Injection therapy heading
Steroid injections
What are steroid injections?
Some corticosteroids, often referred to as steroids, occur naturally in the human body. Manmade steroids act like natural steroids to reduce inflammation and pain. A steroid mixture can be injected into an inflamed joint or painful area to ease symptoms. It is known as a local injection because it acts in a particular area.
Why should I have a steroid injection?
Local injections of steroid are routinely used alongside other treatments to help relieve painful foot conditions, caused through damage that result in inflammation of the nerves, soft tissue or joints. It is important to remember that steroid injections help relieve symptoms but generally do not treat the underlying cause of the problem. It is important to continue following any treatment advice
the podiatrist has given you otherwise the symptoms may return.
Common problems we use steroid injections for:
- Acute plantar fascitis
- Mortons neuroma
- Capsulitiis
- Arthritis of the big toe
- Sinus Tarsi Pain
What is OSTENIL®, and how does it work?
OSTENIL® is a treatment for the symptoms of osteoarthritis. It can be used in any of the joints in the body that are classified as ‘synovial’
OSTENIL Tendon is a treatment for the symptoms of tendinopathies and is used to lubricate the tendons to allow them to glide normally again.
In podiatry, we use this treatment for Ankle pain caused by osteoarthritis, Hallux limitis (Arthritis of the big toe joint), capsulitis, Achilles & Heel pain.
How does OSTENIL® work?
OSTENIL® is a solution containing sodium hyaluronate. It is injected into the space in the joint that contains synovial fluid and works by restoring the normal balance between the breakdown and production of sodium hyaluronate. This procedure is known as ‘viscosupplementation’, and the effect of OSTENIL® means that it can decrease pain and stiffness and improve the other symptoms of osteoarthritis.
The sodium hyaluronate in OSTENIL® is very pure and is manufactured using a process called fermentation. It contains no animal proteins, which means that it is very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction. OSTENIL® has been given to thousands of patients and has not been found to cause any serious side effects. The exact make-up of the sodium hyaluronate in OSTENIL® has been carefully chosen so that it is as effective as possible in treating osteoarthritis.
What can I expect if I decide to have treatment with OSTENIL®?
If you decide to have treatment with OSTENIL®, it will be injected directly into the joint affected by osteoarthritis. This might be a one off injection or may be a course of 2 or 3, depending on the joint and the level of damage to it.
You will probably not notice any benefits immediately after the first injection, but you should gradually start to feel less pain and stiffness over the next 1-2 weeks. The improvement in your symptoms should last for several months, depending partly on the number of injections you have. You can expect the benefit to last for up to 9 months depending on the joint being injected and the level of damage present.
Once the effects of the injection wear off, you can, if you choose, have another. After that, you can continue to have new courses of injections whenever necessary.
Unlike Steroid, these injections are not harmful to the joint and can be repeated as needed with no long term damage to the area or any systemic effect from long term use.
How does OSTENIL® TENDON work?
The lubricating characteristics of sodium hyaluronate increase tendon gliding and reduce agglutinations (stickiness). The tendon can work again as if well-oiled. Furthermore, sodium hyaluronate blocks pain receptors, hinders inflammatory mediators, and is a good transport medium for nutrients.
How is OSTENIL® TENDON administered?
The treatment itself takes very little time. You will be given an injection into the area around the most damaged part of the affected tendon, usually under Ultrasound guidance, which helps ensure the injection is placed correctly. In the case of tendons within a tendon sheath, the solution is injected into the tendon sheath itself. In either case, the lubricant will be distributed through natural movement along the entire tendon.
A repeat injection, normally given a week after the first, may be required in more established and persistent tendon disease. In general, you should expect a quick and long lasting improvement of joint function. Several tendons may be treated at the same time. If symptoms return the treatment can be repeated as there is no harmful side effects or damage caused to the tendons with repeated injections.
Reach Us
If you have any enquiries please contact us:
Happy Feet Foot Clinic
22 Northland Row
Dungannon
Co. Tyrone
BT71 6AP
028 8775 0453
Please call us for further information and guidance prior to calling your insurance company.