Shoulder Osteoarthritis Injection Therapy
Specialist assessment and corticosteroid injection therapy for
painful shoulder osteoarthritis in our Fareham clinic
What Is Shoulder Osteoarthritis?
Shoulder osteoarthritis affects the glenohumeral joint — the ball-and-socket joint between the upper arm and shoulder blade.
It can cause deep shoulder pain, stiffness and progressive loss of movement, particularly when reaching overhead, behind the back or away from the body.
Everyday activities such as dressing, washing your hair, reaching into a cupboard or lying on the affected side can become uncomfortable. Some people are particularly troubled by night pain and disturbed sleep.
Symptoms and X-ray findings do not always match closely, so treatment is guided by how the shoulder is affecting your movement, function and quality of life as well as any imaging findings.
Want to Learn More About Shoulder Osteoarthritis?
Read more about shoulder osteoarthritis, flare-ups, rehabilitation and the wider treatment options available.
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When Can an Injection Help?
Corticosteroid injection can be helpful when shoulder osteoarthritis is causing pain and irritability that are affecting sleep, movement or everyday activity.
It may also be useful when pain is making it difficult to progress strengthening and rehabilitation or when a painful flare is significantly limiting normal shoulder use.
Your specialist will assess your movement, symptoms, previous treatment and what you would like to get back to before discussing whether an injection could be a useful option for you.
How Does a Shoulder Osteoarthritis Injection Work?
Corticosteroid is an anti-inflammatory medicine.
For glenohumeral osteoarthritis, the injection is placed into the shoulder joint with the aim of reducing pain and irritation within the joint.
For some people, this makes movement and sleep more comfortable and provides a useful opportunity to improve mobility, strength and confidence through rehabilitation.
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 for shoulder osteoarthritis is based on how much pain and stiffness are affecting you and what you would like to be able to do.
Rehabilitation can help maintain or improve movement, strengthen the rotator cuff and surrounding muscles and build tolerance for everyday activities, work and exercise.
Pain relief, activity modification and strategies for managing flare-ups can also be 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.
Shoulder osteoarthritis can often be suspected from your symptoms and clinical examination. An X-ray can be helpful to confirm the diagnosis, understand the degree of joint change or guide decisions about further treatment.
If you already have imaging, your specialist can review this alongside your symptoms and examination findings.
Further imaging can be arranged when it would help clarify the diagnosis or influence your treatment plan.
Specialist Shoulder Osteoarthritis Injections in Fareham
Assessment and injection therapy for shoulder osteoarthritis are provided at our Fareham clinic by Mike Gillingham, Upper Limb Specialist Physiotherapist.
Mike will assess how osteoarthritis is affecting your shoulder and discuss whether corticosteroid injection, rehabilitation, imaging or onward referral would be the most useful next step.
Frequently Asked Questions About Shoulder Osteoarthritis Injections
Where Is the Injection Given?
How quickly might the injection work?
What Is the Aim of the Injection?
How Long Might the Benefit Last?
Can a Shoulder Osteoarthritis Injection Be Repeated?
Do I need a GP referral?
Not Sure Whether an Injection Is Right for You?
You do not need to know whether corticosteroid is the correct treatment before contacting us.
Tell us about your hand symptoms, how long they have been present and how they are affecting sleep, work or everyday activity. Your enquiry will be reviewed by our upper-limb specialist, who can advise you on the most appropriate next step.
