Steroid Injections

Steroid injections are injections of medicine used to lower pain and inflammation in one or more of your child’s joints. They are given with a local anesthetic to numb the area for a few hours. The steroid will start working in 2 to 3 days and may last a few weeks to months. It’s not always easy to tell how well it will work for relief of pain and swelling.

• Your child may have Band-Aids at the injection sites. These may fall off on their own or be removed the next day.
• Your child can have a shower or short bath 1 day (24 hours) after the procedure. Avoid long baths, hot tubs and pools for 2 days (48 hours).
• If there is any swelling, redness, increased heat, or increased pain, use ice or an ice pack on the area for no more than 15 minutes. Ice or an ice pack should be wrapped in a towel or a cloth. Never put ice directly on the skin. Ice can be applied every couple of hours until pain and swelling goes down.

After the injection, your child should protect that joint for the first few hours while the area is numb. In some cases, there will be bleeding because of the needle, and your child may feel like they have more pain for the following 12 to 24 hours. In other cases, there can be a “flare reaction” to the steroid itself that may cause redness and more pain for 12 to 24 hours.

A mild pain tablet such as Tylenol or Advil will help relieve soreness. Follow the pain plan you and your Orthopedics & Sports Medicine team made during your last clinic visit.

Minimal activity is OK for the first evening after injection(s). It is OK to go back to regular activities the day after injection(s).

Call Orthopedics and Sports Medicine:

• If your child’s pain management plan needs to be changed
• If you have questions about follow-up care, labs or anything else
• If your child has a fever over 101° F or 38.4° C (by mouth or under the arm) within 3 days (72 hours) after the procedure