TOLL FREE:  

1-866-611-2665

Cortisone (Steroid) Injection

Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory medication that can be injected into joints and soft tissues under X-ray or ultrasound guidance to decrease inflammation and reduce pain.

This procedure allows a small dose of medication to be injected into a localized and specific area of concern while keeping potential side effects to a minimum. It can also confirm the origin of your pain – considered a “diagnostic” injection. This procedure can be used to treat joint pain or arthritis, or inflammation of a bursa or around a tendon (tenosynovitis).

Relief may last 3-6 months and, if successful, repeat injections can be performed up to four times per year.

Patients receiving pain management treatments who need language interpretation or prefer to communicate in a language other than English are encouraged to bring a family member or friend to their appointment to assist with translation. This ensures that patients fully understand the procedure and necessary instructions. If the patient is unable to comprehend the instructions, the appointment may need to be rescheduled. As Mayfair does not provide language interpreters, it is essential for patients to make these arrangements in advance.

HOW DO I PREPARE FOR MY PROCEDURE?

  • If you are on anticoagulation drugs (Plavix, Coumadin, Warfarin etc.) you may need to have an international normalized ratio (INR) test and stop your medication prior to the procedure. Please inform our booking coordinators of any blood thinners you may be taking, so that they can discuss further instructions with you.
  • If you take insulin to manage your diabetes, please let your booking coordinator know. You may have some juice and a small snack after taking your insulin.
  • IMPORTANT: Please schedule your injection either two weeks before or one week after any vaccination appointment.
  • For thoracic facet injections, if you are currently taking antibiotics, you will need to wait two weeks after your last dose before having your injection.
  • For all other injections, if you are currently taking antibiotics, you will need to wait two days after your last dose before having your injection.
  • Take all prescribed medications as directed.
  • In case you have any discomfort, please have someone accompany you on the day of your test. It may be more convenient to have someone else drive you home.
  • Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment to allow enough time to fill out a consent form.
  • Bring photo identification and your provincial health card.
  • Wear comfortable clothes.
  • Please do not bring children who require supervision.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING MY PROCEDURE?

  • We may provide you with a comfortable clinic gown to change into (depending on the area being treated).
  • A team member will review the consent form, explain procedure details, and answer any questions.
  • We will then escort you to our treatment suite where you will meet the radiologist who will clean the skin and inject a local anesthetic, similar to the freezing you get at the dentist.
  • After the location is confirmed with X-ray or ultrasound guidance, the anti-inflammatory and long-lasting freezing will be injected using a thin, sterile needle.
  • You will be assessed post-injection by our team and, if there are no concerns, you will be free to leave.

POST-PROCEDURE INSTRUCTIONS

  • First 24 hours: Keep the treatment area clean. Leave the Band-Aid on. Do not shower.
  • First 48 hours: Avoid bathtubs, hot tubs, and pools. Avoid strenuous activity and lifting.
  • After one week: You may resume physiotherapy. Be mindful of your pain and stop if it hurts too much. Notify your physiotherapist that you have had this injection so they can modify your exercises if necessary.
  • Watch for infection: If you develop worsening pain, skin redness at the site of injection, or a temperature greater than 38.5°C, please proceed to an urgent care or emergency centre.
  • If you have pain or other symptoms beyond 48 hours after your injection, this is a normal reaction, . You may apply heat and ice to the treatment area. If you have any questions, please call our office at 403-568-3890 or please email us at paintherapy@radiology.ca during business hours.
  • Diabetics: Note that cortisone can cause a temporary increase in blood sugar. Please monitor your blood sugar closely and, if you have any concerns, consult with your doctor.
  • For HA injections: This product may take time to distribute in the joint. We encourage you to move the joint and massage the area. Rarely, patients may experience a temporary “flare”
    of the joint – pain and stiffness – after these injections. This typically occurs between 12-48 hours after the injection and can be managed by Tylenol or aspirin.

WHEN WILL I SEE RESULTS?

  • After your injection, the freezing may last for a few hours. Your symptoms may return until the steroid takes effect in 3-7 days. Please track your symptom response to share with your physician.
  • A steroid injection typically provides three months of symptom relief. If an injection does not help relieve your symptoms, then you may need further evaluation by your referring doctor for another cause of your symptoms.
  • Results can vary from weeks to months depending on the body part involved, severity of the disease and your symptoms. Most patients get complete relief that is permanent while, rarely, others have limited response.
  • Please consult with your doctor regarding your results and any follow up exams or questions.

HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?

This exam is covered under your Alberta Health Care Plan. It is not currently offered at our Saskatchewan clinics.

PLEASE NOTE:

Please bring the following to your appointment: a valid government-issued ID, your provincial health card, and your exam requisition (if you have received one).

FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT

Please ensure that you bring your requisition with you to your appointment.

DURATION

15-20 minutes

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How long does the injection take to work?
After your injection, the freezing may last for a few hours. Your symptoms may return until the steroid takes effect in 3-7 days. Please track your symptom response to share with your physician.
How long will the injection last?
Relief may last 3-6 months, and if successful, repeat injections can be performed up to four times per year.
How many injections can I have and how often?
Radiologists recommend injections occur no more than once every three months (totalling four per year) for any one body part. Excessive steroid use can cause other health problems.
What are the side effects?
These are very safe procedures. The most common side effect of an injection is mild pain or bruising around the area. Over-the-counter pain medications or icing the area can help. Long-term effects of repeated cortisone injections may include weakening of muscle, tendons, and local skin changes, so, to avoid this, we will make suggestions for alternate treatments or supportive care when repeated cortisone injections have failed to relieve symptoms. As all our procedures are performed in a sterile manner according to provincial guidelines, only in very rare circumstances will a patient develop an infection or an allergy to a substance in the product. The booking staff will review your allergies with you prior to your appointment.
Online Appointment Request

Our Culture

We foster a supportive and collaborative culture designed to encourage positive patient experiences and build strong working relationships across the organization:

  • We recognize each other for our contributions – big and small.
  • We focus on teamwork and personal accountability to achieve our goals.
  • When we commit to deadlines, we complete the work as promised, by when we promised. If we realize we can’t keep our commitments, we collaborate to find new deadlines well in advance of the original ones.
  • We feel safe to speak up responsibly. That means we freely share what’s on our minds in a way that is respectful and supports the success of the organization.
  • We commit to our patients and their needs. We show up each day ready to live our vision, mission, and values.
  • We challenge each other to grow and develop our skills and we support each other to do so.
  • Above all, we go the extra mile to support our patients and colleagues. 

Our Values.

Our core values shape the way we work with patients, partners, and fellow employees. And, more than anything else, they’re what set Mayfair apart. In everything we do, this is what we strive for:

EXCELLENCE

We share a commitment to high quality and excellence in all that we do. This commitment calls on all of us to achieve the very best of our capabilities and exceed our own expectations.

CURIOSITY

We innovate in everything, from services to processes. We believe meaningful change and effective problem solving come only by looking at challenges and opportunities from new angles and by exercising our creativity and curiosity.

PASSION

We show pride, enthusiasm, and dedication in everything that we do. We are committed to producing and delivering high-quality results and services. We are passionate about our industry and about our company, services, partners, and patients.

COLLABORATION

Our team is supportive of each other’s efforts; we are loyal to one another; and we care for one another both personally and professionally. We promote and support a diverse, yet unified, team. We work together to meet our common goals across Mayfair clinics, locations, and geographies. Only through collaboration on ideas, technologies, and talents can we achieve our mission and vision.

SERVICE

We take pride in delivering exceptional service every day. We listen to every request with an open mind, always looking for opportunities to go above and beyond to create memorable, personalized experiences. We take responsibility to answer our referrers’ and patients’ requests and respect their time by always responding with a sense of urgency.

Start with us.

Start a career with Mayfair Diagnostics — one of Western Canada’s leading medical imaging teams.

Headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, we’ve been helping people f ind clarity for their health for over 100 years. At our clinics in Calgary and area, Regina, and Saskatoon, our team of radiologists, technologists, and support staff work in a truly integrated way to provide exceptional experiences for our patients. Joining our team is more than a job. It’s an investment in your future — a plan for success.

OUR PEOPLE

Our people share our quest to make a difference in our patient’s lives. We’re a team of professionals, disciplined in our skills and compassionate with our patients, providing the care and attention they need. At our core, we are a trusted partner in our patients’ health care journey. Our patients, physicians, and other health care providers rely on us for quality imaging to help manage their patient’s health care decisions with certainty. But our business is about more than just imaging. It’s about building lasting relationships and making a meaningful difference in the lives of those we meet.

OUR VISION

A world in which every person has clarity about their health. We push the boundaries of what is possible and embrace change as an opportunity. We strive to be thought leaders and encourage creativity by providing a safe place for calculated risk taking. We learn from our mistakes. We share best practices across our operations and are recognized by our peers for our work. We engage the best to help propel us forward in achieving our goals.