CORTISONE INJECTION THERAPY

Delivered by Mr Mohamed Al-Sayad, Orthopaedics consultant. 

Cortisone (or corticosteroid) injections can help decrease pain and inflammation in a specific area of your body. 
Corticosteroids are not painkillers, they have a direct effect on the body’s inflammatory process by lowering levels of prostaglandins and reducing the interaction between certain white blood cells involved in the immune response.  This in turn decreases the overall inflammatory response.

Corticosteroid injections are particularly effective at relieving pain in:

-          joints affected by osteoarthritis or gout (especially shoulders, thumbs, knees and ankles)

-          chronic tendinopathy (such as Tennis elbow, Achilles or Patellar tendon pain, Rotator cuff injuries, plantar fasciitis)

-          chronic ligament injuries (especially in the ankle and knee)

-          Frozen shoulder

-          Bursitis (subacromial, Gluteal)

-          Other conditions such as carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain’s syndrome, trigger finger, Morton’s neuroma)

The injection will usually consist of cortisone and lidocaine, a painkiller.

Mr Mohamed Al-Sayad

Orthopaedic Consultant, NHS FiFE

Mohamed is a trauma and orthopaedic consultant in NHS Fife.

He has 15 years of experience, has worked in 5 different countries, during so he has achieved degrees in trauma surgery,  sports medicine and the fellowship of the Royal college of surgeons in trauma and orthopaedics.

He offers cortisone, PRP and Botox (for the treatment of spasticity) at Benji Physio.

You can book an appointment directly with our orthopedic consultant for an injection.  However, we would recommend being assessed by one of our physios first to ensure that an injection is the right treatment for you and to rule out any possible contraindications.

To book an appointment, please call on 07760615804 or email us at info@benjiphysio.co.uk.

How to book

At the time of your appointment, the consultant will run a quick assessment and mark the area to be It can be slightly painful especially when the needle is inserted but should be bearable.  The procedure should not last longer than a few seconds.

The consultant will ask you to stay for few minutes after the injection to make sure you do not have a reaction to the medicine.

You should feel some relief instantly because of the painkiller. The cortisone itself should start having an effect after a few days.

Follow-up appointment

We recommend a follow-up physiotherapy appointment to assess progress and give you appropriate exercises to encourage the best possible outcome.

Patients should avoid too much activity involving the joint or tendons injected for at least one week after the injection.  The consultant, or your physiotherapist, will be able to provide further details.

What to expect during your appointment

Possible side effects

Although rare, there are a few known possible side-effects following a cortisone injection. These include:

·        Temporary facial flushing

·        Temporary flare of pain and inflammation in the joint

·        Temporary rise in blood sugar (especially in Diabetic patients)

·        Temporary increase of uterine bleeding

·        Thinning of nearby bone (osteoporosis)

·        Thinning of skin and soft tissue around the injection site

·        Whitening or lightening of the skin around the injection site

·        Cartilage damage (after repeated injections)

·        Tendon weakening or rupture

·        Nerve damage

·        Joint infection