Joint injections use corticosteroid medicine inside a joint or bursa.
Examples include shoulder, elbow, wrist, knee, and hip injections.
They aim to reduce local inflammation and pain.
They usually cause fewer whole-body effects than tablets.
However, side effects can still happen.

What to expect after the injection

Pain relief often starts within a few days.
Sometimes it starts within 24–48 hours.
Relief can last weeks to months.
Response varies by condition and person.
Some people get little or no benefit.

A local anaesthetic is often mixed in.
This can numb the area for a few hours.

Common short-term effects

Injection flare

You may get worse pain for 24–72 hours.
This is called a steroid flare.
Simple pain relief and ice often help.

Temporary skin changes

You may see skin lightening at the injection site.
You may notice thinning of the skin.
A small dent can occur from fat atrophy.

Bruising and soreness

Mild bruising and tenderness are common.
This settles over several days.

Less common, but important risks

Infection

Joint infection is rare but serious.
Seek urgent care for increasing redness or swelling.
Also act if you get fever or feel unwell.
Severe pain and reduced movement are red flags.

Bleeding

Risk is higher if you take anticoagulants.
You may need tailored advice before the procedure.
A large, tense swelling needs prompt review.

Tendon weakening

Steroid near tendons can weaken tissue.
This may increase rupture risk in some areas.
Your clinician avoids injecting directly into tendons.

Joint cartilage concerns

Repeated injections may affect cartilage over time.
This risk depends on joint, dose, and frequency.
This is why spacing and limits are used.

Whole-body side effects can still occur

Most are mild and short-lived after injections.
They are more likely with large doses.
They are more likely with frequent injections.
They are also more likely if you inject multiple sites.

Blood sugar rise

Blood glucose can rise for 24–72 hours.
This matters most for people with diabetes.
Check sugars more often after the injection.
You may need temporary medication adjustments.

Facial flushing

A warm flush can happen for 1–2 days.
It is harmless, but can feel unpleasant.

Sleep and mood changes

Some people feel wired or restless.
Sleep can be disturbed for a few nights.
Mood can swing, especially with anxiety history.
Severe agitation or psychosis is very rare.

Blood pressure and fluid retention

Temporary rises can occur in some people.
This is more relevant with heart failure history.

Menstrual changes

Periods can shift or become irregular briefly.
This usually settles by the next cycle.

Allergy

True allergy is rare.
Tell your clinician about prior reactions.

Who needs extra caution

Tell your clinician if you have:

  • diabetes or prediabetes

  • active infection anywhere in the body

  • a prosthetic joint, or joint replacement nearby

  • immune suppression, or chemotherapy treatment

  • anticoagulant use, or bleeding disorders

  • severe heart failure or uncontrolled hypertension

  • glaucoma history, if you get frequent injections

  • past severe steroid mood reactions

Aftercare: how to reduce problems

  • Rest the injected area for 24–48 hours.

  • Avoid heavy lifting, sport, or long runs initially.

  • Use ice for 10–15 minutes if sore.

  • Keep the site clean for the first day.

  • Follow any physio plan once pain settles.

Avoid overdoing it when pain improves.
Pain relief can mask ongoing tissue weakness.

How often can you have steroid injections?

Clinicians usually limit repeated injections in one joint.
A common limit is no more than 3–4 yearly.
Spacing is often at least 3 months.
The best interval depends on your diagnosis.
Your clinician balances benefit against cumulative risk.

When to seek urgent medical help

Go urgent if you have any of these:

  • fever, chills, or feeling very unwell

  • rapidly increasing redness, warmth, or swelling

  • severe pain that keeps worsening

  • inability to move or bear weight

  • pus or leaking from the injection site

Key takeaways

Joint steroid injections are usually safe and effective.
Most side effects are local and short-lived.
Infection is rare but needs urgent action.
Diabetes patients should plan for higher sugars.
Repeated injections should be spaced and limited.

If you tell me the joints you inject,
I can add a short section for each joint.

Reference:

Yasir, M., Goyal, A. and Sonthalia, S. (2023). Corticosteroid adverse effects. StatPearls Publishing.
Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK531462/ (Accessed: 8 January 2026).