Knee Injections

Knee injections are used to relieve pain from arthritis, injury, and other conditions for weeks or months at a time. During the procedure, your doctor will use a needle to inject medication into your knee to promote healing, improve mobility, and treat swelling and pain.

UPMC experts provide comprehensive treatment for all types of knee pain, including pain caused by arthritis, injury, or other musculoskeletal conditions. Our team will find the cause of your knee pain and develop a treatment plan to reduce symptoms, restore mobility, and improve your quality of life.

What Are Knee Injections?

Knee injections can offer temporary relief to those experiencing pain from arthritis, injury, and other conditions. 

Although knee injections may not cure the condition causing your pain and are not a long-term solution, they can provide longer-lasting pain relief than oral medications and may support healing.

Knee injections may be an option for people who are not yet ready to have knee replacement surgery and have knee pain that is not well-controlled with over-the-counter pain medications, physical therapy, or other nonsurgical treatments.

Types of knee injections

There are three types of knee injections:

• Corticosteroid injections — Your doctor injects anti-inflammatory medications called steroids into your knee to provide fast symptom relief.
• Hyaluronic acid injections — Your doctor injects hyaluronic acid into your knee, which helps to improve joint lubrication. This type of injection is sometimes called a knee gel injection.
• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections — PRP is a regenerative medicine commonly used to treat knee injuries or improve healing after surgery. PRP uses natural, concentrated growth factors from your own cells to promote healing.

Arthrocentesis, also known as joint fluid aspiration, is a type of injection therapy that can help diagnose or treat knee pain and swelling. In this procedure, your doctor will use a needle to draw fluid from your knee to alleviate discomfort.

What is the most effective knee injection?

Your doctor will let you know which type of knee injection will be most effective for you depending on your condition, your treatment goals, and your lifestyle.

What conditions do we treat with knee injections?

Knee injections may be an option to treat:

• Bursitis.
• Knee injury.
• Osteoarthritis.
• Psoriatic arthritis.
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• Tendonitis.

Why Would I Need a Knee Injection?

You may need a knee injection if your knee pain is not well-controlled with over-the-counter pain medications, physical therapy, or other nonsurgical treatments. Knee injections can be a temporary treatment option for people who are not yet ready for knee replacement surgery but who need longer-term pain relief.

Is a knee injection right for me?

You may be a candidate for a knee injection if you have:

• A condition that requires knee replacement, but you would like to postpone surgery temporarily.
• Knee arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, or another type of knee injury.
• Knee pain that has not responded to over-the-counter medication, physical therapy, or other nonsurgical treatments.

Alternatives to knee injections

Alternatives to knee injection include:

• Nonsurgical treatment, such as:
  • Heat and/or ice.
  • Over-the-counter medications to manage pain.
  • Physical therapy.
• Partial knee replacement.
• Total knee replacement.

What Are the Risks and Complications of Knee Injections?

As with any medical procedure, knee injections come with some risks. Possible complications depend on the type of knee injection you have.

All knee injections come with a small risk of:  

• Allergic reaction.
• Bleeding.
• Infection at your injection site.
• Swelling, tenderness, or pain at your injection site.

Corticosteroid injections may cause side effects, including:

• Blurry vision.
• Bone loss.
• Cartilage degeneration.
• Headaches.
• High blood pressure.
• High blood sugar.
• Increased risk of infection.
• Weight gain.

What Should I Expect From a Knee Injection?

Before: How to prepare for a knee injection

Knee injections are usually given in your doctor’s office. You will meet with your doctor for a consultation before getting a knee injection. During the consultation, your doctor may order imaging tests to diagnose your condition, including:

• CT scan — A computed tomography (CT) scan creates images of the bones and structures in your knee.
• MRI — MRI is a diagnostic procedure that combines large magnets, radio frequencies, and a computer to produce detailed images of organs and structures within your body.
• Ultrasound — Uses sound waves to create images of your knee ligaments and tendons.
• X-ray — Your doctor may order an x-ray to learn more about the condition of the bones and tissues in your knee.

After your doctor receives your imaging results and makes a diagnosis, you will need to schedule another appointment for your knee injection. Sometimes, a consultation and a knee injection can be done during the same appointment.

Your doctor will explain the procedure to you and answer your questions. To prepare for the procedure, you should:

• Tell your doctor if you are sensitive or allergic to any medications, iodine, latex, tape, or anesthetic agents (local and general).
• Tell your doctor about all medications (prescription and over-the-counter) and herbal or other supplements you are taking.
• Tell your doctor about any other health conditions, such as diabetes. Your care team may need to take certain precautions during your procedure for your safety.
• Tell your doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any blood-thinning medications, aspirin, or other medications that affect blood clotting. You may need to stop some of the medications before the procedure.

How long does a knee injection take?

Knee injection procedures typically take a few minutes. You will be able to go home right after you get your injection.

During your knee injection

When you arrive at your doctor’s office, you will meet with your care team. Your care team will explain the procedure to you, review your after-care instructions, and ask if you have any questions.

Your doctor will:

• Ask you to sit or lie down and position your knee for the injection.
• Clean your skin and give you a local anesthetic to reduce discomfort.
• Guide a needle into your knee. In some cases, your doctor may use ultrasound to make sure the needle is in the right position.
• Give the injection or remove fluid, depending on your procedure.

After your procedure, your surgeon will remove the needle, place a bandage over where the needle was inserted, and ensure you feel well.

Recovery after a knee injection

After your knee injection is complete, you can go home. If you are feeling well, you should be able to drive yourself home.

Your doctor may tell you to:

• Avoid baths, swimming, and hot tubs for 24 hours.
• Avoid strenuous activity for the next 24 hours.
• Take over-the-counter pain medications. Your doctor will let you know which medications are safe for you.
• Use ice to reduce pain and swelling.
• Watch for signs of allergic reaction or infection, such as redness, swelling, or fever.

When to call your doctor about complications

You should let your doctor know if you have:

• A fever of more than 100.0°F.
• Pain, redness, bleeding, drainage, or increased swelling at your treatment site.
• Severe pain that does not respond to medication.

What’s the prognosis after a knee injection?

You should begin to feel less pain within a few days of your knee injection. Most people experience pain relief that lasts for weeks or months, improving their quality of life and ability to do everyday activities.

In some people, the procedure helps heal injuries to the tendons or ligaments, so future injections may not be necessary. Other people — especially those with knee arthritis — may need future injections to manage pain and other symptoms.

What’s the success rate of a knee injection?

Although knee injections provide pain relief for most people, they do not work for everyone. If the first injection fails to relieve your pain and symptoms after 1-2 weeks, your doctor may recommend another injection. 

Getting injections too often can increase your risk of medication-related side effects. Your doctor will usually limit the number of injections you receive to three within a 12-month period.

Why Choose UPMC for Knee Injections?

When you choose UPMC for your knee injection, you will receive:

• Access to world-class orthopaedic expertise — Our world-renowned experts treat the full spectrum of knee disorders using the latest surgical and nonsurgical techniques.
• Advanced diagnostic care — We’ll find the cause of your knee pain and work with you to develop a comprehensive treatment plan.
• A full range of treatment options — We offer nonsurgical care as well as robotic and traditional surgical approaches, depending on your individual care needs.

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By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-04-11.