Joint Injections

A joint injection is an injection of medicine called a steroid. It is used to decrease pain and inflammation in one or more of your child’s joints. They are done either in Interventional Radiology by the interventional radiologist using imaging guidance with real time X-ray pictures (called fluoroscopy) or ultrasound, or by a rheumatologist in the Outpatient Procedure Center.

• 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 swimming pools for 2 days (48 hours).

The steroid medicine is injected into the joint and may take several days to start working. Your child may feel like they have more pain after the procedure. If this happens, follow the pain plan you and your Rheumatology team made during your last clinic visit. Contact your Rheumatology team at 206-987-2057 if changes to the pain management plan need to be made.

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). This helps the steroid medicine stay in the joint.

Call Rheumatology:

• If your child’s pain management plan needs to be revised
• If you have questions about follow up care, lab results or other concerns
• 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
• If there is increasing drainage, redness or swelling at the injection site

During business hours: call 206-987-2193 and ask for the rheumatology nurse.

After hours: call the hospital operator at 209-987-2000 or 866-987-2000 and ask for the Rheumatology doctor on call.