What is a carpal tunnel injection?
A carpal tunnel injection places a small dose of steroid with local anaesthetic beside the median nerve in the wrist, where it is squeezed in carpal tunnel syndrome. It reduces swelling around the nerve to ease numbness, tingling and night pain. Under ultrasound, your consultant sees the nerve and keeps the needle clear of it.
Do carpal tunnel injections work?
For mild to moderate carpal tunnel syndrome, a steroid injection relieves symptoms for most people, often within a few weeks. For some the relief is lasting; for others symptoms return after some months. If symptoms are severe, or there is constant numbness or weakness in the thumb, surgery is often the better long-term option.
Does a carpal tunnel injection hurt?
Most people find it very manageable. A fine needle is used, and you feel a sting, then pressure. Tingling in the fingers for a moment is normal. The wrist may ache for a day or two afterwards.
How long does a carpal tunnel injection take to work?
Some people notice improvement within days, but it often takes one to three weeks for the full effect. Numbness from the local anaesthetic wears off within a few hours.
How long does a carpal tunnel injection last?
It varies. Some people have lasting relief, while others find symptoms return after a few months. If an injection helps but symptoms come back, that helps confirm the diagnosis, and your consultant can discuss a repeat injection or a referral to a hand surgeon.
What is a trigger finger injection?
A trigger finger injection places steroid into the sheath around the tendon at the base of the finger or thumb, where a thickened pulley makes the tendon catch. It usually eases the clicking and locking within a few weeks, and a single injection is enough for many people.
How many trigger finger injections can I have?
Usually up to two or three injections in the same finger, a few months apart. If triggering keeps returning after injections, a small operation to release the pulley is usually recommended, and your consultant can refer you to a hand surgeon.
Do cortisone injections work for De Quervain’s?
Yes, for most people. A steroid injection into the thumb tendon sheath is one of the most effective treatments for De Quervain’s tenosynovitis. Ultrasound helps, because some people have a dividing wall in the sheath that an injection by feel can miss.
Can I use my hand after a steroid injection?
Yes. You can use your hand for light everyday tasks straight away, but avoid heavy gripping, lifting and repetitive work for 48 hours. If the local anaesthetic has left your hand numb, wait for the feeling to return before driving.
Can I have a carpal tunnel injection when pregnant?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is common in pregnancy and usually settles within weeks to months after the birth, so a night-time wrist splint is the first treatment. An injection can be considered if symptoms are severe, after discussion with your consultant and midwife. Tell us you are pregnant when you book.
When is hand numbness urgent?
Call 999 or go to A&E immediately if numbness or weakness comes on suddenly, especially with a drooping face, slurred speech or weakness on one side of the body, as this can be a stroke. Carpal tunnel symptoms build up gradually and are worse at night.
How much does a wrist or hand injection cost?
At Harley Street Ultrasound an ultrasound-guided wrist or hand steroid injection is £525, all fees inclusive, whether for carpal tunnel syndrome, De Quervain’s, trigger finger or arthritis: the consultant assessment, diagnostic ultrasound, the guided injection and your written report.
What happens if I don’t need an injection?
We will never give you an injection you do not need. Every appointment starts with a diagnostic ultrasound of your wrist and hand, and if your consultant decides an injection is not the right treatment, it simply does not go ahead. You are charged our standard diagnostic ultrasound rate, not the treatment price.
You still leave with a clear plan: physiotherapy, a different treatment, an MRI, or a referral to the right specialist, with your report and images on your secure portal.
Do I need a referral?
No. Harley Street Ultrasound is a private clinic, so you can book an ultrasound-guided wrist and hand injection in London directly, online or by phone: no GP letter and no waiting list. If you are searching for wrist and hand injections near me in central London, we are at 99 Harley Street, a short walk from Regent’s Park and Oxford Circus stations.
Prices are published before you book and are all fees inclusive: the consultant assessment, the diagnostic ultrasound, the guided injection, local anaesthetic and your written report. Insured patients should check with their insurer and bring an authorisation number if their policy requires one.
Will I get a report?
Yes. Your consultant explains the scan findings and the treatment in the room, and a written report with your images is published to your secure patient portal, usually the same day, ready to share with your GP, physiotherapist or surgeon.
Can I still use the NHS afterwards?
Yes: completely. Coming to us privately never affects your NHS care. Your report and images can be shared with your NHS GP or consultant, and if anything needs onward NHS care, your consultant writes to your GP so you re-enter the pathway with a diagnosis already in hand.
