Your hip injection

Information about your planned hip joint injection. Please read it carefully and use it as a starting point for discussion with your healthcare team.

Last reviewed October 2026.

What is a hip injection?

A common, minimally invasive procedure in which medicine is injected directly into the hip joint. Because the hip lies deep, the needle is guided by imaging so it is placed accurately. There are two ways of doing this.

X-ray guided injection

Performed in hospital as a day case, using real-time X-ray imaging (fluoroscopy). You cannot drive home afterwards (see below).

Ultrasound guided injection

Performed by a radiologist (a doctor who specialises in imaging), using ultrasound to guide the needle. Please ask the radiologist about cost and timing. You may be able to drive afterwards. Check with your insurer, and do not drive if your leg feels numb or weak. Please discuss the details, including driving, with the radiologist performing your injection.

Before your injection

Please tell us if you take blood-thinning medicines, have diabetes, have any infection or feel unwell, or could be pregnant. Bring a list of your medicines with you.

The procedure

Preparation: the skin over the hip is cleaned with antiseptic.
Numbing: a small amount of local anaesthetic numbs the skin and deeper tissues (you may feel a brief sting).
Guidance: using X-ray or ultrasound, the doctor guides a fine needle until the tip is confirmed to be inside the hip joint.
Injection: a mixture of local anaesthetic and steroid is slowly injected.
Finish: the needle is removed and a small plaster applied.

The medicines and what to expect

Medicine	What it does	Effect
Local anaesthetic	Numbs	Immediate pain relief, wearing off after about 6 hours.
Steroid (corticosteroid)	Strong anti-inflammatory	Takes 1 to 2 weeks to start working; can give longer-term pain relief lasting weeks or months.

Note: results vary a great deal from one person to another.

If you are thinking about a hip replacement: surgery on the same hip is usually put off for about three months after a steroid injection, because operating sooner is thought to increase the risk of infection.

Benefits

Targeted pain relief and reduced inflammation.
Helps confirm whether the hip joint is the source of your pain.
A steroid injection can relieve pain for weeks or months for some people. It does not slow the arthritis, and for some people it does not help.

Possible risks and side effects

A temporary flare of pain for 24 to 48 hours after the local anaesthetic wears off.
Bruising where the needle went in.
Temporary numbness or weakness in the leg from the local anaesthetic, wearing off within hours.
Infection (very rare). Please see a doctor urgently if the joint becomes hot, red, swollen or very painful.
Nerve or blood vessel damage (rare).
Steroid side effects: a flushed face, changes in the colour or thickness of the skin where the needle went in, and weakening of the tendons or, rarely, of the bone near the joint. Repeated injections raise these risks.
Allergic reaction to the medicines (rare).
Raised blood sugar for a few days if you have diabetes; monitor it closely.

After your injection

Driving	X-ray guided: do not drive home: the local anaesthetic makes it unsafe. Arrange for someone to collect you, or take a taxi or public transport. Do not drive for at least 12 to 24 hours. Ultrasound guided: you can usually drive afterwards; check with the radiologist performing your injection.
Rest	Rest for the rest of the day.
Normal activities	Resume light, normal activities as soon as you feel safe and comfortable.
Strenuous activity	Avoid strenuous activity or heavy exercise for at least 24 to 48 hours to let the steroid settle.
Urgent advice	Seek urgent medical advice if you develop a high fever, severe pain after 48 hours, or increasing redness, swelling or discharge where the needle went in (possible infection).

If you have any further questions, please discuss them with your doctor or any member of the healthcare team. See the contact page.