Guided Steroid Injection

Ultrasound-Guided Corticosteroid Injections

Fast, Targeted Relief for Joint and Soft Tissue Pain

At GB Clinics, we offer ultrasound-guided corticosteroid injections to help rapidly reduce inflammation and relieve pain in joints, tendons, and soft tissue structures. While these injections don’t cure the underlying condition, they can provide powerful short- to medium-term relief, allowing you to move more comfortably and engage in rehabilitation.

🧠 What Are Corticosteroids?

Corticosteroids are synthetic medications that mimic naturally occurring anti-inflammatory hormones in the body. They are not the same as anabolic steroids used for muscle-building.

Steroids can be taken orally or injected. By injecting directly into the affected area, we use a lower dose with more precise targeting, which enhances effectiveness and reduces the chance of systemic side effects.

✅ When Are Steroid Injections Used?

Osteoarthritis
Inflammatory arthritis
Bursitis and tendon inflammation
Joint swelling and stiffness
Soft tissue injuries and chronic pain conditions

They are often a good option when other treatments, such as painkillers and physiotherapy, have not provided sufficient relief.

🖥️ What Happens During an Ultrasound-Guided Injection?

Before your injection, your clinician will conduct a detailed clinical assessment and perform an ultrasound scan to confirm the diagnosis and guide treatment.

If it’s safe to proceed, the steroid — sometimes combined with a local anaesthetic — is injected precisely into the inflamed tissue or joint space. The use of real-time ultrasound guidance ensures maximum accuracy and minimal discomfort.

Most patients tolerate the procedure well, with only mild discomfort reported in many cases.

⏳ What to Expect After the Injection

If a local anaesthetic is used, you may feel immediate numbness or pain relief, which typically wears off within a few hours.
The steroid usually takes a few days to start working, with noticeable improvement often felt within a week.
Aftercare advice:
- Avoid strenuous activity for 2–3 days (longer for tendon injections: 10–14 days).
- You may feel sore at the injection site for 24–48 hours (a common “post-injection flare”).
- Use a cold pack and simple painkillers like paracetamol if needed.

🔁 Will I Need Repeat Injections?

If you experience significant relief and other treatments aren’t effective or suitable, repeat injections may be considered. Often, steroid injections provide a “window of opportunity” to begin physiotherapy or other conservative treatments with reduced pain.

The goal is always to minimize dependency on injections by integrating them into a broader treatment plan.

⚠️ Potential Side Effects

Most patients have no complications. However, as with any medical procedure, there are some potential risks:

Common and Minor Side Effects:

Facial flushing
Temporary mood changes or menstrual irregularities
Slight skin lightening or thinning at the injection site
Localised fat loss under the skin (rare)

Less Common but Important Risks:

Post-injection flare (increased pain for 24–72 hours)
Infection (very rare: approx. 1 in 50,000)
Changes in blood sugar in patients with diabetes (usually temporary)
Pseudo-sepsis – a rare but severe pain flare mimicking infection

⚕️ Special Considerations

Diabetes:

If you have diabetes, steroid injections may cause temporary spikes in blood sugar. You should consult your GP before treatment and monitor your levels carefully for up to two weeks after the injection.

Blood Thinners:

If you’re taking anticoagulant medications like Warfarin, a recent INR blood test is required to assess bleeding risk before proceeding.

Pregnancy & Breastfeeding:

Pregnancy: We do not offer steroid injections during pregnancy due to insufficient safety data.
Breastfeeding: Most injections are safe, but we advise discussing this with your clinician and reviewing guidance from trusted sources such as the Breastfeeding Network.

🚗 Aftercare & Travel Advice

If a local anaesthetic is used, you may experience some numbness or weakness for a short time after the procedure. For this reason, we recommend not driving immediately afterward and arranging transport if needed.

💬 Got Questions?

We’re here to help. If you’re unsure whether a steroid injection is right for you, speak to our clinical team or book an assessment. Your treatment plan will always be personalized and explained clearly so you can make an informed decision.

📞 Ready to Book?

Contact GB Clinics today to schedule your consultation or learn more about your options.

Call us : 01865 317483
Book Online : Appointments available this week.

At GB Clinic, we provide steroid injections for fast, effective pain relief from joint and soft tissue conditions. Our guided injection therapy utilizes advanced imaging techniques like ultrasound to ensure precision, safety, and maximum results.

Whether you suffer from arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, or soft tissue injuries, our non-surgical injection treatments can target the exact area of pain, promoting healing and reducing inflammation.

Why Choose Guided Steroid Injections at GB Clinic?

Precise Targeting: We use ultrasound guidance to ensure the steroid is delivered to the exact spot causing pain or inflammation, maximizing the effectiveness of the treatment.
Fast Relief: Steroid injections provide quick relief by reducing inflammation and swelling, improving joint mobility, and alleviating pain.
Non-Surgical Solution: This non-invasive treatment offers an alternative to surgery, helping many patients avoid lengthy recovery times.
Experienced Specialists: Our team of experts performs the injections, providing you with the best care and after-treatment guidance.

What Conditions Can Be Treated with Guided Steroid Injections?

Steroid injections are highly effective for a wide range of conditions, including:

Joint Pain:

Knee Osteoarthritis
Hip Osteoarthritis
Shoulder Pain (e.g., rotator cuff injuries)
Elbow Pain (e.g., tennis elbow, golfer’s elbow)
Wrist and Hand Pain
Ankle and Foot Pain

Soft Tissue Injuries:

Tendonitis (e.g., Achilles tendonitis, patellar tendonitis)
Bursitis (inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs around joints)
Muscle Strains
Ligament Injuries

Steroid Injection Process:

Consultation & Assessment
We begin with a thorough consultation to assess your symptoms and review any previous diagnostic tests, such as MRIs. An ultrasound scan may also be conducted to ensure accurate injection placement.
Precise Injection
Using ultrasound guidance, the specialist will inject the steroid directly into the affected area. This ensures precision and minimal discomfort.
Recovery & Aftercare
After the injection, patients can typically return to normal activities with minimal downtime. Our physiotherapists will guide you through post-injection exercises and provide advice on managing any temporary side effects (e.g., mild swelling or tenderness).

Benefits of Steroid Injections

Quick Pain Relief: Steroids rapidly reduce inflammation and offer relief that can last from weeks to months.
Improved Joint Function: By reducing pain and inflammation, steroid injections can help restore movement and joint function.
Non-invasive: Avoids the need for surgery and long recovery periods.

Specific Soft Tissue Injections

In addition to joint injections, we specialize in soft tissue injections that target areas such as tendons, ligaments, and muscles. These injections are particularly effective for conditions like:

Tendon Injuries: Tendonitis, rotator cuff injuries, Achilles tendonitis, etc.
Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints.
Muscle Strains and Ligament Sprains: When rest, ice, and rehabilitation haven’t brought sufficient relief.

Soft tissue injections can include steroids, hyaluronic acid, or PRP (Platelet-Rich Plasma) to enhance healing and reduce inflammation in the damaged tissues.

Why Ultrasound-Guided Injections?

Increased Accuracy: Ultrasound allows us to visualize the affected area in real-time, ensuring the injection is precisely placed where it will be most effective.
Minimized Risk: Ultrasound guidance reduces the risk of injecting into the wrong tissue or joint, leading to better outcomes.
Reduced Discomfort: By targeting the problem area directly, patients often experience reduced pain and discomfort during and after the procedure.

Who Can Benefit from Steroid and Soft Tissue Injections?

Steroid and soft tissue injections are ideal for people who:

Suffer from chronic joint pain, especially those with conditions like osteoarthritis or tendinitis.
Have not had success with oral medications or other non-invasive treatments.
Are looking for rapid relief to improve function and quality of life.
Want to avoid or delay the need for surgical interventions.

What to Expect After the Injection?

Minimal Downtime: Most patients are able to resume daily activities right after the procedure. Mild soreness or swelling at the injection site is common but should subside within a few days.
Follow-up Care: Your treatment may be followed up by physiotherapy or rehabilitation to ensure long-term recovery and strengthen the affected area.