Cortisone shot in the knee What to expect, how long it lasts and how often you can have one

Cortisone shots are one of the most common treatments for a sore, swollen knee, and one of the most misunderstood. They can bring real relief, but they do not repair the joint, and they work best as part of a plan. This post walks through what happens, what to expect afterward and the questions patients ask most. For the full range of options for an arthritic knee, see our page on knee pain and our guide to chronic knee pain treatment.

What a cortisone shot in the knee does

Cortisone is the everyday name for a corticosteroid, a strong anti-inflammatory medicine. Injected directly into the joint, it reaches the inflamed lining where it is needed, with far less of the medicine reaching the rest of the body than a pill would. The second video’s animation shows where the needle goes: into the joint space between the thigh bone and the shin bone.

Who it may help

• A flare of knee osteoarthritis with pain and swelling
• An inflamed knee from gout or another inflammatory arthritis, once infection is ruled out
• Some cases of bursitis around the knee
• Pain that is stopping you from doing the exercises that would help long term

It is usually not the first choice for a fresh sports injury or tendon pain, and it is not given into a joint that may be infected.

What happens at the visit

1. The physician examines the knee and reviews your medicines, including blood thinners and diabetes medicine.
2. The skin is cleaned and often numbed.
3. If the knee is swollen, fluid is usually drained first, as in the third and fourth videos. That eases the pressure right away, and the fluid can be sent for testing if needed. Read more about draining fluid from the knee.
4. The medicine is injected into the joint. Ultrasound guidance, as in the first video, lets the physician see the needle and the joint space.
5. You can usually walk out and drive home.

The injection itself takes a few minutes. Most people feel pressure and a brief sting.

How soon it works and how long it lasts

• First few hours: the numbing medicine often makes the knee feel better right away; it then wears off
• Days 1 to 2: some soreness, or a short flare of pain, is common
• Days 2 to 7: the steroid starts to calm inflammation
• Weeks to months: relief often lasts several weeks to a few months; some people get longer, some less

How well it works varies from person to person and from shot to shot.

How often can you have a cortisone shot in the knee?

Most physicians wait at least three months between injections in the same knee and limit how many are given in a year, because frequent steroid injections may speed up cartilage wear. If each shot helps for a shorter time, it is a sign to look at other options, such as knee gel injections or a genicular nerve block and radiofrequency ablation.

Side effects and risks

• Soreness or a short pain flare for a day or two
• Facial flushing for a day or so in some people
• Higher blood sugar for a few days in people with diabetes; check your levels more often
• Lightening or thinning of the skin at the injection site, uncommon
• Infection, which is rare

Call the office or get urgent care if the knee becomes hot, red and increasingly painful or you develop a fever in the days after the shot.

Aftercare and getting the most out of it

Take it easy for a day or two: walking is fine, but skip long runs, heavy lifting and deep squats. Ice helps with soreness. Then use the weeks of lower pain to build strength in the thigh and hip muscles; see physical therapy for knee pain. Physical therapy is offered at our Brooklyn and Staten Island offices.

Related care at Precision Care

A cortisone shot near you

A cortisone shot starts with an exam by one of our physicians, who checks that it is the right choice for your knee. Precision Care lists joint injections at all three offices; call to confirm which location offers it on the day you need. For a knee injection in Brooklyn, Ashley Marcus, MD sees patients at our Brooklyn office on Shell Rd, convenient to Coney Island, Midwood and Sheepshead Bay. On Staten Island, Jake Stephen, DO sees patients at our Staten Island office, close to Dongan Hills, Grant City and Oakwood.

In Manhattan, Yuri Gordin, MD sees patients at the Precision Care Spine & Pain Center in Midtown Manhattan, 150 E 55th St, reached easily from Washington Heights, Spanish Harlem (East Harlem), Turtle Bay and the Upper East Side. Searching for a cortisone shot near me? Request an appointment, mention the knee that is bothering you, or call the office closest to you.

Questions patients ask

Educational only, not medical advice. These videos and this article explain common problems and treatments in general terms. They are not a diagnosis or a treatment plan for you. Results vary from person to person. See a qualified clinician about your own symptoms, and call 911 or go to an emergency room for an emergency.

← More videos and articles on the Precision Care blog