You had a steroid injection into your hip or knee, but it did not help. It is a frustrating and surprisingly common experience. The good news is there is usually a clear reason, and often a better option. Here are the three most common reasons a steroid injection does not work.
- The problem is mechanicalIf you have an underlying mechanical problem, such as a meniscal tear or bone on bone arthritis, a steroid injection will not necessarily help. Steroid calms inflammation, but it cannot repair a structural issue.
- It was the wrong type of injectionThe injection may not have matched the problem. A steroid injection for a tendon issue, for example, can carry risk, and an alternative such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) may be far more appropriate.
- It missed the spotA blind injection can sometimes miss the key area in the joint. In some cases the injection should be performed with image guidance, such as ultrasound, to make sure the medication reaches the right place.
So what are your options?
An injection is only one part of the picture. The right approach depends on a proper assessment of what is actually causing your pain. Mr Kumar offers a full range of options, including:
- Physiotherapy to strengthen the joint and the muscles around it.
- Injections, including steroid, PRP, and others, matched to the problem.
- Bracing to offload the affected part of the joint.
- Surgery, where it is the right step for you.
If a steroid injection did nothing, it is usually because the problem is mechanical, the wrong injection was used, or it missed the target. The answer is a proper assessment to find the real cause, and a treatment matched to it, rather than simply repeating the same injection.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my steroid injection not work?
The three most common reasons are a mechanical problem such as a meniscal tear or bone on bone arthritis, the wrong type of injection for the problem, or the injection missing the target area when it needed image guidance.
Is a steroid injection suitable for tendon problems?
Not always. A steroid injection for a tendon issue can carry risk, and an alternative such as PRP may be more appropriate.
What is an image-guided injection?
An injection performed using ultrasound guidance so the medication reaches the precise target, rather than a blind injection that can miss the key area.