Steroid injections offer a non-invasive, targeted and effective way to reduce localised inflammation, settle pain, and improve movement in your hand, wrist and upper limb.
Steroid injections can also be administered for symptomatic (itchy, red, or raised) scars and keloid scars.
They’re delivered safely in clinic, often as a first-line treatment or as part of a wider rehabilitation plan.
Procedure Time
5 – 10 minutes.
Anaesthetic
Usually no anaesthetic is used. Sometimes local anaesthetic is mixed with the steroid solution
Recovery
Minor soreness for 24 – 48 hours; improvement usually felt within days.
Full Results
Peak effect at 1 – 2 weeks; benefits last weeks to months depending on the condition.
Steroids calm swelling and irritation around your joints, tendons, nerves or scars.
Many patients notice easier hand and wrist movement within days.
For symptomatic, hypertrophic, or keloid scars that are painful, raised, red, or persistently itchy, steroid injections can soften the tissue, reduce redness, and ease discomfort. Results build gradually, and a course of repeat injections a few months apart is sometimes needed to achieve the best outcome.
Injections can settle your symptoms enough to postpone or prevent an operation for joint arthritis pain, compression neuropathy (e.g., carpal tunnel syndrome), neuromas (painful nerves) or for tendonitis.
Keloid and hypertrophic scars can soften, flatten and become less itchy.
The procedure is quick, with minimal downtime and immediate return to light activity.
We support you through surgery and beyond
Your consultation focuses on assessing the underlying condition, understanding your symptoms and reviewing any previous treatments. Your surgeon will explain whether a steroid injection is likely to help, how it fits into your overall treatment plan, and what improvements you can expect. You’ll have time to ask questions and agree a personalised approach.
The area is cleaned, and a small amount of steroid (sometimes combined with local anaesthetic) is injected directly into the joint, tendon sheath or scar. The procedure takes only a few minutes and is usually well tolerated. For deeper or more sensitive areas, ultrasound or x-ray guidance may be used to ensure precision. A light dressing may be applied, and you can return home shortly afterwards.
The injected area may feel sore or heavy for 24 – 48 hours. Over-the-counter pain relief and rest are recommended. Avoid strenuous activity or repetitive movements for 48 – 72 hours to allow the steroid to work effectively. Improvement often begins within a few days, with full benefit at around two weeks. Your surgeon will review your progress and discuss whether further injections, therapy or surgery are appropriate.
At The Antler Clinic, your care is led by Mr David Izadi, an experienced Consultant Plastic, Reconstructive and Hand Surgeon with over 20 years of specialist experience in plastic, aesthetic, and hand surgery.
Mr Izadi regularly performs corticosteroid injections for conditions including trigger finger, de Quervain’s tenosynovitis, arthritis, tendonitis, keloid scars, and hypertrophic scars. As a Consultant Plastic Surgeon, he has particular expertise in the treatment of raised and symptomatic scars, using steroid injections to reduce scar thickness, redness, itching, discomfort, and prominence.
Unlike injection-only clinics, Mr Izadi provides a comprehensive specialist assessment to ensure the correct diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment. Whether your symptoms are best managed with an injection, surgery, therapy, or observation, you will receive clear, evidence-based advice tailored to your needs.
Every treatment plan begins with listening to what matters most to you, with a focus on relieving symptoms, improving function, and achieving the best possible outcome.
Steroid injections work by reducing inflammation in your joints, tendons or scar tissue, easing any pain, swelling and stiffness you may be having.
You might experience temporary soreness, redness, a brief increase in pain, or changes in skin colour after your steroid injections. Rarely, infection or tendon weakening can happen. Development of cataracts has been reported, but is highly unlikely. Your surgeon will go over any potential risks with you before your surgery.
Steroid injections rarely affect the stomach. However, people who are sensitive to oral steroids might notice mild reflux.
Steroid injections are recommended for arthritis, trigger fingers, compression neuropathies, neuromas and raised scars, especially when your symptoms are limiting your daily activities.
Most people describe only a brief sting or pressure during their steroid injections. Injecting around a painful joint, nerve or symptomatic scar, may result in increased localised pain for a few days.
Relief from steroid injections can last weeks to months, depending on the condition and its severity.
Repeated injections in the same site are limited. Your surgeon will advise you on all this based on safety and long-term benefit.
A cortisone injection is the same as a steroid injection. Cortisone is a type of corticosteroid commonly used in injections.
Steroid injections may be used as part of the diagnostic workup for carpal tunnel syndrome. In around 50% cases, it may be sufficient to reduce the symptoms to avoid surgery. Surgery is the definitive treatment when you’re experiencing significant nerve compression.
After a steroid injection, you should avoid heavy lifting, repetitive movements or strenuous activity for 48 – 72 hours.
How painful steroid injections are will vary by the injection site. Small joints or tight tendon sheaths may feel slightly sharper, but the procedure is quick and tolerable.
Carpal tunnel syndrome may be the cause of hand pain during pregnancy. This is because the body may retain extra fluid, which puts pressure around joints and nerves. Usually, after the 1st trimester, if carpal tunnel syndrome is suspected, and not responding to over-the-counter medication, you can consider having a steroid injection.
clear and transparent costs
You will receive a clear quotation setting out the cost of your treatment and what is included before you decide whether to proceed.
A new consultation is charged at £200.
Follow-up consultations are charged at £150, unless the appointment forms part of an agreed surgical package or postoperative follow-up pathway.
Consultation fees are payable regardless of whether surgery is subsequently arranged. A consultation provides assessment, advice and discussion of treatment options; it does not guarantee that surgery will be recommended or offered.
Patients are kindly asked to provide at least three working days’ notice if they need to cancel or rearrange an appointment.
Non-attendance, or cancellation with less than three working days’ notice, will incur a fee of £125. This fee reflects the clinical time reserved for the appointment and the difficulty of offering the appointment to another patient at short notice.
For self-pay patients, surgery is usually provided as a fixed-price package. This is intended to give patients clarity and reassurance about the cost of their planned procedure.
Your written quotation will confirm what is included. In most cases, the package price includes:
Hospital fees for the planned procedure
Surgeon’s fee
Anaesthetist’s fee, where applicable
Standard postoperative follow-up appointments relating to the procedure
Routine aftercare directly related to the planned surgery, as specified in your quotation
Package prices are based on the procedure agreed at the time of booking. If the surgical plan changes, if additional procedures are requested, or if further treatment is required outside the agreed package, additional fees may apply.
Self-pay surgical packages usually include a period of cover for the treatment of complications directly related to the procedure. The exact terms, duration and exclusions of this cover are set by the hospital where your surgery is performed.
Depending on the hospital, complication cover may apply for a defined period, which may be 6 or 12 months. Full details will be provided by the relevant hospital before surgery.
Complication cover is not a guarantee that all future treatment, revision surgery or additional procedures will be provided without charge. Cover may not apply to unrelated medical problems, pre-existing conditions, treatment required outside the hospital’s terms, or surgery requested for aesthetic preference rather than a recognised complication.
In an emergency, patients should seek urgent medical attention through the most appropriate service, including NHS emergency care where necessary.
Every effort is made to achieve the best possible outcome, but no surgical procedure can guarantee a specific result, perfect symmetry, invisible scarring or complete satisfaction. Healing, scarring, swelling and final results vary between individuals.
If revision surgery is required because of a complication, eligibility for cover will depend on the hospital’s package terms and the clinical circumstances.
If surgery has been performed to an appropriate clinical standard, but a patient remains dissatisfied with the aesthetic outcome or wishes to pursue further refinement, any revision or additional surgery will usually incur further charges. These may include hospital fees, surgeon’s fees and anaesthetic fees.
Unless specifically included in your written quotation, additional costs may apply for investigations, scans, specialist opinions, extra procedures, further hospital admissions, prescriptions, dressings, garments, travel, accommodation, time off work or treatment unrelated to the planned surgery.
The written quotation and the hospital’s own terms and conditions will take precedence over any general information provided on this website.
Payment terms, deposits, cancellation policies and refund arrangements are determined by the hospital where your procedure is booked. These will be provided to you before surgery.
Surgery can only proceed once all required payments have been received and all relevant consent, preoperative assessment and hospital requirements have been completed.
To help make treatment more affordable, you may choose to spread the cost of your procedure through a personal medical loan with Chrysalis Finance. Subject to eligibility and approval, Chrysalis offers a range of flexible finance options, allowing you to pay for your treatment in manageable monthly instalments rather than a single upfront payment.
The hospitals we work with offer finance options through Chrysalis Finance. Please contact your chosen hospital directly for further information or to discuss any questions.
Mr Izadi is registered with the private medical insurers shown below. Coverage for consultations and treatment is subject to the terms of your policy and insurers approval.
Get in Touch
A consultation at The Antler Clinic is simply a chance to talk – to ask questions, explore your options, and decide what feels right for you.
You’ll leave with clarity, reassurance, and the same calm support that defines everything we do.
