How long does a steroid injection last? 

Steroid injections are often used to treat pain and inflammation of joints and soft tissues. A steroid injection is an injectable corticosteroid also known as a “cortisone shot”. It is a synthetic version of the body’s own natural occurring steroids that are used to regulate pain and inflammation. Injections can be done on the NHS as well as privately at a relatively low cost 

Steroid injections can be very effective at relieving pain but how long do they last?

In general a steroid injection will take a few days to take effect, but some people will feel relief within a few hours. Some steroid injections can take up to 2 weeks to reach their peak benefit.  If you don’t experience relief immediately you may need to allow more time for the steroid to kick in. 

When we inject a steroid, we are often injecting a local anaesthetic at the same time so you should experience immediate relief from pain, but this does wear off within a few hours. 

How long a steroid injection lasts depends on many factors

This is because different variables may effect the response including: severity of the inflammation and degradation of tissues, previous steroid injections and how you behave immediately after the injection. 

In general you should experience relief for at least 6-8 weeks as this is the length of time the steroid may still remain in the tissues. However, some people will experience longer lasting relief from 6 months to several years. This is not likely to be due to the steroid being present and working for that length of time. In these instances, the steroid injection has “broken” the cycle of inflammation and allowed the body to return to its normal functioning state. The injection has long since worn off but as the inflammatory component was addressed, the body reverts back to functioning without irritating the inflamed structures. 

Can a steroid injection cure me?

There are conditions that a steroid injection can cure. Certain inflammatory conditions of the wrist and hand like De Quervain’s Tenosynovitis and Trigger Finger are good examples, as they usually require 1 steroid injection to resolve the issue. 

If the region being injected is very degenerative for example Osteoarthritis of the knee, the more severe the arthritis, the shorter duration of relief is likely to be. In these instances, other injectables like Hyaluronic acid and PRP may be suitable as an adjunct or instead of steroid, however these treatments usually take longer to work and provide less acute relief of pain. 

How do I make it last longer?

The success of a steroid injection and how long it will last will also be influenced by you after the injection. You will be advised to rest for 2 days after the steroid injection to prevent irritating the inflamed structures. Then you should gradually get back into activity again but not excessively. If you are feeling the benefits, it is important not to push it too hard too soon as you may negate the positive benefits of the steroid injection. A steroid injection is designed to relieve the pain and inflammation, but for most conditions it is not curative. Therefore in the pain free window while the injection is working, we will provide you with a rehabilitation plan to perform (if you don’t already have one).   This will allow your body to correct any biomechanical and loading issues that may have exacerbated the condition. So when the steroid injection does eventually wear off, you are less likely to experience a recurrence of pain to provide you with longer lasting relief. 

If you have had previous steroid injections in a region in the past with good effect, then chances are you will experience a similar response. Unfortunately the more steroid injections you have into a joint, the more potential there is to deteriorate the joint further. As a result the current guidance is to not have more than 3 injections into the same joint in a year. If you have more than this, the effect of the steroid is likely to be reduced as the joint is becoming more degenerative.

Summary 

In summary you may experience a benefit from a steroid injection from anywhere between 6 weeks to 6 months or more. Everyone is different and unfortunately things can be unpredictable. If you follow the treating clinicians guidance after the assessment and injection, you are likely to have the best possible outcome. 

If you would like more information or would like to book an appointment, please contact us on 0207 636 5774 or email reception@oxfordcircusphysio.co.uk