Injection Instructions
Educational purposes only. This content is not medical advice and does not establish a doctor-patient relationship. Every condition is different — please consult a qualified healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation. Terms of Use
Before Your Injection
Eat normally. No fasting required.
Stay hydrated. Drink water before your appointment.
Medications: If you take blood thinners (warfarin, apixaban, rivaroxaban, clopidogrel, etc.), call our office when you schedule. We may ask you to hold the medication briefly depending on the injection type and location.
If we are performing a PRP injection, stop all anti-inflammatory medications (ibuprofen, naproxen, meloxicam, aspirin) for 5 to 7 days before the procedure. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is fine. For corticosteroid and viscosupplementation injections, you do not need to stop NSAIDs.
Wear clothing that allows easy access to the injection site. Loose shorts for knee or hip injections. A loose top for shoulder injections.
After a Corticosteroid Injection
Day of procedure: Rest the injected area for the remainder of the day. Light walking is fine. Avoid exercise, heavy lifting, or prolonged standing.
Days 1 to 2: You may experience increased pain or a "steroid flare" before the medication takes effect. This is common and temporary. Use ice (15 minutes on, 15 minutes off) and acetaminophen for comfort. Avoid anti-inflammatories for 48 hours so the steroid can take full effect.
Days 3 to 7: Most patients notice improvement starting around day 3 to 5. Full benefit may take up to 2 weeks.
Activity: Resume normal activity as tolerated after 48 hours. If the injection was into a weight-bearing joint, ease back into exercise gradually.
Call our office if you experience: increasing redness, warmth, or swelling at the injection site; fever; pain that is significantly worse after 72 hours; or signs of infection at the skin entry point.
After a Viscosupplementation (Hyaluronic Acid) Injection
Day of procedure: Avoid prolonged standing, running, or impact activity. Light walking is fine.
Days 1 to 3: Mild swelling and stiffness at the injection site are normal. Ice and elevation can help. Acetaminophen as needed.
Weeks 1 to 4: Improvement is gradual. Most patients notice meaningful benefit by 2 to 4 weeks. Full effect may take up to 6 weeks.
Activity: Resume low-impact exercise (walking, cycling, swimming) after 48 hours. Avoid high-impact activities (running, jumping) for one week.
After a PRP Injection
This is important: Do NOT take anti-inflammatory medications for at least 7 days after PRP. This includes ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), meloxicam, aspirin, and any other NSAIDs. These medications block the platelet-derived growth factors that make PRP work. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) is safe.
Day of procedure: Rest the treated area. Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours. Expect soreness, which may be worse than your original pain for a few days. This is a normal part of the healing response.
Days 1 to 7: Soreness and mild swelling are expected. This is not a sign of a problem — it means the healing response is active.
Weeks 1 to 6: Improvement is gradual and continues over 6 to 12 weeks as tissue remodeling occurs. You may not notice significant change for 3 to 4 weeks.
Activity: Activity restrictions depend on which structure was treated. In general: no running or impact for 2 weeks, gentle range of motion and walking are encouraged, and progressive return to activity after 2 to 4 weeks.
Follow-up: I'll see you back at 4 to 6 weeks to reassess.
General Reminders for All Injections
Keep the injection site clean and dry for 24 hours. A small bandage over the skin entry point is fine.
Mild bruising at the injection site is common and harmless.
You can drive after your injection.
If you are diabetic, be aware that corticosteroid injections can temporarily raise blood sugar. Monitor your levels more closely for 3 to 5 days after the procedure.
If anything doesn't feel right, call our office. We'd rather hear from you and reassure you than have you worry.