Expert steroid injections for knee, shoulder, hip, elbow, wrist and ankle pain. Delivered by GMC-registered clinicians at our Standish clinic — no GP referral needed, same-week appointments. A short pre-consultation is required before any injection to confirm your suitability.
What is a joint injection?
A steroid joint injection (often called a cortisone injection) is a minor in-clinic procedure in which a small dose of long-acting corticosteroid — most commonly triamcinolone (Kenalog) or methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrone) — is placed directly into or around a painful joint, tendon or bursa.
Because the medication is delivered precisely where inflammation is occurring, it works faster and at a far lower systemic dose than oral anti-inflammatory tablets. For many patients, a single injection can break the inflammatory cycle, restore range of movement, and create a window to make meaningful progress with physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
At Ready Health, every joint injection is preceded by a thorough consultation and physical examination to confirm the diagnosis, review any relevant imaging, and make sure the injection is the most appropriate next step for your specific joint and symptoms.
Your Journey
A pre-consultation is required before any joint injection. This lets our clinician confirm the correct diagnosis, assess suitability and plan the right treatment for you.
£49 for a single joint (15 min) or £89 for multiple joints / complex cases (30 min). No GP referral required.
A GMC-registered clinician takes your history, examines the joint, reviews any imaging and confirms suitability for injection.
If suitable, your injection is booked — typically same or next week. Consent, preparation and injection take around 20 minutes.
You go home with clear written aftercare and a telephone follow-up within 2–4 weeks where appropriate.
A pre-consultation is required before any joint injection. All prices below are inclusive — no hidden fees.
| Service | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-Consultation — 15 minSingle joint area · Required before all injections | £49 | Book this first |
| Pre-Consultation — 30 minMultiple joints or more complex cases | £89 | For 2+ joints or complex history |
| Steroid Joint Injection Most CommonKnee, shoulder, hip, elbow, wrist, ankle & small joints | From £150 | Booked after pre-consultation |
| Follow-Up ReviewTelephone or in-clinic review within 2–4 weeks where appropriate | Included | No additional charge |
Injection price may vary slightly depending on the joint being treated and the medication required. Your clinician will confirm the full cost in writing at your pre-consultation before anything is booked. Call 01257 676 001 or email mail@readyhealth.co.uk with any queries.
Book Online
Select a suitable appointment from our live booking calendar. Your pre-consultation confirms diagnosis, assesses suitability, and — if appropriate — we'll schedule your injection visit straight after.
Having trouble with the booking tool? Call us on 01257 676 001 and we'll book you in over the phone.
Joints & Conditions We Treat
We regularly deliver steroid injections across the upper and lower limb. Each region is assessed against its specific clinical criteria before treatment is offered.
Ideal for osteoarthritis flare-ups, patellofemoral pain and inflammatory knee conditions that have not settled with rest, anti-inflammatories or physiotherapy.
Shoulder pain is one of the most common reasons for an injection. We treat subacromial, glenohumeral and AC joint pathologies with excellent results.
Lateral hip pain from greater trochanteric pain syndrome and gluteal tendinopathy responds particularly well to targeted steroid injection around the bursa.
Lateral and medial epicondylitis often become stubborn despite bracing and eccentric exercises — a carefully-placed injection can break the inflammatory cycle.
Small-joint injections into the base of the thumb and wrist are highly effective for arthritis and nerve compression conditions that limit grip and function.
Plantar fasciitis and Morton's neuroma are two of the most rewarding conditions to treat — patients often walk out noticeably more comfortable within the week.
How Steroid Injections Work
Corticosteroids suppress the local immune response that drives pain, swelling and stiffness. Delivered directly into the joint, a very small total dose produces a powerful local effect with minimal systemic exposure.
A fine needle places the steroid-anaesthetic mix precisely at the site of inflammation under sterile conditions.
Local anaesthetic provides immediate, temporary numbing. A brief "steroid flare" is possible — this settles with ice and paracetamol.
Inflammation begins to reduce as the corticosteroid suppresses the local inflammatory cascade.
Maximum pain relief and improved range of motion — the ideal window to progress rehabilitation.
Ready Health stocks triamcinolone acetonide (Kenalog 40mg) and methylprednisolone (Depo-Medrone 40mg/80mg), usually combined with a small volume of local anaesthetic (lidocaine).
This combination provides immediate comfort from the anaesthetic while the steroid takes effect over the following days, delivering lasting anti-inflammatory relief.
Is It Right for You?
Our clinician will always assess suitability in person. The following guidance helps you understand when this treatment is most likely to help — and when alternatives may be preferable.
After Your Injection
You'll leave with printed aftercare instructions tailored to the joint treated. The timeline below outlines what most patients can expect.
Take it easy for the remainder of the day. Avoid heavy lifting or high-impact activity. Use ice for 10–15 minutes at a time if sore. Paracetamol usually manages any discomfort.
Resume normal daily activities as comfort allows. A mild "steroid flare" in the first 48 hours is temporary. Most patients feel genuine improvement by the end of the first week.
The ideal time to engage with physiotherapy, strengthening work and gradual return to sport. Using this pain-free window to build strength is what makes benefit last.
Pain relief commonly lasts 6 weeks to 6+ months. Maximum 3–4 injections per joint per year, spaced 3 months apart, per current clinical guidance.
Why Choose Ready Health
Private musculoskeletal medicine from a real clinical team in Standish, Wigan — not a faceless corporate chain.
Every injection is delivered by a GMC-registered clinician trained in musculoskeletal examination and soft-tissue procedures.
No waiting months. We typically offer same-week appointments with procedures arranged fast — often same day.
Every appointment starts with a thorough assessment. We don't just inject — we make sure it's the right treatment for you.
Your treatment is completely private. No sharing with employers or insurers without your explicit consent.
22 High Street, Standish, Wigan WN6 0HL. Accessible for patients across Wigan, Chorley and Lancashire.
Telephone follow-up within 2–4 weeks. Onward referral to orthopaedics or physiotherapy if further care is needed.
What Our Patients Say
A selection of recent patient feedback from our joint injection service at Standish.
"I'd been struggling with tennis elbow for almost a year and was dreading surgery. Had the injection at Ready Health and within two weeks I was back in the gym. The consultation was thorough and didn't feel rushed at all."
"My shoulder had been keeping me up at night for months. The doctor examined it properly, explained exactly what was going on, and did the injection there and then. Sleeping again within a week — absolute game changer."
"Plantar fasciitis had made the school run miserable. Private injection at Ready Health, clear aftercare advice, and I was walking comfortably again in about ten days. Much quicker than waiting for a podiatry referral."
Common Questions
A pre-consultation allows our clinician to examine the joint, confirm the correct diagnosis, review any imaging or reports and decide whether a steroid injection is the safest and most effective option for you. It's £49 for a single joint (15 min) or £89 for multiple joints or more complex cases (30 min). It also gives you the opportunity to ask questions about the procedure before anything is scheduled.
A pre-consultation is required before any joint injection. Pre-consultations are £49 for a single joint area (15 minutes) or £89 for multiple joints or more complex cases (30 minutes). The injection itself starts from £150 and is booked after your pre-consultation once suitability is confirmed. Your clinician will give you the full cost in writing before anything is booked.
Most patients begin to notice a reduction in pain and inflammation between 3 and 7 days after the injection, with maximum benefit typically felt around the 2–4 week mark. Pain relief commonly lasts from 6 weeks to 6 months or longer, depending on the underlying condition, the joint treated, and how well the pain-free window is used for rehabilitation.
No. You can book a private consultation at Ready Health directly — no GP referral is required. If you have any existing scans, reports or correspondence, please bring them to your appointment. Our clinician will take a full history, examine the joint and advise whether a steroid injection is the most appropriate treatment for you.
We routinely inject the knee, shoulder (subacromial, glenohumeral and AC joint), hip (trochanteric bursa and gluteal tendons), elbow (tennis and golfer's elbow, olecranon bursa), wrist and thumb (CMC joint, carpal tunnel, De Quervain's, trigger finger), and ankle/foot (including plantar fasciitis and Morton's neuroma). If your condition is unusual or requires imaging-guided injection, we'll advise on the appropriate onward pathway.
Most patients describe a brief stinging or pressure sensation lasting a few seconds. We use a fine needle and mix the steroid with local anaesthetic, so the injection itself is generally well tolerated. It is common to experience mild soreness at the injection site for 24 to 48 hours afterwards, which responds well to rest, ice and simple painkillers such as paracetamol.
Current clinical guidance recommends no more than 3 to 4 steroid injections into the same joint per year, with a minimum of 3 months between injections. Repeated high-dose steroid exposure in the same area has been associated with cartilage and tendon weakening, so we always review your injection history carefully and discuss longer-term alternatives (such as viscosupplementation, PRP or orthopaedic referral) where appropriate.
Steroid injections are very safe when performed by a trained clinician. Recognised but usually temporary effects include a post-injection pain flare (24–48 hours), skin dimpling or lightening at the injection site, facial flushing lasting 1–2 days, and a short-term rise in blood sugar (relevant for patients with diabetes). Joint infection is extremely rare (roughly 1 in 10,000 to 50,000). All risks and how we minimise them are discussed fully during your consultation before you consent to treatment.
Yes — a joint injection does not affect your ability to drive. There is no sedation involved. We do advise that you avoid strenuous activity, heavy lifting and high-impact exercise for the first 24–48 hours, but normal activities such as driving, walking and working are usually absolutely fine.
Yes, but with planning. A corticosteroid injection can cause a temporary rise in blood glucose for 3–7 days following treatment. We recommend closer glucose monitoring during that period and — if you have any concerns about diabetic control — bringing that up at your consultation so we can plan timing and dose accordingly. For well-controlled diabetes this is usually a minor, manageable issue.
If our clinician doesn't feel a steroid injection is the best next step for you, we'll explain why and outline alternatives — focused physiotherapy, bracing or orthotics, hyaluronic acid injections, referral for imaging, or onward referral to an orthopaedic surgeon or musculoskeletal specialist. We will never proceed with a treatment unless we're confident it is in your best clinical interest.
Start with a pre-consultation — £49 for a single joint (15 min) or £89 for multiple joints or complex cases (30 min). Same-week appointments at our Standish, Wigan clinic.