Arthritis can cause joint pain, inflammation, stiffness, and difficulty with movement, making everyday activities increasingly uncomfortable. When symptoms continue despite treatments such as exercise, physical therapy, activity modification, or medication, a steroid injection may be considered to help manage an arthritis flare or persistent joint pain.
Steroid injections deliver anti-inflammatory medication directly into the affected joint to reduce inflammation and provide targeted pain relief.
How Do Steroid Injections Work?
Corticosteroids work by reducing inflammation within the joint. As inflammation decreases, patients may experience less pain and stiffness and greater comfort with movement.
A local anesthetic is often used with the corticosteroid and can provide more immediate, temporary pain relief while the steroid begins to take effect.
What Can Steroid Injections Treat?
Steroid injections are commonly used to manage arthritis-related pain in joints such as the knee and hip, as well as other appropriately selected joints.
Depending on the joint being treated, ultrasound or X-ray guidance may be used to accurately position the medication within the joint.
What to Expect
Steroid injections are performed on an outpatient basis and are generally brief. Some temporary soreness or swelling around the injection site may occur afterward.
Pain relief may develop as inflammation decreases and can continue for several weeks or, for some patients, longer. The response varies depending on the joint, severity of arthritis, and individual patient.
Helping You Stay Active
Steroid injections can be a useful part of arthritis management when used appropriately. By reducing a period of increased pain and inflammation, an injection may make it easier to stay active, exercise, participate in physical therapy, and perform everyday activities more comfortably.