Mehiläinen Töölö · Helsinki
Joint pain and injection assessment
I examine the painful joint or area and assess whether a corticosteroid injection is suitable. Another treatment or further tests may be needed first.
Care route
Where should I seek care?
This is not an emergency department. At the appointment the aim is to examine the situation and decide the next sensible step: self-care, medication, a minor procedure, tests or referral.
Book an appointment
- Local joint or tendon pain that needs assessment and a treatment plan.
- Mention diabetes and blood-thinning medication when booking; these are considered when assessing injection safety.
Seek urgent assessment
- A suddenly hot, swollen and very painful joint, especially with fever.
- Marked swelling, deformity or inability to bear weight after an injury.
Call 116117 if you are unsure where to go or cannot get timely care. Do not wait for an appointment if your condition worsens.
Call 112
For severe breathing difficulty, unconsciousness, new stroke symptoms or another life-threatening situation.
During the visit
What is assessed during the visit?
- location, duration and clinical findings
- whether injection is safe and justified
- whether imaging or another assessment is needed first
- aftercare, loading instructions and follow-up
Choosing treatment
Is an injection likely to help?
An injection is considered after examination, when the findings support it and infection or another urgent cause is not suspected. Imaging, rehabilitation or another treatment may be more useful. We discuss the expected benefit, limitations and alternatives before proceeding.
Before and after an injection
Medication and warning signs
Mention diabetes, blood-thinning medication and any infection. Do not stop prescribed medication on your own. A corticosteroid injection can temporarily raise blood glucose; agree monitoring and advice if you have diabetes.
Temporary soreness can follow an injection. A hot, red or swollen joint, clearly worsening pain or fever needs urgent assessment on the same day. Follow the activity and follow-up instructions given at the appointment.
After the visit
Your treatment and follow-up
Contact Mehiläinen Töölö if your care instructions are unclear.
Sources
What this page is based on
Website content: Markus Huotari, general practitioner. The sources below provide background information.