Musculoskeletal Medicine

Yes. Ultrasound does not expose patients to radiation like X-ray or CT scans. There are no contraindications like there are with MRI scans, and the imaging process is well tolerated and requires no special preparation.

Yes. Complications from injections are rare, and ultrasound allows us to minimise risk to sensitive structures like major blood vessels and nerves. Strict sterile techniques minimise infection risks, and patients will be advised on any concerning symptoms to look out for post-intervention.

Improved accuracy: by seeing the tendon sheath, joint space or bursa, we can make sure the medication is placed into the exact area of pathology. This is helpful from a diagnostic perspective - confirming the pain driver - and can also provide better treatment efficacy.

Ultrasound is used to assess the soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system. Pathology to tendons, bursas, tendon sheaths, muscles and peripheral nerves, and the presence of soft tissue lumps and bumps, can all be visualised. It can provide additional information on the appearance of joint margins and the bone cortex, but does not replace X-ray or MRI in these cases.

We cannot use ultrasound to assess for pathology of the spine. It has a further limited role in assessing for intra-articular pathology such as the cruciates (ligaments) of the knee and the labrum of the shoulder or hip. While we can see degenerative changes on ultrasound, it does not replace X-ray. For bone stress injuries or the assessment of traumatic injuries, MRI and X-rays, respectively, are the first-line imaging choices.

We use local anaesthetic to provide local anaesthesia at the time of intervention. Generally speaking, the injections are well tolerated and administered quickly, safely and efficiently by our team of experts.

Sometimes there can be some increased symptoms after the injection - termed a ‘steroid flare’ - for a couple of days, but this will resolve without any medical input. Regular analgesia is fine to take following your injection.

This will depend on the type of injection you are having. Generally speaking, steroids work the quickest, taking a couple of days to a couple of weeks to take effect.

Arthrosamid takes the longest, typically 6–12 weeks, to have a therapeutic effect. Hyaluronic acid and PRP injections fall into the middle, usually around the 2–6 week mark.

Depending on your condition, an injection may not be recommended now or at all. Where intervention is agreed, the specialist will first talk you through your diagnosis and all the available injectable options, making recommendations on the latest clinical evidence.

This will depend on your diagnosis and the extent of the pathology. Please visit our injections pages for the evidence base behind a specific intervention.

Yes. Depending on the underlying pathology, injections may be offered repeatedly to help manage symptoms. If there is no resolution or symptoms become progressive, surgical intervention will be discussed in appropriate cases.

We always advise, where possible, to have someone drive you from the clinic after any injection. Most patients will be fine to drive after 24 hours.

Yes. We will provide a full written report to you, your GP and the referring clinician where appropriate.