CONSERVATIVE CARE · EVIDENCE-BASED · FRANKLIN, TN
Steroid Injections for Joint Pain
in Franklin, TN
Targeted cortisone injections for hip and knee arthritis pain, one of the nonsurgical options offered by Dr. Cory Calendine, MD
A steroid injection, also called a cortisone or corticosteroid injection, delivers anti-inflammatory medication directly into a painful joint to reduce swelling and ease pain. At the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee in Franklin, TN, Dr. Cory Calendine uses steroid injections for joint pain as one nonsurgical option for hip and knee arthritis. Most patients feel relief within a few days to about a week, and that relief can last from several weeks to several months. A steroid injection treats the symptoms of arthritis rather than the underlying joint damage, so it works best as part of a wider treatment plan that can include physical therapy, activity changes, and weight management.
700+
HIP & KNEE PROCEDURES PER YEAR
20+
YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
426+
5-STAR PATIENT REVIEWS
HOW CORTISONE INJECTIONS WORK
What Are Steroid Injections for Joint Pain?
A steroid injection places a corticosteroid medication into or around an inflamed joint. Corticosteroids are man-made drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone the body produces naturally. They calm the local inflammation that drives joint swelling, stiffness, and pain. Providers use several terms for the same treatment, including cortisone shot, corticosteroid injection, and steroid injection. Common steroid medications used in joints are triamcinolone and methylprednisolone.
What Is Inside the Injection
Most joint injections combine two ingredients. The first is the corticosteroid, which reduces inflammation over the days and weeks that follow. The second is a local anaesthetic such as lidocaine, which numbs the area and often provides fast, short-lived pain relief right away. The early relief from the anaesthetic also helps confirm that the treated joint is the true source of pain.
Where Steroid Injections Are Used
Corticosteroid injections can be given in many joints, including the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hand, hip, knee, and small joints of the feet. Dr. Calendine focuses his practice on the hip and knee, so this page covers steroid injections for hip and knee arthritis. When a steroid injection is appropriate for a different joint or for a spine-related problem, Dr. Calendine can refer you to the right specialist within the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee.
WHO BENEFITS FROM A JOINT INJECTION
Conditions a Steroid Injection Can Treat
Steroid injections are used to control pain and inflammation from a range of joint conditions. For the hip and knee, the most common reasons for a corticosteroid injection are osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammation of the soft tissue around a joint, including bursitis and tendinitis. A steroid injection does not repair cartilage or reverse arthritis. It reduces the inflammation that makes an arthritic joint painful, which can restore comfort and movement for a period of time.
When Dr. Calendine May Recommend an Injection
A corticosteroid injection is often considered when oral anti-inflammatory medication, rest, and activity changes have not given enough relief. It can be a good option to settle a painful flare, to reduce inflammation so that physical therapy becomes tolerable, or to help an active patient stay mobile while other treatments take effect. For patients who are not ready for surgery, or who need to delay a procedure, an injection can provide a valuable window of relief.
A Diagnostic Benefit
An injection also has diagnostic value. When numbing medication and a corticosteroid are placed inside a specific joint and the pain clearly improves, it helps confirm that the joint being treated is the real source of the pain. That information guides the next steps in a treatment plan, including whether joint replacement surgery is likely to help.
THE PROCEDURE AND RECOVERY
What to Expect With a Steroid Injection
During the Injection
A joint injection is usually done in the office and takes only a few minutes. The skin over the joint is cleaned, and a numbing spray or local anaesthetic may be used first. In many cases, image guidance such as ultrasound is used to place the needle accurately inside the joint, which improves precision and reduces discomfort. You may feel brief pressure as the medication is delivered. Most patients go home the same day.
After the Injection
It helps to rest the treated joint for a day or two. Ice can ease soreness at the injection site, while heat should be avoided for the first couple of days. It is normal for the numbing medication to wear off after a few hours before the corticosteroid begins to work. Avoid strenuous activity for about two weeks so the joint and nearby tendons are not stressed too soon.
| Question | Corticosteroid (Cortisone) Injection |
|---|---|
| How fast does it work | A few days to about one week for full effect |
| How long does relief last | Several weeks to several months, depending on arthritis severity and individual response |
| How often can it be repeated | Generally limited to about 3 to 4 injections per joint per year |
WHAT AN INJECTION CAN AND CANNOT DO
Benefits and Limitations of Steroid Injections
The Benefits
- Fast, targeted relief delivered straight to the painful joint
- A quick, minimally invasive, in-office procedure with little downtime
- Reduced inflammation that can make physical therapy and daily activity more comfortable
- A useful way to settle a flare or delay surgery when that is the right goal
- Diagnostic value that helps confirm the source of pain
The Limitations (an Honest View)
A steroid injection treats symptoms, not the cause of arthritis. The relief is temporary and wears off over weeks to months. Because frequent corticosteroid exposure has been linked in research to effects on cartilage and local bone, the number of injections into one joint is limited to a few per year. Injections also tend to be less effective once arthritis has progressed to bone-on-bone changes. For that reason, Dr. Calendine treats injections as one tool within a plan rather than a permanent answer, and he is direct with patients about when the returns from repeated injections are diminishing.
SAFETY AND SIDE EFFECTS
Risks and Side Effects of Cortisone Injections
Most people have a steroid injection with no lasting problems, but it is worth understanding the possible side effects. Larger doses and more frequent injections carry more risk, which is one reason current orthopaedic guidance supports using the lowest effective dose and spacing injections out over time.
Common and Less Common Effects
- A short flare of pain, swelling, or warmth in the joint during the first day or two, which usually settles on its own
- Bruising, or thinning and lightening of the skin at the injection site
- A temporary rise in blood sugar, so patients with diabetes should monitor their levels for several days
- Short-lived facial flushing
- Rarely, joint infection. Contact the office promptly if the joint becomes increasingly painful, hot, and swollen, or if you develop a fever
- With frequent injections over time, possible thinning of nearby bone and effects on cartilage
Who Should Take Extra Care
A steroid injection is not given when there is an active infection, particularly near the joint. Patients who take blood-thinning medication or who have a bleeding disorder should tell the care team, since an adjustment or extra caution may be needed. A single injection can briefly affect the body’s natural hormone response, so mention recent injections before any surgery or if you become unwell. Dr. Calendine reviews your medical history, current medications, and imaging before recommending an injection.
COMPARING JOINT INJECTIONS
Steroid Injection vs Gel Injection vs PRP
Patients often ask how gel injections and PRP compare with cortisone. Steroid injections are one of several injection options for arthritis, and understanding how they differ helps you and Dr. Calendine choose the right approach for your joint and stage of arthritis. For a fuller discussion of hyaluronic acid gel, PRP and other biologic options, see the Nonsurgical Joint Pain Treatment page.
| Feature | Corticosteroid (Cortisone) | Hyaluronic Acid (Gel) | Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it does | Reduces inflammation in the joint | Supplements the joint's natural lubricant | Concentrates growth factors from your own blood |
| How fast it works | Days to about one week | Builds over several weeks | Gradual, varies by patient |
| How long relief lasts | Weeks to months | Often 6 months or longer | Still being studied |
| Best suited to | Inflamed, swollen joints | Knee osteoarthritis, FDA approved for the knee | Selected earlier stage cases |
| Good to know | About 3 to 4 per joint per year | Not approved for the hip | Evidence developing, discussed individually |
LOOKING AHEAD
When Steroid Injections Are No Longer Enough
For many patients, injections provide meaningful relief for a long time. For others, a point arrives when each injection helps less and the relief does not last as long. When injections and other nonsurgical treatments no longer control the pain, and when imaging shows advanced joint damage, it may be time to consider joint replacement. There is no fixed age or number of injections that decides this. The right moment is when your pain and loss of function outweigh the relief that conservative care can still provide. Dr. Calendine will walk through your imaging and options with you so the decision is an informed one.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Steroid Injections for Joint Pain: Common Questions
What is a steroid or cortisone injection for joint pain?
A steroid injection places a corticosteroid medication into or around a painful joint to reduce inflammation and relieve pain. It is often combined with a local anaesthetic for fast, short-term relief. Cortisone shot, corticosteroid injection, and steroid injection all describe the same treatment. For hip and knee arthritis, it is one of several nonsurgical options Dr. Calendine offers at the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee in Franklin, TN.
How long does a cortisone injection last for hip or knee arthritis?
Most patients feel the full effect within a few days to about a week. Relief usually lasts from several weeks to several months, depending on how advanced the arthritis is and how each person responds. The medication reduces inflammation rather than repairing the joint, so symptoms can return gradually as the effect fades. candidate. management and exercise. Candidacy is discussed honestly at consultation.
How many cortisone injections can I have in a year?
Corticosteroid injections into a single joint are generally limited to about three to four per year. Frequent steroid exposure has been linked in research to effects on cartilage and nearby bone, so spacing injections out and using the lowest effective dose is the safer approach. Dr. Calendine will advise on timing based on your joint and response.
Do steroid injections hurt, and what are the side effects?
The injection may sting briefly, and a numbing medication is often used to reduce discomfort. Common side effects include a short flare of soreness or swelling for a day or two, bruising, and skin lightening at the site. Patients with diabetes may see a temporary rise in blood sugar. Joint infection is rare. Contact the office if the joint becomes increasingly painful, hot, and swollen, or if you develop a fever.
What is the difference between a cortisone injection and a gel injection?
A cortisone injection reduces inflammation, works within days to a week, and lasts weeks to months. A gel injection, or hyaluronic acid, supplements the joint’s natural lubricant, builds up over several weeks, and can last six months or longer. Gel injections are approved for the knee, not the hip. The two work differently and may both be appropriate at different points in arthritis care.
When should I consider surgery instead of more injections?
Conservative care has run its course when injections help less and for shorter periods, when pain significantly limits your daily life, and when imaging shows advanced, bone-on-bone arthritis. There is no fixed age or injection count that decides this. To discuss whether a steroid injection or another step is right for you, schedule a consultation with Dr. Cory Calendine at the Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, 3000 Edward Curd Lane, Franklin, TN 37067, or call (615) 791-2630.
FRANKLIN, TN · SERVING ALL OF MIDDLE TENNESSEE
Find Out Whether a Steroid Injection Is Right for Your Joint Pain.
Start with a Consultation.
Whether you are exploring nonsurgical options, want relief from a hip or knee flare, or are trying to decide what comes next, the consultation is the place to start. Dr. Cory Calendine will review your history and imaging and recommend the option that fits your goals. Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, 3000 Edward Curd Lane, Franklin, TN 37067. No referral required.