Steroid joint injection (Intra-articular and soft tissue corticosteroid injection)

An injection of anti-inflammatory steroid into or around a painful joint or soft tissue to ease pain and swelling for a period of time.

✓ Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant · last reviewed September 2026 · next review September 2027 · how we review

In short

A steroid joint injection calms inflammation to ease pain and stiffness, but it treats symptoms rather than curing the underlying problem.
Relief is temporary, often a few weeks to a few months, and for some people it does not work; it usually works best alongside exercise and physiotherapy.
It often starts to help within a few days, sometimes after a brief flare-up of pain in the first day or two.
Injections are usually limited in the same area, and the main safety points are infection, a temporary flare and skin changes, so ask how many you should have and when to seek help.

A plain-English summary. The detail — including risks and recovery — is below.

At a glance

TypeSteroid injection into or around a joint or soft tissue

AnaestheticLocal anaesthetic is often mixed in or used to numb the skin; no general anaesthetic

How long it takesThe appointment is usually short; the injection itself takes a few minutes

Hospital stayOutpatient; you go home the same day

Time off workUsually none, though resting the area for a day or two is advised

When you'll see resultsOften starts to help within a few days; relief may last weeks to a few months, and sometimes not at all

On the NHS?Available on the NHS for many joint and soft tissue problems; also offered privately

A general guide. Your specialist will give you advice for your situation.

Best fit

Can reduce pain and swelling in a joint or soft tissue

Pause if

There is an infection in or near the joint, or you are generally unwell with an infection.

Main recovery point

If a local anaesthetic was used, the area may feel numb and more comfortable. Avoid relying on it too much, as this comfort is temporary and the joint is...

Good aftercare

Clear written advice on rest, activity and the signs of infection, with a named contact.

First few hours

If a local anaesthetic was used, the area may feel numb and more comfortable. Avoid relying on it too much, as...

First 24 to 48 hours

Rest the area and avoid strenuous activity. Some people have a short increase in pain (a steroid flare); rest and...

Days 2 to 7

The steroid usually starts to take effect and pain and swelling begin to ease. Keep the dressing dry for the first...

First few weeks

If it works, the benefit builds and you can use the window of less pain to do exercises or physiotherapy. Avoid...

Medical line illustration of an ultrasound probe scanning beneath the skin for Steroid joint injection. — Illustration only - not a diagnosis, medical advice or a promise of result. Your anatomy and treatment plan may differ. Vuemedics does not publish before-and-after photos.

What is a steroid joint injection?

A steroid joint injection puts a small dose of anti-inflammatory medicine (a corticosteroid, sometimes called cortisone) into or around a painful joint or soft tissue, such as a shoulder, knee, hip, hand or tendon area. It is often mixed with a local anaesthetic. A rheumatologist, other doctor or a specialist physiotherapist gives it, sometimes using ultrasound to guide the needle.

It is used to calm inflammation that is causing pain and stiffness, for example in osteoarthritis, frozen shoulder, bursitis, tendon problems, trigger finger or some types of inflammatory arthritis. By reducing swelling, it can ease pain and make it easier to move and to do exercises or physiotherapy.

A steroid injection treats the symptoms, not the underlying problem. It does not cure arthritis, regrow cartilage or fix the cause of the pain. The relief is temporary, often lasting from a few weeks to a few months, and for some people it does not help at all.

It works best as one part of a wider plan, alongside exercise, physiotherapy, weight management or other treatments. It is usually limited to a small number of injections in the same area, because repeated steroid can have downsides for the tissues.

Types, options & approaches

There may be different ways to do this. The right approach depends on the clinical question and your circumstances.

Joint (intra-articular) injection

Steroid is injected into the joint space itself, for example a knee, shoulder or hip, to calm inflammation inside the joint in conditions such as osteoarthritis or inflammatory arthritis.

Soft tissue injection

Steroid is injected around a tendon, bursa or other soft tissue, for example for bursitis, tennis elbow, trigger finger or plantar fasciitis, rather than into the joint.

Ultrasound-guided injection

An ultrasound scanner is used to guide the needle to exactly the right spot. This can be useful for deeper joints, such as the hip, or where accuracy is important.

Steroid with local anaesthetic

A local anaesthetic is often injected with the steroid. This can ease the procedure and give early pain relief, and can also help confirm where the pain is coming from.

Steroid injection vs other options

Question	Steroid injection	Exercise / physiotherapy
Main effect	Calms inflammation, eases pain	Builds strength and function
How long it lasts	Weeks to a few months	Lasting if kept up
Cures the cause?	No	No, but can improve the problem
Often used	To allow exercise to begin	Alongside or instead of injection

An injection and exercise are not either-or. An injection can create a window of less pain in which physiotherapy and activity are easier.

Preparing for your injection

Tell the clinician if you have diabetes, as steroid can raise your blood sugar for a few days afterwards.
Mention any blood-thinning medicines, a bleeding tendency, or if you feel unwell or have any infection.
Tell them about any allergy to steroids, local anaesthetic or skin-cleaning fluids.
Let them know if you are or might be pregnant or are breastfeeding, so the options can be discussed.
Ask whether to keep taking your usual medicines, and bring a list of them.
Plan to rest the injected area for a day or two, and arrange help if it is a weight-bearing joint.
Mention any recent steroid injections, as there are limits on how often the same area is injected.

What happens

The clinician examines the area and cleans the skin. They may numb the skin first, or mix a local anaesthetic with the steroid. A fine needle is used to place the medicine into the joint or soft tissue, sometimes with ultrasound to guide it to the right spot. You may feel a sharp scratch and some pressure or aching as the medicine goes in.

The injection itself usually takes only a few minutes. Afterwards a small dressing or plaster is put on, which you keep dry for a day or two. You can usually go home straight away.

If a local anaesthetic was used, the area may feel numb and more comfortable for a few hours, before the anaesthetic wears off and the steroid gradually takes effect over the following days. You will usually be advised to rest the area for about a day.

Is this injection right for me?

A good consultation should explore whether it's the right choice for you now — including reasons to wait or consider something else.

May not be suitable if…

There is an infection in or near the joint, or you are generally unwell with an infection.
The pain is not coming from inflammation that steroid can help, so the injection is unlikely to work.
There is an allergy to the steroid, local anaesthetic or skin-cleaning fluid.
The same area has already had the recommended maximum number of injections, raising the risk of tissue damage.
An unstable or badly damaged joint may need a different approach, such as surgery, rather than repeated injections.

Delay or rearrange if…

You have any active infection, a fever or feel unwell.
There is broken or infected skin over the injection site.
Your blood sugar is poorly controlled and you have diabetes, until this is discussed.
You are on blood thinners that may need checking or adjusting first.
You are or might be pregnant or are breastfeeding, until the options have been discussed.

Alternatives to discuss

Physiotherapy and a strengthening or movement programme.
Simple painkillers or anti-inflammatory medicines, where suitable.
Weight management and activity changes to reduce load on the joint.
Other injections, such as hyaluronic acid, in selected joints, where appropriate.
Waiting and reviewing, or considering surgery, for advanced joint damage.

Before you decide

Use this as a shared-decision checklist. The aim is not just “can this be done?”, but whether it is right for you, now, with the risks and alternatives clearly understood.

What matters most to me?

Think about symptoms, daily life, work, caring responsibilities, sport, fertility, travel, appearance and anxiety — the right choice depends on your priorities, not just the medical facts.

What are all my options?

Ask about waiting, monitoring, medicines, rehabilitation, a smaller or larger procedure, a different test, NHS referral, or a second opinion where that would help.

What would make me pause?

Active infection, pregnancy, unstable medical problems, smoking, medicines that increase bleeding, poor support at home, or feeling pressured are all reasons to slow down and get tailored advice.

What happens if I do nothing today?

For some problems, waiting is safe; for others, delay can make treatment harder. A good consultation should explain the trade-off in plain English.

Benefits

Can reduce pain and swelling in a joint or soft tissue
Can improve movement and make exercise and physiotherapy easier
Targets one area directly, with less effect on the rest of the body than steroid tablets
Can help confirm where pain is coming from when local anaesthetic is included
Can be useful while waiting for, or deciding about, other treatments
Avoids or delays the need for stronger painkillers in some people

Risks & complications

More common

A short period of increased pain in the first day or two before it settles
Soreness, bruising or bleeding at the injection site, especially on blood thinners
A flushed face for a few days after the injection
A few days of raised blood sugar if you have diabetes
No improvement in symptoms for some people

Less common

A 'steroid flare', a painful reaction around the site in the first 24 hours that can last several days (reported in about 2 in 100 people)
Paler skin or a dimple where fat thins under the skin near the injection (reported in up to about 4 in 100 people)
Feeling faint or nauseated around the time of the injection (up to about 2 in 100 people)
A change in the timing or heaviness of the next period in some women

Rare but serious

Infection in the joint or soft tissue (reported in around 1 in 3,000 injections), which causes a hot, very painful, swollen area and needs urgent care
Weakening or, rarely, rupture of a nearby tendon, especially with repeated injections
Temporary, or rarely lasting, numbness or nerve irritation near the injection
A severe allergic reaction, usually within the first 30 minutes

The most important risk to recognise is infection in the joint: although it is rare (around 1 in 3,000 injections), a joint that becomes hot, increasingly painful and swollen over the days after an injection, especially with a fever, needs urgent medical attention. Repeated injections in the same area can weaken tendons and thin the skin and fat, which is why the number is usually limited, often to no more than about three a year in one area. Tell the clinician about diabetes, blood thinners, pregnancy and any previous reactions, and ask how this injection fits into your overall plan.

Published figures to discuss

Steroid joint injections are generally low-risk, but the chance and size of any benefit vary widely depending on the condition, the joint and the cause of the pain. Some of the most useful figures come from large NHS patient-information sources. The most important risk to recognise is joint infection, which is rare but serious, and repeated injections carry added risks to tendons and skin.

Figure	Reported range	How to interpret it	Source / confidence
Steroid flare (short-lived pain reaction)	Reported in about 2 in 100 people	Starts in the first 24 hours and can last several days; usually settles with rest and simple painkillers.	Guide sourcesClinical context
Infection in the joint or soft tissue	Reported in around 1 in 3,000 injections	Rare but serious; a hot, very painful, swollen area, especially with fever, needs urgent care.	NHS — Steroid injectionsnhs.ukPublished figure
Skin colour change or fat thinning at the site	Reported in up to about 4 in 100 people	More likely with repeated injections in the same place and may not fully recover.	Guide sourcesClinical context

These are literature figures, not a personalised prediction. Your own risks and likely benefits depend on your circumstances, your health, and how your care is carried out and followed up.

What happens afterwards

There is usually no real recovery time, but the area is best rested for a day or two. The steroid typically takes a few days to work, and any benefit is temporary, so it is sensible to plan exercise or physiotherapy to make the most of any pain relief.

First few hours

If a local anaesthetic was used, the area may feel numb and more comfortable. Avoid relying on it too much, as this comfort is temporary and the joint is not yet healed.

First 24 to 48 hours

Rest the area and avoid strenuous activity. Some people have a short increase in pain (a steroid flare); rest and simple painkillers usually help, and it settles within a few days.

Days 2 to 7

The steroid usually starts to take effect and pain and swelling begin to ease. Keep the dressing dry for the first day or two.

First few weeks

If it works, the benefit builds and you can use the window of less pain to do exercises or physiotherapy. Avoid very heavy use of the area in the first couple of weeks.

Review at about 6 weeks

A review is often arranged to see how well it worked and whether anything further, such as another injection or a different treatment, is needed.

What's normal — and not a worry

A short increase in pain in the first day or two before it improves
Mild bruising or soreness at the injection site
A flushed face for a few days
A few days of higher blood sugar readings if you have diabetes
Gradual improvement over several days rather than instant relief once any local anaesthetic wears off

Aftercare

Rest the injected area as much as possible on the day of the injection and the next day.
Avoid heavy use, sport or strenuous exercise of the area for about two weeks.
Keep the dressing or plaster dry and in place for the first day or two.
Use simple painkillers and a cold pack if you have a flare of pain, unless advised otherwise.
If you have diabetes, check your blood sugar more closely for a few days.
Use any window of pain relief to do recommended exercises or physiotherapy.
Know the signs of infection and who to contact if the area becomes hot, very painful or swollen.

Before your injection

Simple painkillers and a cold pack at home for any flare
A way to rest the joint, such as time off heavy activity
Blood sugar testing kit ready if you have diabetes
A note of the clinic's contact number for urgent concerns
Any recommended exercises written down
A reminder of when your review appointment is

Scars and how they heal

There is no surgical wound, just a needle puncture covered with a small plaster. Some bruising or soreness at the site is common and usually fades within a week. Less often, the skin near the injection can become paler or a little dimpled where fat thins under the surface; this is more likely with repeated injections in the same place and may not fully recover.

⚠ Get urgent help if…

A joint or area that becomes increasingly hot, swollen and very painful over the days after the injection
A high temperature, chills or feeling generally unwell after the injection (possible infection)
Signs of an allergic reaction, such as a spreading rash, swelling of the face or lips, or wheeze (call 999)
Pain or swelling at the site that keeps getting worse rather than settling
New weakness, numbness or loss of movement in the limb
Sudden severe pain or a feeling of something giving way, which could signal a tendon problem

Who to contact: your clinician, clinic or test provider first (keep their number to hand). For urgent advice when you can't reach them, call NHS 111. In an emergency, call 999.

General guidance — it doesn't replace the specific advice your specialist gives you.

Results & realistic expectations

A good result is a useful reduction in pain and swelling that lets you move more easily and get on with exercise and daily life, usually starting within a few days. The benefit is temporary, often lasting weeks to a few months, and varies a lot from person to person.

An injection cannot cure arthritis, repair cartilage or fix the underlying cause of the pain, and for some people it does not help at all. It is best thought of as a way to buy a period of relief in which other treatments, such as strengthening exercises, can do their work. Whether and when to repeat it depends on how well it worked and on the limits on injecting the same area.

How long it lasts

How long relief lasts is unpredictable, ranging from a few weeks to several months, and tends to be shorter in advanced joint damage. Because the effect wears off and repeated steroid can weaken tendons and thin skin and fat, injections in the same area are usually limited, often to no more than around three a year, with a gap of at least several weeks between them. Lasting improvement usually comes from tackling the underlying problem with exercise, weight management or other treatment, not from injections alone.

Related tests, treatments or support

Steroid injections are often combined with physiotherapy and a strengthening programme, since the period of less pain makes exercise easier. They may also be used alongside painkillers, weight management or, for some types of arthritis, disease-modifying medicines. For some joints, other injections, such as hyaluronic acid, may be discussed, though the evidence varies.

Follow-up & long-term care

A review is often arranged at around six weeks to see how much the injection helped and how long the benefit lasted. This guides whether to repeat it, try a different treatment or focus on exercise and other measures. If symptoms point to infection or another problem before then, you should seek help straight away rather than waiting for the review.

Keeping up strengthening and movement exercises to maintain any benefit
Spacing out any repeat injections and staying within recommended limits for the same area
Managing weight and activity to reduce load on a painful joint
Reviewing the wider treatment plan if injections are needed often or stop helping

Repeat, follow-on and what comes next

If the injection helps but wears off, a repeat may be considered, but only within the limits for that area.
If it does not help at all, repeating it is usually not worthwhile, and a different treatment is considered.
Needing frequent injections is a sign to review the wider plan rather than to keep injecting the same spot.

Ask what happens if the result is unclear or needs repeating, and what is included if further tests or follow-up are needed.

What good aftercare looks like

Clear written advice on rest, activity and the signs of infection, with a named contact.
A review to check how well it worked and how long the benefit lasted.
Linking the injection to physiotherapy or an exercise plan, not using it in isolation.
Honest discussion about limits on repeat injections and when a different treatment is needed.

What affects the cost

Costs vary a great deal between people and providers, and we don't publish prices. What matters is understanding what drives the cost and making sure your quote is complete. The main things that affect it:

Whether ultrasound guidance is used to place the needle
The seniority of the clinician giving the injection
The type and dose of steroid and whether local anaesthetic is included
Whether a consultation and examination are part of the appointment
Whether physiotherapy or a follow-up review is included
The number of areas or injections needed

Make sure your written quote includes

The fee for the consultation and the injection
Whether ultrasound guidance is included or charged separately
Whether the cost of the medicine is included
Whether a follow-up review is included
What happens, and what it costs, if a further injection is needed
What support is available if a complication, such as infection, occurs
The cancellation policy

On the NHS? Steroid joint and soft tissue injections are commonly available on the NHS when clinically appropriate; private injections are usually chosen for shorter waits, choice of clinician or ultrasound guidance rather than because they are unavailable.

You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including reports, follow-up and what happens if the result is inconclusive — before you decide.

Choosing a specialist safely

Check the specialist is on the GMC Specialist Register for this area.
Make sure they work at a CQC-registered service, and look for membership of the relevant Royal College or professional body.
You're entitled to time to consider and to have your questions answered before you agree — the specialist who looks after you should explain it, not a salesperson.
Be wary of pressure: time-limited offers or deposits taken before you've had time to think are red flags, not bargains.
You're entitled to your total cost in writing — including any follow-up — before you decide.

How Vuemedics verifies every consultant →

Questions to ask your medical professional

Take this to your consultation. A good specialist will welcome every one of these.

What are you hoping this injection will achieve, and how likely is it to help me?
How long might any benefit last, and what is the plan if it does not work?
How many injections can I safely have in this area, and how far apart?
How does this fit with physiotherapy, exercise or other treatments?
What are the signs of infection and exactly who do I contact if they happen?
Given my diabetes, blood thinners or other conditions, are there extra precautions?
Are you on the GMC Specialist Register for this area, and which Royal College or professional body are you a member of?
Will you be the specialist who carries out my injection, and who looks after me afterwards?
What are the risks for someone like me, and how often do your own patients have a problem or need it repeated or redone?
What does a realistic result look like — and what can this injection not achieve?
What are my options, including waiting, doing nothing for now, or choosing a different approach?
Can I have written information, results and aftercare instructions in a format I can use, including any accessibility or communication support I need?
What is the total cost in writing, including any follow-ups, and how much time do I have to decide?

Frequently asked questions

Are steroid joint injections available on the NHS?

Yes. They are commonly used on the NHS for many joint and soft tissue problems, given by doctors or specialist physiotherapists. They are also offered privately, sometimes with shorter waits or with ultrasound guidance.

How long does the relief last?

It varies a lot. Many people get relief lasting from a few weeks to a few months, while for some it does not help at all. It tends to last less long where there is advanced joint damage.

Does the injection cure the problem?

No. It calms inflammation and eases symptoms for a time, but it does not cure arthritis, regrow cartilage or fix the underlying cause. It works best alongside exercise and other treatments.

How many injections can I have?

Injections in the same area are usually limited, often to no more than about three a year, with several weeks between them, because repeated steroid can weaken tendons and thin the skin and fat. Your clinician will advise.

Will it hurt, and what is a steroid flare?

You may feel a scratch and some pressure or aching. A 'steroid flare' is a short increase in pain in the first day or two, reported in about 2 in 100 people, which usually settles with rest and simple painkillers.

I have diabetes; will it affect my blood sugar?

It can raise your blood sugar for a few days. If you have diabetes, tell the clinician beforehand and check your readings more closely for several days after the injection.

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How we made this page

Medically reviewed by a GMC-registered consultant. Written in plain English, checked against NHS, NICE, GMC and relevant Royal College / specialist-society guidance, and kept under review. No clinic paid to appear on this page, and we publish no pricing. This is general information to help you prepare — it is not a substitute for advice from your own clinician. How we review our guides →

Source hierarchy: UK regulator and NHS/NICE guidance first, then relevant Royal College or specialist-society guidance, then peer-reviewed evidence for procedure-specific figures where available.

Sources & standards: NHS — Steroid injections Versus Arthritis — Steroid injections British Society for Rheumatology North Tees and Hartlepool NHS — Steroid injections (patient information) NICE CKS — Corticosteroid injections (musculoskeletal)

Reviews reflect patients' experience of care, not clinical outcomes. For procedure volumes and outcome data see PHIN.

Last medically reviewed 2026-09-21. Spotted something wrong or out of date? Report an error in this guide.