Cortisone Injections for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome in South London
Cortisone injections for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome at our clinic
We are a leading cortisone injection clinic offering steroid injections for pain from carpal tunnel syndrome. Steroid injections can bring significant relief from your condition and bring you much-needed respite from your condition.
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We offer private injections at our South London clinic and also offer home visits in the South London area. A free telephone consultation is available to understand whether injections will be helpful and appropriate in your particular case, and your appointment also includes a diagnostic ultrasound consultation to ensure your injection will be safe and give you maximum benefit.
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Booking is quick and easy, please see our book appointment page for more details.
What is carpal tunnel syndrome?
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a condition characterized by pain, numbness, tingling, and weakness in the hand and fingers. These symptoms result from compression of the median nerve due to swelling or inflammation of the tendons as it passes through the carpal tunnel, a narrow passage way in the wrist formed by bones and ligaments. Various factors, such as repetitive hand movements, prolonged use of vibrating tools, certain medical conditions (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes), and pregnancy, can contribute to its development. Typical features of carpal tunnel syndrome include:
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Numbness or tingling in the thumb, index finger, middle finger, and inner part of the ring finger.
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Weakness or difficulty gripping objects.
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Discomfort or pain in the hand and wrist, which may radiate up the forearm​
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Aggravated symptoms during activities that involve prolonged or repetitive use of the hands, such as typing, using a mouse, or holding a phone
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Night symptoms leading to disrupted sleep.
Diagnosis typically involves a medical history review, physical examination, and, in some cases, ultrasound imaging and nerve conduction studies. More information can be found here.
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In order to ensure injection therapy is the right course of action in your particular case, we offer a free virtual consultation to get a quick picture of your health and the condition you are experiencing, and advise on whether steroid injections are a good course of action for you. At your appointment we will also carry out a full ultrasound-led diagnosis and assessment to ensure you are receiving the most appropriate treatment and best possible care.
What our patients say
How do cortisone injections help with carpal tunnel syndrome?
Recent medical research suggests that Ultrasound guided cortisone injections are effective and superior to non-guided injection for carpal tunnel syndrome. A cortisone injection can rapidly reduce pain, bringing much-needed relief and increased mobility. If you have found your sleep, work or other daily activities being hindered by your pain, a steroid injection can allow you the freedom to get back to work and normal life.
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Pain is not to be underestimated and when it becomes bad it can become debilitating and lead to depression. Pain can also lead to inactivity which can cause further problems such as postural and health issues, leading to even further inactivity, known as the chronic pain cycle. It is crucial to seek help when you are in pain and not simply try to live with it, as when left unchecked pain can cause gradual deterioration of both mental and physical health.
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All our treatments include a written report and guidance on moving forward with treating your problem following your injection, so that you can use the opportunity the injection gives to set yourself on a path to better health. We also include a personalised physiotherapy exercise plan wherever appropriate.
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For more information about cortisone injections and frequently asked questions, see our cortisone injections page.
Are cortisone injections a long-term solution for carpal tunnel syndrome?
Corticosteroids have a short term effect (around 3 months) but a common belief is that cortisone injections do not address the underlying causes of your pain and will only stop the symptoms.
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First of all, your pain has a massive impact on your daily life and any relief, even temporary, can help significantly with your sleep, work or family activities, and as a result, improve your general well being and mental health. Fortunately, simple pathologies, even when causing severe pain, tend to improve overtime and by the time the steroid has stopped working, we expect that your body has healed by itself and the pain won't return.
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Secondly, the pain free period allowed by steroid injections (up to 3-6 months on average and sometime over 1 year) is a window that will be used to begin further treatment such as a prescribed exercise program or sessions of physiotherapy, in order to address other causative factors for your problems.
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In some cases steroid injections can also be a permanent solution by stopping chronic inflammation or disrupting your pain signal. More information about pain can be found on our blog.
At your virtual consultation and first appointment, your clinician will ask questions and assess you to diagnose your problem and explain to you the options available. This will help you to understand how you can use the respite from pain which a corticosteroid injection provides, to work directly on your problem and provide you with a personalized exercise plan to avoid reliance on injections in the future.
Your clinician
All our injection treatments are carried out by our experienced physiotherapist and injection clinician, Maxence Legout. Max has over 15 years experience and holds a senior position in the NHS, where he carries out over 2000 ultrasound-guided injection & procedures every year.
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For more information please see our clinician page, or book a free online or telephone consultation to speak to Max directly.
What other treatments are available for carpal tunnel syndrome?
After an acute carpal tunnel syndrome caused by recent repetitive strain or overuse, usually rest, activity modifications and painkilling treatments like over-the-counter medications or gels are often sufficient and 30% of carpal tunnel syndromes will resolve naturally overtime. The following treatments can be alternative, complementary or subsequent to cortisone injections:
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Physiotherapy and exercises such as neural mobilization can help modulate pain, helps improve flexibility, and promote healing with an exercise induced response anti-inflammatory activity.
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Wrist Splints during activities or at night to keep the wrist in a neutral position.
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Surgery (Carpal Tunnel Release) may be considered to relieve pressure on the median nerve in cases where conservative measures are not effective.
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Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy (ESWT) has been suggested as an option in medical research.
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The specific treatment approach depends on the type and severity of carpal tunnel syndrome, and it's crucial for individuals experiencing symptoms to seek professional medical advice for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate management
MEDICAL REVIEW - The medical information on this page has been reviewed for accuracy by Maxence Legout, MSc, Physiotherapist.