Cortisone Injections Northwood

Ultrasound is a fantastic tool that has revolutionised the current Physical and medical practice.

Ultrasound constructs the pictures of the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and joints (small or big ) throughout the body. It helps diagnose sports injuries, sprains, strains, muscle tears, trapped nerves, arthritis and rheumatology conditions.

Ultrasound does not use X radiation and is considered the safest, non-invasive modality for musculoskeletal problems, whether sports/ work or age-related.

What is Ultrasound Imaging of the Musculoskeletal System?

Ultrasound imaging is a non-ionising and non-invasive medical test that helps physicians diagnose and treat medical conditions. It is safe and painless. It produces pictures of the inside of the body using sound waves. Ultrasound imaging is also called sonography. It uses a small probe called a transducer and gel placed directly on the skin. High-frequency sound waves travel from the probe through the gel into the body. The probe collects the sounds that bounce back. A computer uses those sound waves to create an image. Ultrasound exams do not use radiation (No x-rays). Because ultrasound captures images in real-time, it can show the structure and motion of the body organs. Thanks to new additions as microflow can detect minor inflammations. Ultrasound images of the musculoskeletal system provide pictures of muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, nerves and soft tissues throughout the body.

What can Ultrasound scans Diagnose in the Musculoskeletal System?

Ultrasound images are typically used to help diagnose:
– Shoulder: Tendon tears or inflammation/ tendinitis of the rotator cuff in the shoulder. Calcific tendinitis.
– Elbow – Tennis elbow, Golfer’s elbow- inflammation of the tendons, bursitis, muscle and tendon tears.
– Wrist and Hand: Wrist and hand tendons and tendon sheaths to diagnose tenosynovitis as De Quervain tenosynovitis, Ganglion cysts and small joint arthritis. Flexor, extensor Finger tendon tears and trigger finger Helps to identify Carpal tunnel syndrome-related structural abnormalities.
– Hip: Trochanteric bursitis, Tendinosis and joint effusion including arthritis. Sportsman hernia, Groin pain.
– Knee: Knee tendons as rupture or inflammation. Joint effusion, Ligament tears and arthritis.
– Ankle: Achilles tendon tear/ inflammation, Tennis leg and other tendons in the ankle. Tenosynovitis of ankle and foot tendons.
– Foot: Plantar Fasciitis, Morton’s neuroma, bursitis or metatarsalgia.
– Muscle tears, masses, or fluid collections.
– Ligament sprains or tears.
– Early changes of rheumatoid arthritis.
– Nerve entrapments such as carpal tunnel syndrome or ulnar neuritis.
– Benign and malignant soft tissue tumours.
– Ganglion cysts.
– Hernias ( Abdominal, inguinal and muscle hernias).
– Foreign bodies in the soft tissues (such as splinters or glass).
– Soft tissue masses (lumps/bumps). 

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There is a significant body of research which demonstrates that ultrasound-guided injections give better outcomes such as improved levels of pain relief, longer-lasting benefits, and improve post-injection function of the injected area, compared with injections that are done without ultrasound guidance ( e.g.blind/surface marked injections).

There is also growing evidence that guiding the injection reduces the risk of trauma to local tissues or misplacement of the needle and/or the injection substance. This improves the safety of the injection and reduces the risk of adverse events associated with injection therapy. Because the location of the injection is more precisely known it reduces the chances of having unnecessary injections.

Many patients find ultrasound-guided injections to be more comfortable as often the required depth of the injection can be reduced

Benefits of ultrasound-guided injection

• Ultrasound scanning is non-invasive and painless (no needles or injections).
• Ultrasound imaging is extremely safe and does not use X- radiation.
• Occasionally, an ultrasound exam may be temporarily uncomfortable, but it should not be painful.
• Ultrasound is widely available, easy to use, and less expensive than most other imaging methods.
• Ultrasound scanning gives a clear picture of soft tissues that do not show up well on x-ray images.
• Ultrasound provides real-time imaging. This makes it a good tool for guiding minimally invasive procedures such as needle biopsies, fluid aspiration, and treatment of tendon inflammations.
• Patients with certain cardiac pacemakers and metallic implants or fragments in the body often cannot be safely exposed to the strong magnetic field of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI); however, patients can safely receive ultrasound imaging.
• Ultrasound is also an excellent alternative to MRI for claustrophobic patients.
• Compared to MRI, ultrasound may provide greater internal detail when assessing soft tissue structures such as tendons and nerves.
• The unique ability to capture real-time images gives ultrasound an edge to see the dynamic movement of tendons, joints or extremities.
• Ultrasound imaging is faster than MRI and does not require the patient to remain completely still, allowing infants to be imaged without sedation.

Get in touch for Advanced Ultrasound Guided Cortisone Injections near Northwood

A steroid injection can be very effective for treating several musculoskeletal pain conditions. For a more comprehensive list please see below.

Common injections include:
Shoulder: frozen shoulder, Subacromial bursitis, Tendon swelling/inflammation, Calcific Tendinitis, Barbotage for calcific tendinitis.

Elbow:
• Lateral epicondylitis commonly known as Tennis elbow – ultrasound guided dry needling and steroid injection.
• Medial epicondylitis known as Golfer’s elbow – Dry needling and or cortisone injection for pain relief.
• Aspiration and injection for olecranon bursitis.
• Ulnar nerve neuritis – injections to reduce inflammation and pain.

Wrist and Hand:
• Carpal tunnel syndrome ultrasound guided injection
• Ganglion cyst aspiration and injection.
• Tendon sheath inflammation injection.
• De Quervain tenosynovitis.
• Pain relief injection for rheumatoid arthritis
• Trigger finger treatment injection
• Small joint arthritis cortisone injection’

Hip:
• Pain relief in hip Osteoarthritis in particular the patients waiting for a replacement.
• Trochanteric bursitis
• Iliopsoas bursitis
• Tendon inflammation and tendinosis
• Hamstring tendinopathy
• Ultrasound guided treatment Injection for Meralgia parasthetica pain relief

Knee:
• Therapeutic and pain relief cortisone injections
• Pain relief in Knee osteoarthritis
• Cortisone injection for pes anserinus
• Baker’s cyst aspiration and injection.
• Joint fluid aspiration
• Hyaluronic Acid injections

Ankle:

• Ankle osteoarthritis pain relief
• Subtalar Injection
• Joint fluid aspiration
• Tendinopathies
• Inflammation of the tendon or tendon sheath
• Achilles tendon inflammation (we do not inject steroids in the insertional tendinosis)
• High volume stripping procedure in chronic Achilles tendinosis and occasionally in insertional tendinosis.

Foot:
• Plantar fasciitis
• Morton’s Neuroma
• Metatarsalgia
• Small joint injections
• Tendon sheath inflammation
• Rheumatoid arthritis injection for pain relief
• Ganglion cyst aspiration and injection

Ultrasound Guided Cortisone Injections for pain relief near Northwood

Steroid Injections commonly known as corticosteroid injections are used to reduce pain and the inflammation of the tendons, tendon sheaths, joint pain, arthritis and during the treatment of ganglion cysts. These are only administered by qualified and trained health care professionals. The Ultrasound provides the best guidance to instil the injection at the target point.

Call today for further information on Corticosteroid Steroid Injections.

A referral from your family physician/GP, orthopaedic surgeon, rheumatologist, physiotherapist or chiropractor is desirable though not necessary. If you do not have a referral, please book a consultation with our consultant radiologist for an assessment and if appropriate a steroid injection or other procedure. The consultant will discuss with you the therapeutic outcome/ pain management options.

The effect of the cortisone injections varies from patient to patient depending on the disease condition. In some patients, only one injection may work for long durations but others may need interval injections for pain management. Your consultant will discuss the details with you and we encourage you to please ask as many questions as you like.

How many Cortisone injections can you have?

Ideally, there should be no more than 1 injection in one body part within 3-4 months. We usually advise three injections in one body part in one year. But depending upon your physical condition, your consultant will discuss any further options with you.

How long will the ultrasound guided corticosteroid injections last?

This will depend upon a number of factors including the nature and severity of the problem for which you are having the injection. Sometimes there is no improvement but the longer-lasting less soluble steroids can be effective for many months. It is important you listen to the advice of your physiotherapist continue with the exercise programme and make any lifestyle changes he or she recommends.

Call today for further information on Corticosteroid Cortisone Injections near Northwood

This will depend upon the type of steroid used. The shorter-acting soluble steroids begin to give relief within a couple of hours. The longer-acting steroids may take up to a couple of weeks to become effective. Pain relief varies from patient to patient. Some patients report immediate pain relief and in others it can take anywhere from a few days to weeks.

Standard diagnostic ultrasound has no known harmful effects on humans.

What are the limitations of Ultrasound Imaging of the Musculoskeletal System?

Ultrasound has difficulty penetrating bone and, therefore, can only see the outer surface of bony structures. Yet ultrasound sometimes can detect small fractures of the bone surface. Doctors typically use other imaging modalities such as MRI to visualize the internal structure of bones or certain joints.

There are also limitations to the depth that sound waves can penetrate; therefore, deeper structures in larger patients may sometimes cause difficulty. But thanks to new scanners which have more penetration. SONORAD uses high-end equipment to diagnose as possible as we can.

Can Diabetic patients have steroid injections?

There can be a temporary increase in the blood glucose level. The consultant radiologist will discuss with you before the injection for precautionary and post-injection management.

We are happy to discuss any further information through email or during the consultation.

What drugs should not be taken with steroids? 

Careful consideration is needed in patients on blood thinners. Although intra-articular injections should not alter systemic sugar levels, we advise patients with diabetes to continue monitoring their blood sugar levels after the injection. Please discuss this with your consultant radiologist or referring physician.

Book today for an ultrasound guided cortisone injection near Northwood

We do not inject insertional tendinopathies due to higher risk of tendon rupture. You can discuss alternative treatment options with the consultant radiologist.

Hydrocortisone are prevalently used for swollen and painful joints in arthritis. As these are directly injected into the joint cavity, there are minimal systemic effects.

Hyaluronic acid (Ostenil, Ostenil Plus or Durolane) has been reported to cause more long-term effects compared to hydrocortisone.

Non-steroid hyaluronic acid injections can work better than painkillers in osteoarthritis conditions. Some studies indicated that hyaluronic acid injections may work as well as steroid injections. In some patients, hyaluronic acid may work better but in older populations with severe osteoarthritis it may be less effective.

No specific pre-test special preparation is needed. You can leave jewellery at home and wear loose, comfortable clothing. You may be asked to wear a gown.

We operate our clinic from Manor Park Medical Centre, 2 Lerwick Drive, Slough, Berkshire SL1 3XU. Please note we are not part of Manor Park Medical Centre but use the premises.

We have people travel to us from many miles around Berkshire including Windsor, Hayes, Beaconsfield, High Wycombe, Ascot, Kensington, Marlow, Hounslow, Uxbridge, West Drayton,  Maidenhead, Staines, Ealing, Oxford, Richmond,  Twickenham, Northwood, West London.