Steroid Injection Preparation & Safety Information | Epoch St Ives
Preparing for your cortisone injection at Epoch Medical Imaging, St Ives. Safety, risks, recovery and diabetes advice. North Shore specialist injection clinic.
How to Prepare for Your Cortisone Injection at Epoch St Ives
Preparing well for your cortisone injection appointment ensures the procedure goes smoothly and that your safety and comfort are prioritised throughout.
Key preparation steps:
Medications:
– Continue all regular medications normally on the day of your injection — including blood pressure medications, heart medications, and most others.
– Blood thinners (warfarin, rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran): For peripheral joint injections (knee, shoulder, hip), most blood thinners do not need to be stopped. For spinal injections, they must be ceased — your GP will advise the specific cessation protocol.
– Aspirin: Low-dose aspirin can usually be continued for joint and soft tissue injections.
– Discuss any blood thinners with your GP before your appointment.
On the day:
– No fasting is required for peripheral joint, tendon, and bursa injections.
– Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows easy access to the injection area.
– You can drive yourself home for most peripheral injections. For spinal injections, bring a driver — do not drive on the day.
– Bring your GP referral form.
Our team at Epoch Medical Imaging in St Ives will confirm all preparation requirements specific to your injection when you book on (02) 9129 6999.
Are Steroid Injections Safe — Risks & Side Effects
Cortisone injections are a very widely used and generally safe procedure — but like all medical interventions, they carry a small risk of side effects that patients should understand.
Common, minor side effects:
– Post-injection flare: A temporary increase in pain and warmth at the injection site for 24 to 48 hours, occurring in a minority of patients. This settles with ice and paracetamol and does not mean the injection has failed.
– Skin changes: A small area of skin thinning or lightening at the injection site — more common with repeated injections close to the skin surface.
– Facial flushing: A brief warm, flushed feeling affecting the face and upper body — usually transient and harmless.
Less common side effects:
– Temporary blood sugar elevation: Particularly relevant for patients with diabetes — see the diabetes-specific section below.
– Infection: Very rare when the injection is performed under sterile conditions by a specialist team, as at Epoch Medical Imaging in St Ives.
– Tendon weakening: Associated with direct injection into the tendon substance — avoided at Epoch through ultrasound guidance and precise targeting.
The overall safety profile of cortisone injections — particularly when performed under image guidance by a specialist radiologist — is excellent.
Post-Injection Care: Activity, Rest & Recovery
Following your cortisone injection, appropriate activity management helps ensure the best possible outcome.
Immediately after the injection (day of procedure):
– Rest the injected area for the remainder of the day — avoid strenuous use of the treated joint or limb.
– Apply ice wrapped in a cloth for 15 to 20 minutes several times throughout the day to manage any post-injection soreness.
– Take paracetamol if needed for pain relief — it is safe immediately after a cortisone injection.
– Avoid NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen) on the day of the injection — paracetamol is the appropriate analgesic choice.
First week after injection:
– Gradually return to normal activities as pain allows.
– Avoid vigorous exercise, heavy loading, or sport for 48 to 72 hours — giving the cortisone time to work without mechanical provocation.
– Most patients can return to office work and gentle daily activities the following day.
If pain relief is achieved — typically within 2 to 7 days:
– This is the optimal window to engage with physiotherapy and rehabilitation to address the underlying cause.
– A cortisone injection provides the pain relief window — physiotherapy provides the long-term solution.
Steroid Injection & Diabetes: What Diabetic Patients Need to Know
Patients with diabetes who receive cortisone injections need to be aware of a specific, temporary effect on blood sugar levels — this is manageable with the right preparation and monitoring.
How cortisone affects blood sugar:
– Corticosteroids naturally raise blood glucose levels by reducing insulin sensitivity — even a locally injected steroid can cause a temporary systemic effect.
– Blood sugar may be elevated for 1 to 5 days after a cortisone injection, with the most significant effect typically in the first 24 to 48 hours.
– The degree of blood sugar elevation varies between individuals and depends on the dose and type of steroid used.
What diabetic patients should do:
– Inform our team that you have diabetes when you book your appointment — this allows us to plan appropriately.
– Monitor your blood glucose more frequently for 3 to 5 days after the injection.
– Discuss with your GP or endocrinologist whether any temporary adjustment to your diabetes medication is needed around the time of the injection.
– If your blood sugar rises significantly and does not settle within a few days, contact your GP.
Cortisone injections are not contraindicated in people with diabetes — they simply require awareness, monitoring, and good communication between the patient, their GP, and our team at Epoch Medical Imaging in St Ives.
Bulk Billing
Available Here
All Referrals Accepted
We Handle Your
Insurance Claims
We Accept All Workers Compensation Cases
Get in Touch
Have a question or ready to book? Our friendly team is here to help with appointments, referrals and any imaging enquiries you may have.
Working Hours
Monday - Wednesday, Friday 08:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thursday - 08:00 AM - 07:00 PM
Saturday - 08:30 AM - 1:00 PM