What to Expect from Cortisone Injection for Ankle Osteoarthritis

The clinician reviews your pain pattern, medicines, allergies, diabetes and any infection or skin problem near the ankle. You may sit or lie with the joint supported. After cleaning the skin, the needle is guided into the joint or nearby painful structure, sometimes with imaging to improve placement. The injection contains a corticosteroid, often with local anaesthetic. It can calm inflammation and pain for a time, but it does not rebuild worn cartilage or correct every cause of ankle pain.

Keep the dressing in place for the advised period and avoid strenuous loading of the ankle immediately afterward. Gentle walking may be allowed, but follow the instructions given for your joint and other health conditions. Pain can briefly flare as the anaesthetic wears off. Check blood glucose more often if you have diabetes and have been told the injection may affect it. Do not repeat injections or change medicines without clinical guidance.

Contact the treating service urgently for increasing redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, fever or severe pain after the injection. Seek emergency help for breathing difficulty, facial swelling or widespread hives. New weakness, severe numbness or inability to bear weight also needs prompt assessment. A reaction that worsens rather than settling should not be managed with another injection at home.

Ask which structure will be injected, when to resume exercise, how the injection fits with physiotherapy, and what alternatives are available if symptoms return.