Joint Injections

If you have an appointment for a private Ultrasound Guided Injection at our centres in Surrey, Harley Street or Manchester, you can view and download a copy of our patient leaflet here.

Yes, you will require a referral from a healthcare professional, such as your GP or a consultant for an ultrasound-guided steroid injection. A physiotherapist can refer you for an ultrasound-guided injection on the advice of a radiologist following an initial MRI or ultrasound scan.If you do not have a referral, please contact our helpful team who will be able to assist.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

It is a very safe procedure. All radiologists working for Prime Health are experienced, FRCR accredited clinicians and work within a sub-speciality area of interest.In line with World Health Organisation guidelines, additional safety policies have been introduced by Prime Health and our clinicians must now consider any risks posed by COVID-19. You will be asked to complete a questionnaire and the healthcare professional will need to determine that the benefits of the steroid injection, especially if you are over 70 70 or with co-morbidities, outweigh any risk of infection.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

After a steroid injection, the reduction in pain and inflammation in the affected joint should last for up to several months.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

There is minimal risk. You may experience a small amount of discomfort at the injection site and occasionally redness and swelling. Very rarely, as with all clinical procedures, you may develop an infection.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

A steroid injection usually takes a few days to start working, although some evidence suggests it can start working after a few hours.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

Evidence suggests steroid injections administered under ultrasound guidance are far more accurate than without. Needle placement can be carefully monitored and can target the problem area.Ultrasound-guided steroid injections can provide significant pain relief, reduce inflammation and improve joint mobility for those suffering with long-term joint pain, as well as in the management of osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

Steroid injections, also called corticosteroid injections, are anti-inflammatory medicines which are used to treat a wide range of painful joint conditions. A steroid injection administered under ultrasound guidance can be more targeted than without.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".

Both knees can be injected at the same sitting. We would be required to take a little more blood and a second sterile kit would be used to obtain the APS (Autologous Protein Solution).

During the procedure, blood is drawn from your arm and in a clinical environment separated to obtain a concentrated nSTRIDE APS solution. This solution (about 3ml) is then injected into the osteoarthritic knee. During the injection, you may experience a minor pinch and discomfort.After the treatment, it’s normal to experience some knee pain and stiffness, which subsides after about 2 days. You should minimize physical activities for 14 days after treatment to increase the efficacy of the injection. Osteoarthritis pain starts to decrease in approximately one to two weeks following the nSTRIDE injection.After a few weeks, pain and discomfort are alleviated, and the attained results last for approximately 1-2 years. Although this treatment is deemed one of the best in the industry, it is still not a cure for osteoarthritis.

Yes, unlike a steroid injection where there may be a limit to the number of injections you can receive, nSTRIDE can be repeated in the future if necessary.

nSTRIDE and PRP injections are similar in that both are autologous treatments that utilise blood proteins to promote tissue healing. The key difference between the two is that nSTRIDE contains white blood cells (leukocytes) and anti-inflammatory proteins (cytokines), which are not present in PRP injections. Also, unlike PRP, which requires several injections to attain desirable results, nSTRIDE is a one-time injection providing results that typically last between 1 to 2 years.Compared to keyhole surgery, nSTRIDE is a non-invasive procedure with minimal to no downtime, and it can be performed within an hour. For patients with moderate osteoarthritis, keyhole surgery is often not considered to be beneficial, but nSTRIDE tends to slow, halt, and even reverse osteoarthritis progression. As a non-invasive and autologous procedure, nSTRIDE carries few risks, unlike surgery. In severe cases however, nSTRIDE cannot be used in place of total knee replacement but could delay the need for surgery.

Sometimes you can get bruising and discomfort at the site where blood is taken from your arm and around the site of the injection around the knee. Paracetamol can be taken but it is advised to avoid anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen/voltarol for 1 week before treatment and 2 weeks post-treatment.

nSTRIDE stimulates a powerful healing response and should only take a short while to make a difference. Generally, people will notice an improvement in their symptoms within 2-6 weeks following the injection. The best results are achieved when the injection is combined with exercise and lifestyle changes, and therapies such as shockwave therapy are used which as a result can further enhance the healing response.

Clinical studies show a single nSTRIDE injection can significantly reduce inflammation and pain associated with knee arthritis for up to two years.

nSTRIDE is one of the latest biologic treatments used in treating knee osteoarthritis. It is an Autologous Protein Solution (APS) containing anti-inflammatory proteins (which are called cytokines) and anabolic growth factors from your own blood. As an autologous solution, it is obtained by separating white blood cells and platelets from your own blood and concentrating them in a small volume of plasma. The Autologous Protein Solution (APS) is then injected directly into the osteoarthritic knee joint.

nSTRIDE is used to relieve the symptoms of mild to moderate knee osteoarthritis. In more severe arthritis it can be given but is less effective as the knee cartilage is almost entirely worn away.

The benefits of an nSTRIDE injection:

• It can significantly improve mobility in the treated knee as it promotes cartilage cell growth and protects cartilage from catabolic degeneration
• It requires just one blood sample, which is then given as one single injection
• As it is an autologous treatment made from your own blood, it eliminates the risk of adverse reactions

In osteoarthritis of the knee, bad proteins (inflammatory cytokines) are in higher concentration than good proteins (anti-inflammatory cytokines). The imbalance of proteins leads to inflammation and the gradual break down of cartilage in the knee. nSTRIDE APS contains concentrated anti-inflammatory proteins, which once injected into the knee cartilage it inhibits the activity of inflammatory proteins in the osteoarthritic knee. As a result, this reduces inflammation and slows down or halts the natural deterioration of the knee cartilage.nSTRIDE is also rich in anabolic proteins, which stimulate the production of cartilage. By reducing inflammation and stimulating repair of the damaged cartilage tissue, it helps slow down or reverse the progression of osteoarthritis. Although nSTRIDE was initially indicated for treating knee osteoarthritis only, it is currently being reviewed and is due to be approved to treat osteoarthritis in other joints.

An injection is given to reduce inflammation and pain within a joint. They’re frequently recommended for people with rheumatoid arthritis and other types of inflammatory arthritis including gout and pseudo gout. They may also be recommended for osteoarthritis if your joints are very painful or if you need pain relief in addition to your normal medicationUltrasound is a type of imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves. The Ultrasound probe is a little like a radar device that detects the sound waves that are bounced back from different structures in the body, producing an image on a monitor. An ultrasound scan can detect needles inserted into the body and therefore can be used target your injection and to exactly the right spot.An injection into a joint is called an intra-articular injection, and it’s made up of a corticosteroid combined with a local anaesthetic to reduce your discomfort. It can be directed into or around the joint to reduce swelling (inflammation), stiffness and pain.If you have pain or inflammation near an affected joint, you’ll probably be given an injection into this tender area rather than the joint. This is called a periarticular or soft tissue injection.An injection directly into a muscle is called an intramuscular (IM) injection.You may be interested in...Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article "A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques".