Knee Shots for Arthritis

Living with knee arthritis can make walking, stairs, or even getting up from a chair painful and tiring. If tablets, exercise and physio haven’t given you enough relief, knee injections (sometimes called knee shots for arthritis) can help reduce pain and keep you active.

There are two main options: steroid knee injections and hyaluronic acid (Durolane) injections.

What Are Knee Injections?

Knee injections involve placing a small amount of medicine directly into the knee joint. Because the medicine goes straight to the source of the pain, it can work better than tablets and often with fewer side effects.

They are commonly used for:

• Osteoarthritis of the knee
• Wear-and-tear / degenerative knee pain
• Inflamed or swollen knees after activity
• Patients trying to delay or avoid surgery

Goal: reduce pain, improve movement, help you get back to daily life.

Types of Knee Injections We Offer

1. Steroid (Corticosteroid) Knee Injections

Steroid injections contain a powerful anti-inflammatory medicine. They are ideal if your knee is swollen, warm or very painful because of arthritis or a flare-up.

• Work quite quickly - often within a few days
• Reduce inflammation inside the joint
• Pain relief can last weeks to a few months
• Good for people with sudden increase in pain

2. Hyaluronic Acid / Durolane Injections

These are often called hyaluronic acid shots, viscosupplementation, or by brand name Durolane. They act like a lubricant and cushion for your knee.

• Durolane is usually a single injection
• Mimics natural joint fluid
• Makes movement smoother and less painful
• Often lasts longer than a steroid shot (6-12 months in some patients)
• Good if you want to avoid repeated steroids

Steroid vs. Durolane Knee Injections

Both options are effective - the right one for you depends on your symptoms, arthritis severity and how long you want the effect to last.

Who Can Benefit from Knee Shots?

You may be a good candidate if:

• You have knee osteoarthritis diagnosed by a GP/consultant
• You have ongoing knee pain despite exercise and painkillers
• Your knee is stiff in the morning or after sitting
• You want to stay active or delay surgery
• You’ve had benefit from injections before and want a repeat

Injections can be helpful for both older adults and active younger patients with early wear-and-tear.

What Happens During the Appointment?

Your visit is usually 20-30 minutes:

1. Assessment: We confirm that the knee pain is suitable for injection.
2. Cleaning the skin: The area is cleaned to reduce infection risk.
3. Local anaesthetic: Often used to make it more comfortable.
4. Injection: The steroid or Durolane is placed directly into the joint, sometimes under ultrasound guidance.
5. Aftercare advice: You can usually walk out shortly afterwards.

Most people go back to light activity the same day, but we usually suggest avoiding the gym or running for 24-48 hours.

Aftercare and Recovery

• Expect mild soreness for a day or two
• Use ice packs for 10-15 minutes if needed
• Keep the area clean and dry
• Avoid high-impact exercise for 1-2 days
• Continue weight management and strengthening to prolong the effect

If you get increasing redness, heat or significant swelling, contact us.