Could a Steroid Injection Help Your Joint or Tendon Pain?
Many people put up with painful joints, sore shoulders, aching heels or troublesome hands for months before seeking help. Often they have tried rest, anti-inflammatory medications, stretches, physiotherapy or supports, but the pain continues to interfere with work, sleep, exercise or everyday activities.
A steroid injection can sometimes provide significant relief and allow you to return to normal activities more comfortably.
What is a Steroid Injection?
A steroid injection involves placing a small amount of anti-inflammatory medication directly into an inflamed joint, tendon sheath or bursa.
The aim is to reduce inflammation and pain, allowing the affected area to settle and recover. While steroid injections are not appropriate for every condition, they can be very effective when used in the right situation.
Many people are surprised to learn that steroid injections have been performed safely in General Practice and Emergency Medicine settings for many years and can often avoid the need for more invasive treatments.
What Conditions Can Be Treated?
At Village Health, Dr Miriam Martin offers steroid injection appointments for a range of common musculoskeletal conditions, including:
Shoulder pain and bursitis
Frozen shoulder
Arthritis of the shoulder or knee
Trochanteric bursitis (pain on the outside of the hip)
Tennis elbow and golfer's elbow
Trigger finger
De Quervain's tenosynovitis (pain around the thumb)
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Plantar fasciitis
Selected gout-related joint inflammation
Occipital nerve blocks for migraine and cluster headaches
Not every painful joint or tendon problem will benefit from an injection, which is why assessment beforehand is important.
What Happens During the Appointment?
The first step is understanding exactly what is causing the pain.
During the consultation we will discuss:
Your symptoms
How long the problem has been present
Previous treatments
Any imaging or investigations
Your goals and expectations
In many cases the diagnosis can be made clinically. Sometimes an X-ray, ultrasound or other investigation may be required before deciding whether an injection is likely to help.
If an injection is appropriate, this can often be performed during the same appointment.
Do Steroid Injections Hurt?
This is one of the most common questions patients ask.
The procedure is usually quick, taking only a few minutes. Most patients tolerate it well. Some areas are more sensitive than others, but the discomfort is generally short-lived.
Occasionally symptoms may flare for a day or two before improving.
How Long Do They Last?
The response varies depending on the condition being treated.
Some people experience relief within a few days, while for others improvement develops gradually over several weeks.
The duration of benefit can range from several months to much longer. For some conditions, a single injection may settle the problem completely. For others, it may provide a window of reduced pain that allows physiotherapy, strengthening exercises or rehabilitation to be more effective.
Are Steroid Injections Safe?
Like any medical treatment, steroid injections have potential risks and benefits.
Most patients experience no significant problems, but possible side effects can include:
Temporary increase in pain after the injection
Bruising
Infection (rare)
Skin thinning or colour changes around the injection site
Temporary elevation of blood sugar levels in people with diabetes
These risks will be discussed before the procedure.
Why See a GP With Experience in Injections?
Steroid injections are as much about diagnosis as they are about the procedure itself.
Dr Miriam Martin has over ten years of Emergency Medicine experience, previous Urgent Care Fellowship training, and extensive experience assessing musculoskeletal injuries and joint conditions. The most important part of any injection clinic is determining whether an injection is likely to help and whether another treatment option may be more appropriate.
How Can I Book?
Steroid injection appointments are available at Village Health for both enrolled and casual patients.
If you have ongoing joint, tendon or soft tissue pain that is limiting your activities, a steroid injection assessment may be worth considering. Following an assessment, we can discuss the likely diagnosis, available treatment options and whether an injection is appropriate for your situation.
To book an appointment, contact Village Health reception on 03 3388-595
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