What to expect from a cortisone injection for osteoarthritis

A clinician reviews your symptoms and examines the joint before cleaning the skin and placing a needle into the treatment area. Local anaesthetic may be used, so you can notice a brief sting, pressure, or temporary numbness. Corticosteroid medicine acts on inflammation rather than repairing cartilage or changing the shape of an arthritic joint. Relief may develop after the appointment, but it is not the same for everyone and may not last. The procedure is one part of a broader plan, which can include movement work, strengthening, pacing, or pain-management options.

Tell the clinician about diabetes, blood-thinning medicine, allergies, fever, a skin infection, or a previous injection reaction. Ask how to manage your regular medicines before the appointment. After treatment, follow the advised limits on lifting, impact, or repeated joint loading. Gentle activity can often resume according to comfort and instructions. Avoid rubbing the site, keep any dressing in place as directed, and note whether pain, swelling, and function change over the following days. Arrange review if symptoms continue to restrict ordinary activities.

Contact the treating service for worsening redness, warmth, swelling, drainage, fever, or severe pain around the injection site. Get urgent help for facial swelling, breathing trouble, fainting, or a rapidly spreading allergic reaction. Sudden loss of function, new weakness, or severe symptoms that do not settle should be assessed promptly.

Ask which joint structure is being targeted, when to expect a response, what activities should be paused, and which exercise or non-injection options could support you if symptoms return.