AC Joint Osteoarthritis
Injection Therapy
Specialist assessment and corticosteroid injection therapy
for painful acromioclavicular (AC) joint osteoarthritis
What Is AC Joint Osteoarthritis?
The acromioclavicular, or AC, joint is the small joint at the top of the shoulder where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade.
Osteoarthritis can develop within this joint over time and may cause localised pain at the top of the shoulder.
Symptoms are often aggravated by reaching across the body, lifting, pressing movements, reaching overhead or lying on the affected side.
Some people notice tenderness directly over the joint or discomfort during activities such as dressing, gym work, manual tasks or carrying heavier objects.
When Can an Injection Help?
Corticosteroid injection can be helpful when AC joint osteoarthritis is causing persistent pain that is affecting everyday activity, work, exercise or sleep.
It may also be useful when pain is making it difficult to progress rehabilitation or return to the activities you want to do.
Your specialist will assess the location of your pain, shoulder movement and the activities that aggravate your symptoms before discussing whether the AC joint is likely to be the main source of pain and whether an injection could be useful.
How Does an AC Joint Injection Work?
Corticosteroid is an anti-inflammatory medicine.
For AC joint osteoarthritis, a small amount of corticosteroid is placed into the AC joint with the aim of reducing pain and irritation.
For some people, this makes reaching, lifting and shoulder movement more comfortable and creates a useful opportunity to progress strength and activity.
Improvement may begin within several days, although the timing and duration of benefit vary from person to person.
Is Corticosteroid the Only Treatment?
No. Treatment depends on how much the AC joint is affecting you and the activities you would like to return to.
Changes to aggravating activities, rehabilitation and progressive strengthening can all play an important role.
For people who train in the gym or regularly perform pressing or overhead activities, modifying load while symptoms settle can be particularly useful.
Corticosteroid injection can form part of this wider plan when reducing pain would help you move more comfortably or progress rehabilitation.
If symptoms remain significantly limiting despite appropriate treatment, your specialist can also advise whether an orthopaedic shoulder opinion may be helpful.
Do I Need an X-ray Before an Injection?
Not everyone needs new imaging before treatment.
AC joint osteoarthritis can often be suspected from the location of your symptoms and clinical examination.
An X-ray can be useful when the diagnosis is unclear, symptoms are persistent or imaging would influence further treatment decisions.
If you already have X-rays or other scans, your specialist can review these alongside your symptoms and examination findings.
Specialist AC Joint Injections in Fareham
Assessment and injection therapy for AC joint osteoarthritis are provided at our Fareham clinic by Mike Gillingham, Upper Limb Specialist Physiotherapist.
Mike will assess whether the AC joint is the likely source of your symptoms and discuss whether corticosteroid injection, rehabilitation, imaging or onward referral would be the most useful next step.
Frequently Asked Questions About AC Joint Injections
Where Is the Injection Given?
Where Is the Injection Given?
How Quickly Might the Injection Work?
What Is the Aim of the Injection?
Can an AC Joint Injection Be Repeated?
Is AC Joint Osteoarthritis the Same as Shoulder Osteoarthritis?
Not Sure Whether an Injection Is Right for You?
You do not need to know whether the AC joint is definitely the source of your symptoms before contacting us.
Tell us where your shoulder pain is, what movements or activities aggravate it and what you would like help with. Your enquiry will be reviewed by our upper-limb specialist, who can advise you on the most appropriate next step.
