Living with joint pain can be frustrating, debilitating, and disruptive to everyday life. At The Blackwell Clinic, we offer safe and effective steroid joint injections for shoulder, knee, and wrist pain—carried out by experienced GPs with a special interest in musculoskeletal medicine.
Our steroid injections combine a corticosteroid with a local anaesthetic to deliver rapid, targeted pain relief and reduce inflammation. This service is ideal for conditions such as arthritis, bursitis, tendinopathies, and post-injury inflammation. We also provide comprehensive joint assessments, physical examinations, and onward referral to orthopaedic consultants, physiotherapists, osteopaths, sports therapists, and personal trainers if required.
Appointments are available Monday to Saturday, with most patients seen within a week or less.
Steroid joint injections involve injecting a mixture of corticosteroid (an anti-inflammatory medicine) and a local anaesthetic directly into or around a painful joint. The steroid reduces inflammation in the joint, while the local anaesthetic provides short-term pain relief within minutes to hours.
The procedure is quick, low-risk, and usually well tolerated. It is performed by a trained GP in a clinical environment, using evidence-based protocols as supported by NICE guidelines and the Primary Care Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Medicine Society (PCRMM).
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Time required |
Appointments are usually 30 minutes, including consultation, consent, and the injection procedure. |
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Time until results |
Local anaesthetic: pain relief begins within minutes to hours
Steroid effect: usually takes 1–5 days to begin working Peak relief: often reached within 1–2 weeks |
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Treatment longevity |
Pain relief may last from several weeks to months, depending on the condition, joint involved, and level of physical activity.
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Number of treatments required |
Many patients only require one injection. However, some may benefit from repeat injections every 3–6 months depending on symptoms and response.
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We commonly inject shoulders, knees, and wrists. We also assess other joints on a case-by-case basis.
Yes. Joint injections are not suitable if you have:
We offer joint injection consultations Monday to Saturday. Most patients are seen within 7 days, often sooner.
The procedure may feel briefly uncomfortable, but we use local anaesthetic to minimise any pain. Most patients tolerate it very well.
You may feel numbness initially due to the anaesthetic. We recommend resting the joint for 24–48 hours and avoiding strenuous activity for a few days.
We would generally NOT recommend stopping your anticoagulant medication for a joint injection procedure. We advise that you discuss this in your assessment appointment as it is important for you to know the risk and benefits.
Our joint injection service is led by GPs with advanced training in musculoskeletal medicine, providing thorough assessments, honest advice, and evidence-based care. We ensure that all patients are properly examined, fully informed of risks and benefits, and supported with follow-up care. If your condition requires further input, we can refer you to orthopaedics, physiotherapy, osteopathy, sports massage therapy, or personal training services—all within our trusted network.
All treatments follow NICE guidelines and are delivered in line with standards from the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA), RCS England, and the Royal Society of Medicine.
Compliant Statement: All treatments and advice are subject to a medical consultation. Individual outcomes may vary. This content is for information only and does not replace medical advice.
