Do I need a scan before an injection?
Yes, and that is deliberate. The diagnostic scan confirms what is actually causing the pain before anything is injected, which is why our injections are booked as scan-and-treat appointments. Occasionally the scan shows an injection is not the right answer; you will be told that honestly rather than injected anyway.
Do I need a GP referral?
No. You can self-refer and book online today. If you already have imaging or a specialist letter, bring it. It helps, but it is not required.
Why does ultrasound guidance matter?
Because the needle is placed under live imaging, the medication goes exactly where it is needed rather than roughly where it should be. The evidence favours guided over landmark-guided injections for accuracy and outcomes, and it is the only way we perform them.
Does it hurt?
Most people find it far more comfortable than they expected. Local anaesthetic is used, the needle is guided precisely rather than probed around, and the whole thing is usually over in a few minutes. You can drive home afterwards for most joints.
Steroid, hyaluronic acid or PRP: which is right?
Each has its place, and the consultant will recommend based on what the scan shows:
- Corticosteroid: fast relief where inflammation is the problem, lasting weeks to months
- Hyaluronic acid (e.g. Ostenil): lubrication for osteoarthritic joints
- PRP: your own platelets, aimed at a healing response, often preferred for tendon problems
How long does relief last?
Honestly, it varies. Steroid typically gives relief for weeks to a few months, hyaluronic acid often longer in osteoarthritis, and PRP works gradually over several weeks. We tell you what to expect for your specific joint and diagnosis rather than promising a number.
How many injections can I have?
For steroid, we generally limit injections in the same joint to around three per year, with sensible intervals, repeated steroid can affect tendon and cartilage tissue. PRP and hyaluronic acid follow different courses. Your consultant sets a plan with you, and will say when injections are no longer the right route.
What are the risks?
They are small but real, and we discuss them fully before consent: temporary post-injection soreness or a flare for a day or two, a small chance of skin lightening or fat thinning at the site with steroid, a temporary rise in blood sugar for people with diabetes, and, very rarely: infection. Ultrasound guidance and sterile technique keep these risks as low as possible.
Can I have the scan and injection on the same day?
Yes, in most cases: that is how we book them. The diagnostic scan comes first in the same appointment, and where an injection is clinically appropriate the same consultant performs it there and then.
How much do ultrasound-guided injections cost in the UK?
Guided injections in the UK typically run £250–£600 depending on the joint and agent, often with the scan charged separately. Here a steroid injection is £525 all fees inclusive: the diagnostic scan, the guided injection, the consultant’s report and aftercare advice. PRP is £545 and Ostenil hyaluronic acid £645, also all-inclusive.
What should I do afterwards?
Take it easy for 24–48 hours. No heavy lifting or high-impact sport, then return to normal activity as comfort allows. You will get written aftercare advice, and a number to call if anything worries you. Physiotherapy alongside the injection usually gets the best result.
Where can I get a guided injection near me in London?
We are at 99 Harley Street in central London, W1, minutes from Oxford Circus, Bond Street and Regent’s Park stations. Scan-and-inject appointments are usually available same-day or next-day: book online or call 0203 904 4441.
Do guided injections work for arthritis, including bone-on-bone?
For many people, yes. A steroid injection often eases arthritis pain for several weeks to months, and hyaluronic acid can last longer in the knee, which creates a window to keep active and progress with exercise. In advanced, bone-on-bone arthritis the benefit tends to be shorter, and your consultant will say honestly if a surgical opinion is the better next step.
What happens if the scan shows an injection is not right for me?
Then it does not go ahead. Every appointment starts with a diagnostic ultrasound, and if your consultant finds something an injection will not help, such as a tear that needs a surgical opinion, you are charged our standard diagnostic ultrasound rate rather than the injection price, and you leave with a plan for the right next step.
Can I drive home after an injection?
Usually, yes: there is no sedation. The local anaesthetic can leave the area numb or weak for a few hours, so after a knee, ankle or foot injection on your driving leg it is sensible to arrange a lift or use public transport, and after a hand or wrist injection wait for full feeling to return.
Can an injection make the pain worse at first?
Some people have a flare of pain for 24 to 48 hours after a steroid injection as the anaesthetic wears off, and PRP commonly aches for two or three days. Rest, ice and paracetamol settle it. If the joint becomes hot, red and increasingly painful, or you develop a fever, call us the same day, as this can rarely be an infection.
Are guided injections available on the NHS, or covered by insurance?
Steroid injections are available on the NHS, usually after a GP or physiotherapy assessment and sometimes with a wait; hyaluronic acid and PRP are not routinely offered. Most private insurers cover steroid and hyaluronic acid injections with authorisation; PRP is usually self-pay. We are currently unable to accept AXA or Aviva policies.
Can an injection help a torn meniscus or a tendon tear?
It can calm the pain and swelling around a tear that is not surgical, so you can rehabilitate, but it does not repair the tear. Steroid is avoided inside a tendon because it weakens it, which is why PRP is often preferred for tendon problems. The scan comes first precisely so that the right treatment, or a surgical opinion, is chosen.
