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.