Steroid is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug, used to treat many conditions around the hand, such as arthritis, trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis.
What should I expect afterwards?
The anaesthetic will wear off within a few hours (be careful not to over do it, while the joint is numb), and most people have increased pain for a few days after the injection. This is because injection of fluid into a tight space always increase the pressure, and this increased pressure causes pain. Pain can usually be managed with simple painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Steroid Injections in Diabetes.
Having a steroid injection can disrupt your blood sugar control for 2-3 days.
What are the Complications of Steroid Injection?
Common:
Skin / fat necrosis
In some patients, the skin or fat next to the site of injection breaks down and can make the area look abnormal, with discolouration of the skin and a hollow appearance to the underlying fat.
Steroid Flare
Occasionally pain is very severe and this is known as a ‘steroid flare’. Steroid flares take several days to settle and can be very uncomfortable, but do not cause major harm.
Rare:
Infection
This is a very unusual complication of steroid injection, but one that can be serious, and requires urgent attention. Redness around the injection site is relatively common and does not always mean it is infected. Symptoms of infection are redness, increasing pain and temperature, with loss of function. If you experience these symptoms, please contact us urgently or seek medical advice. Sometimes antibiotic treatment may be required and occasionally an operation. This is very unusual.
Tendon Rupture
Although very rare, tendon rupture is occasionally seen following steroid injection. This is more likely if the injection has been given for trigger finger rather than arthritis. This complication may require surgery to regain function, but permanent functional loss is likely if it occurs.
Artery or Nerve Damage
Injection of steroid directly into an artery can cause thrombosis of the artery, and potentially cause gangrene of the affected finger or thumb. Injection directly into a nerve will damage the nerve tissue and can produce loss of sensation and chronic pain from the nerve.
Chronic Regional Pain Syndrome
CRPS is a rare but very serious complication following surgery to the hand or arm, affecting 1 in every 10 000 patients. It causes pain and increased sensitivity, swelling and stiffness in the hand. It can be treated with physiotherapy and medical therapy. It can take up to 2 years to improve. Long term disability is common following this complication.
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