What to Expect from a Cortisone Injection for Hand Osteoarthritis

A clinician places corticosteroid medicine into or around the painful hand joint to calm local inflammation. The injection may be considered when hand osteoarthritis continues to interfere with gripping, pinching, or sleep despite other care. It does not rebuild worn cartilage or correct a joint shape. Relief varies: some people notice improvement after the local anaesthetic wears off, while the steroid may take longer to work. The benefit can fade, so the injection is usually one part of a wider plan.

Tell the clinician about diabetes, blood-thinning medicine, allergies, skin infection, or previous reactions to injections. During the visit, the skin is cleaned and the needle is guided to the selected joint; ultrasound may be used when helpful. Keep the hand relatively quiet on the day of injection and avoid heavy gripping until soreness settles. Use the aftercare advice you receive. Gentle movement can help prevent stiffness, followed by exercises or splint use if recommended by your therapist. Track pain, swelling, grip, and daily tasks so you can discuss the response at follow-up.

Contact the treating service promptly if pain becomes increasingly severe, the finger or hand becomes hot and markedly swollen, or you develop fever or feel unwell. Seek urgent help for breathing difficulty, facial swelling, or widespread hives after the injection. New numbness, loss of finger movement, or a hand that becomes pale or unusually cold also needs prompt assessment. A short-lived flare can occur, but worsening symptoms should not be ignored.

Which joint is the target, and is imaging needed? What level of hand use is suitable during recovery? When should I restart exercises or wear a splint? How will we judge whether the injection helped, and what options come next if pain returns?