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What is an Ultrasound-Guided Steroid Injection?
Table of Contents
- Cortisone Injection Clinic Kent
- Cortisone Injections Tunbridge Wells
- What is an Ultrasound-Guided Steroid Injection?
- Why Should I Get a Cortisone Injection?
- Why Do I Need an Ultrasound-Guided Cortisone Injection?
- What Are the Risks of a Cortisone Injection?
- When Should I Avoid a Cortisone Injection?
- Are There Alternatives to Cortisone Injections?
- What Happens During the Procedure?
- What Happens After the Injection?
- What Should I Do After Returning Home?
- Do I Need a Follow-Up Appointment?
- What Is the Cost of a Steroid Injection at Your UK Clinics?
Cortisone Injection Clinic Kent
We provide private cortisone injections for joint pain relief in London and Kent Tunbridge Wells. Our treatments cover a range of weight-bearing joints, including the hip, knee, shoulder, elbow, ankle, foot, wrist, and hand joints.
Cortisone injections are highly effective for reducing inflammation and relieving joint pain, soft tissue discomfort, swelling, and stiffness. By alleviating these symptoms, cortisone injections help you return to your daily activities, hobbies, or start physiotherapy with less pain.
Cortisone Injections Tunbridge Wells
At Vale Health Clinic, we offer a comprehensive one-stop service for consultation, diagnostic scans, and treatment. Our expert clinicians utilise advanced ultrasound diagnostic scanning to accurately identify the source of your pain and provide targeted, customised cortisone treatments.
All our clinicians hold a Postgraduate Certificate in Diagnostic Ultrasound injection at the university of East London, ensuring expert care. We provide a comprehensive, one-stop clinic where you can receive consultation, diagnostic scans, and treatment in a single visit. Our highly experienced practitioners use advanced ultrasound technology to accurately identify the source of your pain, enabling precise diagnosis and personalised treatment plans
What is an Ultrasound-Guided Steroid Injection?
An ultrasound-guided steroid injection, also known as a corticosteroid injection, is a powerful anti-inflammatory treatment used to alleviate pain, swelling, and stiffness caused by conditions like arthritis and other inflammatory disorders. It helps improve function and mobility. Unlike steroids used by bodybuilders, corticosteroids target inflammation specifically.
To book a cortisone injection at our Tunbridge Wells Clinic Book Online Here
Why Should I Get a Cortisone Injection?
Corticosteroid injections can significantly reduce inflammation-related symptoms such as pain, swelling, and stiffness. This relief can help you resume daily activities, hobbies, or exercises to strengthen muscles and improve fitness. If pain is preventing you from following a rehabilitation plan prescribed by your therapist, a steroid injection might be an ideal solution.
Why Do I Need an Ultrasound-Guided Cortisone Injection?
Using ultrasound guidance allows the clinician to see the needle in real time, ensuring precise placement of the injection at the pain source. This increases the likelihood of success. Without imaging, injections can be less accurate, especially for difficult areas like the hip joint, and may result in ineffective treatment.
Ultrasound-guided injections are often less painful than “blind” injections because they avoid unnecessary contact with bones or tendons. Additionally, ultrasound offers several advantages over other imaging methods like X-rays:
- No radiation
- Quick and easy
- Real-time guidance
We recommend ultrasound guidance when traditional methods haven’t achieved the desired outcome.
Interested in cortisone injections in Kent Tunbridge Wells Book here
What Are the Risks of a Cortisone Injection?
Most patients experience few to no side effects. However, our thorough pre-injection screening helps identify any potential risks.
Common side effects include:
- Facial flushing for a few hours, up to 48-72 hours
- Temporary increase in pain (steroid flare) for a few days, up to two weeks
- Bruising or bleeding, particularly if you take blood thinners
- Temporary rise in blood sugar (for diabetics)
- Fat atrophy or thinning of fat at the injection site
- Skin discoloration around the injection area
- Feeling faint or dizzy
- Light vaginal bleeding or irregular menstrual cycles, which typically normalize after two or three cycles
- The injection may not fully relieve symptoms or might only work temporarily, in which case a second injection may be considered
- Weakening or damage to tendons
Rare but serious risks:
- Infection (about 1 in 10,000). If you experience swelling, pain, redness, or feel unwell, seek immediate medical attention.
Sterile techniques and proper hand hygiene help minimize these risks.
Are There Alternatives to Cortisone Injections?
Yes, alternatives include:
- Rest and physical therapy
- Pain medication
- Avoiding activities that caused the injury
- Hyaluronic acid or platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections, which offer a natural treatment option
- Surgery, which should be discussed with your GP or specialist
When Should I Avoid a Cortisone Injection?
You should not consider a cortisone injection if you have:
- An infection at the injection site or elsewhere
- Active antibiotic treatment for an infection
- Allergies to steroids or local anesthetics
- High INR levels if you’re on blood thinners
- General feelings of unwellness
- Metal implants in the injection area (e.g., joint replacements)
- An upcoming surgery at the injection site
What Happens During the Procedure?
The injection site will be cleaned, and a small needle will administer local anesthesia. Under ultrasound guidance, the needle is directed to the target site. If you’re not allergic, a plaster will be applied to keep the area clean. You’re welcome to watch the procedure on the ultrasound screen as we explain the process.
Will It Hurt?Any discomfort from the needle can be minimized with local anesthesia.
What Happens After the Injection?
If local anesthesia is used, you may feel pain-free for up to two hours. Once it wears off, pain may return until the steroid takes effect. Continue using any prescribed pain relief medication during this period.
Steroids can take between 2-14 days to start working, and the effects usually last 3-5 months, but this can vary.
What Should I Do After Returning Home?
Avoid driving for the rest of the day, as your motor insurance may not cover you for at least three hours post-injection. Limit any activities that worsen the pain for two days and gradually resume normal duties. Rest for two weeks, especially if the injection was in a weight-bearing joint.
If the injection area becomes swollen or painful, use an ice pack for 10 minutes, 2-3 times a day.
Do I Need a Follow-Up Appointment?
A follow-up appointment with your referring clinician may be necessary. If another injection is needed, this will be discussed at your appointment. We don’t recommend more than three steroid injections in the same area per year. If you were seen directly by us, we will schedule a follow-up for you.
For fast pain relief with cortisone injections, visit our clinic in Tunbridge Wells or London Bridge
What Is the Cost of a Steroid Injection at Your UK Clinics?
The cost varies depending on the location and the number of injections required. Discounts are available for multiple injections during the same appointment.
Please visit our pricing page for more details.
AT A GLANCE
TREATS
Joints and Tendons
ANAESTHESIA
DURATION
RECOVERY
48h of reduced activity
Safe and sustained pain relief for inflamed joints and tendons
Minimal side effects
Fast pain relief
An effective pain relief option
MEET THE TEAM
Gary Edwards
Doctor of Chiropractic and Injection therapy
Book Your Consultation
To book you free consultation, please complete the form below. One of our practitioners will contact you to discuss your condition and schedule your appointment.