Joint pain treatment (joint injections) at Spire Harpenden Hospital
Steroid injections to help ease pain and increase movement.
At Spire Harpenden Hospital, we offer a range of joint injections to help relieve inflamed, swollen and painful joints. It’s a quick procedure to inject medications directly into affected joints.
Sometimes also called
- Corticosteroid injections
- Hydrocortisone injections
- Intra-articular injections
- Steroid injections
The procedure(s) listed above are examples only and may not be available at all Spire hospitals.
At a glance
-
Typical hospital stay
1-2 hours -
Procedure duration
20 minutes -
Type of anaesthetic
Sometimes local is used -
Available to self-pay?
Yes -
Covered by health insurance?
Yes
Why Spire?
- Fast access to a wide range of treatments
- Consultants who are experts in their field
- Transparent pricing
- Rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission
Joint injections: what to expect at Spire Harpenden Hospital
At Spire Harpenden Hospital, we pride ourselves on our comprehensive private hospital services and high standards of care for our patients in Hertfordshire. Our orthopaedic consultants perform joint injections to help relieve chronic pain and stiffness.
We offer fast access to diagnostic tests and scans and easy booking, so you don’t have to wait long to find out if treatment is right for you.
How much does Joint pain treatment (joint injections) cost at Spire Harpenden Hospital
There are many ways to pay and our inclusive prices and access to payment plans make it easy and more affordable, even if you don’t have medical insurance.
| Joint pain treatment (joint injection under X-ray control) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | We can't display the initial consultation fee just now. Call us for a quote. | ||
| Treatment price | £1,995 | ||
| Aftercare | Included | ||
| From price | From £1,995 | ||
|
Monthly treatment price (Loan applicable to the treatment cost and excludes the initial consultation) |
£174 | ||
| Representative example | |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | £1,745 |
| Deposit | £250 |
| Loan period | 10 months |
| Representative APR | 0% |
| Total amount repayable | £1,740 |
| Joint pain treatment (joint injections) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | £175 | ||
| Treatment price | £1,823 | ||
| Aftercare | Included | ||
| From price | From £1,998 | ||
|
Monthly treatment price (Loan applicable to the treatment cost and excludes the initial consultation) |
£157 | ||
| Representative example | |
|---|---|
| Loan amount | £1,573 |
| Deposit | £250 |
| Loan period | 10 months |
| Representative APR | 0% |
| Total amount repayable | £1,570 |
The price shown is the ‘from price’ (ie the minimum cost of the procedure). Please note that for some procedures the actual price you are quoted may vary significantly and can increase depending on your choice of Consultant (who is an independent practitioner and not an employee of Spire). The fees charged by Consultants and Anaesthetists are set independently and are outside the control of Spire. The price may also vary depending on the type of anaesthetic, implant or drug used, and your medical history.
Spire Harpenden Hospital can provide you with a single, fixed price for your procedure so there are no surprises. Please read Spire Healthcare's terms and conditions for full details of what’s included and excluded in your fixed price when paying for yourself. Finance options are available through our partner Omni Capital Retail Finance Ltd, 10 Norwich Street, London, EC4A 1BD.
Preparing for joint injections at Spire Harpenden Hospital
Getting here
We have excellent road links to the M1 and A1(M) and are five minutes from Harpenden train station. Other public transport options are available. We also have free parking on-site for you and your visitors.
Your consultations
All your consultations will take place in one of our 27 accessible private rooms, so don’t worry if you have joint pain when walking. During your consultations, we'll:
- Ask about your medical history
- Say whether you need blood tests, an X-ray and/or an MRI or CT scan so they can examine your joint in more detail
- Check your blood pressure and blood sugar to make sure the hydrocortisone injection is suitable for you
- Explain about the procedure, anaesthetic and any potential risks and complications and how they may affect you
- Give you a chance to ask any questions you have about your treatment
Joint injections can be used to help knee pain, shoulder pain and hip pain, and in particular, pain that’s associated with osteoarthritis.
Once you and your consultant have decided to go ahead with joint injections, they’ll outline your treatment and ongoing support plan.
Find a consultant at Spire Harpenden Hospital
Joint injections: your appointment
On the day of your procedure, you’ll come into Spire Harpenden Hospital and meet your healthcare team.
When you’re ready, your consultant will feel and flex your joint and may draw out fluid with a needle, if necessary.
Your consultant will then perform the joint injection.
- They may use a local anaesthetic before or at the same time as the injection to help make the procedure more comfortable for you
- They may use a special X-ray machine to see your joint and guide the needle in
- They may make more than one injection, if necessary
In most cases, you'll receive a hydrocortisone joint injection. Hydrocortisone is a steroid which reduces inflammation and relieves pain.
If you have cartilage damage, your consultant may recommend platelet-rich plasma injections. Platelets in the plasma (which is extracted from your own blood) are intended to promote cartilage repair in your joint, helping to relieve pain and stiffness, often due to osteoarthritis.
Joint injections: your recovery
When your consultant has finished, you’ll be able to relax in a recovery room until you’re ready to go home - this is usually for about half an hour or so. Before you leave, your healthcare team will give you advice on managing your pain and any exercises you can do to help improve your results.
You may have some discomfort from the injection – if you had a local anaesthetic, you may feel this after a couple of hours. However, the joint injection should improve your chronic pain in a few hours to a few days. Usually, the effects should last for a few weeks to a few months, depending on the type and strength of your injection.
Although everybody’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice, here’s a typical recovery timeline for joint injections:
Treatment and recovery timeline
1 hour
1 year
1-2 hours
Leave hospital
1-2 days
Rest at home
2 days
Begin moving and exercising your joint
A few days
Start to feel benefits
A few weeks to a year
May still feel the effects
-
1-2 hours
Leave hospital
-
1-2 days
Rest at home
-
2 days
Begin moving and exercising your joint
-
A few days
Start to feel benefits
-
A few weeks to a year
May still feel the effects
The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.
How to get to us
We have excellent road links to the M1 and A1(M), and are five minutes from Harpenden train station.
Spire Harpenden Hospital,
Ambrose Lane
Harpenden
Hertfordshire
AL5 4BP
Get in touch
Important information about COVID-19 tests
COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Harpenden Hospital.
Sources
https://beta.nhs.uk/medicines/hydrocortisone-injections/
https://www.nhsinform.scot/tests-and-treatments/medicines-and-medical-aids/types-of-medicine/corticosteroids
https://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/drugs/steroid-injections/when-and-how-to-take-it.aspx