What is an ultrasound guided injection?

An injection is given to reduce inflammation and pain within a joint. They’re frequently recommended for people with rheumatoid arthritis and other types of inflammatory arthritis including gout and pseudo gout. They may also be recommended for osteoarthritis if your joints are very painful or if you need pain relief in addition to your normal medication

Ultrasound is a type of imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves.  The Ultrasound probe is a little like a radar device that detects the sound waves that are bounced back from different structures in the body, producing an image on a monitor. An ultrasound scan can detect needles inserted into the body and therefore can be used target your injection and to exactly the right spot.

An injection into a joint is called an intra-articular injection, and it’s made up of a corticosteroid combined with a local anaesthetic to reduce your discomfort. It can be directed into or around the joint to reduce swelling (inflammation), stiffness and pain.

If you have pain or inflammation near an affected joint, you’ll probably be given an injection into this tender area rather than the joint. This is called a periarticular or soft tissue injection.

An injection directly into a muscle is called an intramuscular (IM) injection.

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Find out more about how to manage joint pain and the treatment options available in our blog article “A guide to managing joint pain and pain management techniques”.