See how it is done
Hip joint injection is an image-guided procedure that places a long-acting steroid directly inside the hip joint to calm the inflammation driving your pain. We use fluoroscopy (live X-ray) most often because the hip joint is deep — fluoroscopy lets us confirm the needle is exactly where it needs to be before any medication goes in. For thinner patients or when radiation should be minimized, we use ultrasound instead.
The medication is a small dose of local anaesthetic mixed with a long-acting corticosteroid. The anaesthetic gives you a quick sense of whether the joint is the source of your pain (relief within minutes). The steroid takes a few days to start working — most patients feel meaningful relief within a week, lasting 4 to 12 weeks.
Hip joint injections work best for wear-and-tear hip arthritis (osteoarthritis). They can also be used diagnostically when imaging is ambiguous — if the injection quiets your usual pain, we know the joint itself is the source. We typically pair the injection with physiotherapy: the injection reduces inflammation so movement, strengthening, and weight management can take hold.
This injection is not the same as a greater trochanteric bursa injection (for outer-hip pain). If your pain is on the side of your hip and worse when you lie on it, ask us about that procedure instead.
What this treats
- hip arthritis
- hip osteoarthritis
- labral tears (diagnostic)
- femoroacetabular impingement
Conditions this treats
Common diagnoses we use this procedure for. Tap one to read more.
Before, during, and after — what to do
Before your appointment
Eat a normal meal before your appointment — there is no fasting required for most injections. Take your usual medications unless we have specifically asked you not to. If you take a blood thinner (aspirin, warfarin, clopidogrel, apixaban, rivaroxaban, etc.), tell us in advance — we may need to adjust the timing. Bring your OHIP card and any imaging reports we asked for.
On the day
Wear loose, comfortable clothing — easy to roll up sleeves or pant legs, easy to lie face-down on the table. Plan to be at the clinic about 45 minutes total. You can drive yourself unless we told you otherwise. If you are anxious about the procedure, tell us — we will walk you through every step.
After the procedure
You may feel some soreness at the injection site for 1–3 days. Ice helps; so does Tylenol or ibuprofen if you can take it. Avoid heavy lifting or vigorous exercise for 24 hours, then resume normal activity as comfort allows. The therapeutic effect of the injection usually starts within a few days and reaches full strength by 2 weeks.
When to call us: Call us right away — or go to the nearest emergency department — if you develop a high fever, severe new pain, redness or swelling at the injection site, weakness in a limb, or loss of bladder or bowel control. These are rare but worth knowing.
What happens on the day
We use live fluoroscopy to see exactly where the needle is going. The procedure itself takes about 20 minutes, plus a little time to get you positioned and a short rest afterwards. Most people feel relief lasting 4–12 weeks.