Shoulder Joint Injection

What is a Gleno-humeral Joint Injection Procedure?
This is an injection into the gleno-humeral joint, which is the likely cause of your pain.

Why is a Gleno-humeral Joint Injection Procedure helpful?
It is helpful in the diagnosis and treatment of your pain, which is likely due to a disorder of your gleno-humeral joint. Two medications are used for the injection: a shorter-acting local anesthetic numbing agent and a longer-acting anti-inflammatory steroid agent. You will likely experience temporary pain relief after the injection due to the shorter-acting local anesthetic numbing agent. Then, you will likely experience longer pain relief after the injection due to the longer-acting anti-inflammatory steroid agent.

Procedure Detail
You will be asked to sit in a comfortable position on a chair. The skin at the site to be injected will be cleaned with an anti-bacterial solution. You will experience an initial sting at the injection site as the very small procedure needle is introduced through the skin into the gleno-humeral joint. Then, the clinician will inject the medications (local anesthetic and steroid) into your gleno-humeral joint. The injection procedure will be brief, usually lasting less than 5 minutes.

What Post Procedure
You will be observed for 5-10 minutes for your response to the injection. You may become a little sore at the soft tissues of the procedure site, which is normal and to be expected. You may apply an ice-pack to the sore area of the procedure site. The soreness at the procedure site should go away in a couple of days. It usually takes 48 to 72 hours to experience relief of your shoulder pain from the longer-acting anti-inflammatory steroid agent.

Can I go to work the next day after a Gleno-humeral Joint Injection Procedure?
You can return to work the same day.