Cortisone Injections

Cortisone (corticosteroid) injections are one of the most widely used and well-studied treatments in musculoskeletal medicine, delivering a concentrated anti-inflammatory medication directly to a painful joint, tendon sheath or bursa. They are often considered when pain and inflammation from a specific, well-localised source have not settled adequately with rest, activity modification or oral anti-inflammatory medication.

Depending on the target area, the injection may be guided by ultrasound or X-ray to ensure accurate placement, particularly for deeper or less accessible structures. A local anaesthetic is usually combined with the corticosteroid, providing some immediate, short-term relief while the anti-inflammatory effect of the steroid builds over the following days.

Cortisone injections can provide valuable, meaningful relief for weeks to several months, creating a useful window to progress with physiotherapy, activity modification or other definitive treatment. Because they treat inflammation rather than any underlying structural problem, Dr Danesh will discuss how this fits into your broader management plan, including how frequently they can be safely repeated.