Cortisone Injections for Hip & Knee Arthritis

When an arthritic hip or knee flares up, a cortisone injection is often the fastest, most dependable way to settle it down. It's a tool I use regularly — for the right patient, at the right moment. Here's an honest look at what it does, what to expect, and where it fits.

What a cortisone injection is

Cortisone is a corticosteroid — a potent anti-inflammatory medication. Injected directly into the hip or knee joint, it works to reduce the inflammation that drives much of the pain and swelling of arthritis. It's one of the oldest and most established tools in joint care.

How it works and what to expect

By calming inflammation in the joint, cortisone can meaningfully reduce pain — often within a few days. The relief is real but temporary, typically lasting from a few weeks to a few months, and it varies from person to person. Occasionally there's a brief “steroid flare” — a day or two of increased soreness — before the improvement sets in. Patients with diabetes may notice a transient rise in blood sugar.

When a cortisone injection makes sense

It tends to be most useful in specific situations:

How often it can be used (and why it's limited)

Cortisone is used selectively and spaced out — often limited to a few times a year — rather than repeatedly. Used judiciously it's a safe, valuable tool, but very frequent steroid injections aren't ideal for the joint over the long run, and the benefit tends to diminish with repeated use. Your surgeon will set the right interval for your situation. If you find you're needing injections more and more often, that's usually a sign it's time to revisit the broader plan.

How cortisone compares to gel and PRP

• Cortisone — fast, reliable anti-inflammatory relief; temporary and used selectively.
• Hyaluronic acid (gel) — supplements the joint's lubrication; well established for the knee, with comfort that can last longer than cortisone.
• PRP — uses your own concentrated platelets to modulate inflammation; evidence still evolving. See our evidence-based guide to PRP.

None reverse arthritis — they're different tools for managing symptoms, and all are part of the broader nonsurgical treatment plan.

Insurance and cost

Here's some good news on the practical side: because cortisone injections are a long-established, widely used part of arthritis care, they are generally covered by insurance — unlike elective options such as PRP. Coverage details still vary by plan, so it's always worth confirming with your insurer, but for most patients cost is far less of a barrier here than with regenerative options.

Where cortisone fits

Cortisone is one tool within a larger plan that's matched to your diagnosis. If you're considering it, it helps to understand the bigger picture: hip osteoarthritis or knee osteoarthritis, the full nonsurgical treatment continuum, and — when arthritis is advanced — what modern joint replacement involves. If repeated injections are no longer carrying you, that's often the moment to talk about what's next.