Do you need a referral for cortisone injection?

A cortisone injection is selected for a particular problem and body area, such as an inflamed joint or tendon-related pain. An orthopedic or sports-medicine clinician reviews your symptoms, examination findings, medicines, allergies, diabetes, infection risk, and previous injections before deciding whether it is suitable. A referral can transfer this information and help coordinate imaging or another treatment.

The injection is not automatically appropriate for every painful area. The clinician may recommend physiotherapy, medication, observation, or another procedure instead, depending on the diagnosis and examination.

Call the clinic and ask whether direct booking is available, which clinician performs the injection, and whether a referral or health-plan authorization is needed. Bring a list of medicines, allergies, relevant diagnoses, imaging reports, and details of previous injections. Tell the clinician about fever, skin infection near the planned site, blood-thinning medicine, or blood-sugar treatment.

For a treatment overview, read about [Cortisone Injection](/treatments/non-surgical-orthopedics/cortisone-injection/).

Seek prompt medical assessment for a hot, red, rapidly swollen joint, fever, severe unexplained pain, or inability to use the limb. After an injection, urgent review is needed for increasing redness, drainage, fever, severe pain, breathing difficulty, or facial swelling. Referral questions should never postpone care for possible infection or a serious injury.

Ask what diagnosis the injection is intended to treat, whether imaging is needed, what benefits and side effects to expect, and how it may affect exercise or work. Confirm aftercare instructions, warning signs, and what alternatives are available if an injection is not advised.