Hip Steroid Injections
Ultrasound-Guided Cortisone Injections

A hip steroid injection is used to relieve pain coming from inside or around the hip joint. By far the most common reason is hip osteoarthritis, wear of the cartilage that causes inflammation, stiffness and pain in the groin, buttock or outer thigh. It is also used for inflammatory joint pain and for hip pain that has not settled with painkillers, activity changes or physiotherapy.

The injection delivers a corticosteroid (cortisone), a powerful anti-inflammatory, directly into the joint to calm the inflammation that drives the pain. For pain arising from the soft tissues on the outer hip, such as trochanteric bursitis, a separate but related injection may be more appropriate, and your consultant will identify the true source of pain using ultrasound first.

The aim is meaningful, lasting relief that lets you move, sleep and walk more comfortably. It can also delay or avoid more invasive treatment.

Hip joint pain typically causes a deep ache felt in the groin or front of the hip, sometimes spreading to the buttock, outer thigh or knee. Common day-to-day signs include:

• Pain on walking, climbing stairs or standing from a chair.
• Stiffness first thing in the morning or after sitting.
• A reduced range of movement, difficulty putting on shoes or socks.
• Disturbed sleep when lying on the affected side.

A hip steroid injection is generally suited to people with hip osteoarthritis or inflammatory joint pain, whose symptoms limit daily life and have not responded adequately to simpler measures. It is also useful where surgery is not yet wanted or appropriate, or to confirm the hip joint is the true source of pain. An ultrasound assessment confirms the diagnosis and rules out other causes.

At the Harley Street Ultrasound Group, your appointment begins with a diagnostic ultrasound assessment, performed by your specialist consultant doctor. Ultrasound shows the joint, soft tissues and any fluid in real time and is used to confirm the source of pain and, just as importantly, to rule out other causes such as trochanteric bursitis, tendon problems or referred spinal pain, which can feel similar but need different treatment.

This matters more at the hip than almost anywhere else. The hip joint lies deep beneath layers of muscle and is impossible to reach reliably by feel, so a “blind” injection risks missing the joint entirely. Because the same ultrasound is then used to guide the needle, your consultant can place the steroid exactly within the joint under real-time, imaging-confirmed visualisation rather than by external landmarks alone, while identifying and avoiding nearby nerves and vessels.

If the assessment shows that a different treatment would serve you better, your consultant will tell you on the day. See “What if I don’t need an injection?” below.

A steroid injection in the hip works by delivering a corticosteroid (cortisone), a strong anti-inflammatory medication, directly into the hip joint under ultrasound guidance. It reduces the inflammation inside the joint that drives pain and stiffness, so movement becomes easier and more comfortable.

Because the hip is a deep joint, the procedure is performed under real-time ultrasound, so your consultant can ensure the injection reaches the exact location and confirm the medication is going precisely to where it is needed. This precision is what makes the treatment both effective and safe, avoiding nearby nerves and blood vessels.

The cortisone is usually combined with a small amount of local anaesthetic, which can ease the pain quickly and also helps confirm the hip joint is the true source of your symptoms. Other options your consultant may discuss include viscosupplementation (a hyaluronic acid injection). See “Steroid versus other injections” below.

Most patients find a hip injection far more comfortable than expected. Local anaesthetic is used, so you typically feel a small sting as it goes in, followed by a brief sensation of pressure as the steroid is placed in the joint. This is normal and settles quickly.

The appointment usually takes around 20–30 minutes from assessment to completion:

• Your consultant scans the hip to confirm the source of pain.
• The skin is cleaned and local anaesthetic is applied.
• The injection is delivered into the joint under live ultrasound guidance.
• You rest briefly and are given aftercare guidance before you leave.

There is no general anaesthetic and no overnight stay. You can usually walk out unaided, though arranging a lift home is sensible if the hip feels sore afterwards.

Your injection is performed by a consultant specialist doctor, not a physiotherapist, nurse or GP. This matters, as the majority of MSK injections in the UK are delivered by non-consultant practitioners, often without ultrasound image guidance.

At the Harley Street Ultrasound Group, you receive both the clinical judgement of a senior specialist and the precision of real-time ultrasound examination in a single appointment. Your consultant assesses the hip, confirms the source of pain, performs the procedure and explains your aftercare personally.

We will never give you an injection you do not need. If, after your ultrasound assessment, your consultant decides an injection is not the right treatment for you, the procedure simply won’t go ahead. You will be charged at our standard diagnostic ultrasound rate, not the full treatment price.

This is a deliberate commitment to clinical integrity. Some providers treat every appointment as a guaranteed procedure; we don’t. You can book knowing that you will receive a genuine specialist assessment first, and that treatment only proceeds when a senior clinician believes it is genuinely warranted.

If an injection isn’t appropriate (for example if your hip pain is actually coming from the bursa, the tendons or the lower back), your consultant will explain why and set out the alternatives. This may include physiotherapy, a different injection, such as PRP, or onward referral, meaning you still leave with a clear plan.

Many patients notice improved comfort within a few days to two weeks. The local anaesthetic can ease pain almost immediately, then the steroid takes effect over the following days as the inflammation settles. The full benefit usually builds over the first couple of weeks.

How long the relief lasts varies. For many people a single hip injection provides several months of meaningful pain relief, often three to six months, and sometimes longer. The effect tends to depend on the severity of the underlying arthritis. Some patients benefit from a repeat injection, and your consultant will give you a realistic picture based on your own assessment, as well as how the injection fits into your wider plan for the hip.

There is no significant downtime. You can return to everyday activities the same day, though it is sensible to rest the hip and avoid strenuous activity or long walks for 24–48 hours to let the steroid settle. Some mild soreness around the injection site for a day or two is normal.

Occasionally the hip can feel a little more uncomfortable for the first day or so before the steroid takes effect, this is known as a steroid flare and settles on its own; simple painkillers and an ice pack help. As the pain eases, gentle movement and any exercises your consultant or physiotherapist recommends will help you get the most from the injection.

You will receive clear written aftercare guidance, and our team remains available if you have any questions as you recover.

Both are ultrasound-guided injections for hip pain, but they work differently. A steroid (cortisone) injection is an anti-inflammatory. It is excellent at calming an inflamed, painful joint quickly and is often the first choice for a painful flare of hip osteoarthritis.

Viscosupplementation is an injection of hyaluronic acid, such as Ostenil, which works instead by supplementing the joint’s natural lubricating fluid, aiming to improve cushioning and function. It tends to act more gradually but the benefit can last longer for some people, and it avoids repeated steroid use.

The right choice depends on your symptoms, the state of the joint and how often you have been treated before. Your consultant will talk you through both options at your assessment and recommend the best course of action.

An ultrasound-guided steroid injection in the hip at the Harley Street Ultrasound Group is £525, all fees inclusive. There are no extra charges for the consultant assessment, the diagnostic ultrasound, the procedure itself, or your written report.

What’s included in the price:

• Consultant specialist assessment and diagnostic ultrasound
• Ultrasound-guided steroid injection into the hip joint
• Local anaesthetic and all consumables
• Written report and tailored aftercare guidance

There is no referral required and no waiting lists. Importantly, if your consultant assesses you and decides an injection is not clinically appropriate, you will only be charged at our standard diagnostic ultrasound rate, not the procedure price. We accept self-pay and most major UK private health insurers; please confirm cover with your insurer before booking

Coming to us privately does not affect your NHS care. Our goal is to get you answers and treatment quickly, without the long waits often involved in accessing injection therapy on the NHS.

You are seen by a consultant specialist who can assess, diagnose and, where appropriate, treat your hip pain in a single visit. Your report and images can be shared securely with your NHS GP or any specialist, and if your situation needs onward NHS care your consultant will write to your GP accordingly.

We don’t want you waiting months in pain when effective treatment is available now.