Does cortisone injection treat ankle osteoarthritis?

Ankle osteoarthritis can cause pain, stiffness, swelling, and difficulty walking as the joint surfaces and surrounding tissues become irritated. Cortisone placed in the joint may quiet inflammation and create a window for walking practice or physiotherapy. It is symptom management rather than a way to rebuild cartilage or correct altered alignment. Suitability depends on the examination, imaging, severity of symptoms, and other health conditions.

Discuss footwear, activity changes, mobility work, strength training, and other pain-relief options alongside any injection. Tell the clinician about diabetes, infection, blood-thinning medicines, allergies, and earlier injections. After treatment, use the ankle according to the advice given and increase walking or exercises progressively while tracking pain and function.

Seek urgent assessment for a hot red ankle with fever, sudden inability to bear weight, major injury, rapidly increasing swelling, or new numbness or colour change in the foot. Following injection, promptly report severe worsening pain, spreading redness, drainage, fever, or feeling unwell.

Ask whether the ankle joint is the pain source, what benefit the injection is intended to provide, how long activity should be modified, and which non-injection measures can support walking.