to ease symptoms. They are commonly used to treat bursitis, osteoarthritis, synovitis. These are NOT anabolic steroids, which are a banned substance in sports.
How long do local steroid injections take to work?
They can give relief within hours but can take a few days to have their full effect.
What are the possible side effects?
Local steroid injections into a joint are safe and side effects are unlikely. Possible side effects include:
- A flare of joint pain for 24hrs
- Facial flushing
- A temporary rise in blood sugars
- Some loss of skin pigment at the site of the injection
- Dimpling of the skin at the site of injection due to wasting of fatty tissue
- Infection
The Doctor will discuss these with you fully before the injection.
What precautions do I have to take after the injection?
You should rest as much as possible for 48hrs then rest from sporting activity for the following 7 days. You should discuss further management with your Sports Medicine Doctor.
