These injections can vary widely in their effectiveness and are often not effective at all.
It is important to understand the potential benefits and risks of any injections prior to considering them to help treat your hip arthritis.
Our nurse practitioners can provide early assessment and referral for injections if they are appropriate in your case.
Why this is a separate conversation
Injections are often the first thing people ask about, sometimes before exercise or weight have been discussed at all. That is understandable, an injection feels like a concrete, immediate step, but the evidence supporting different injections varies enormously, and treating them as a single category obscures that.
This article covers what each involves and what is actually known about whether it works, for the hip specifically. Evidence in the knee is often better and should not be assumed to transfer.
Call the clinicSpeak with our team to arrange a nurse practitioner appointment.(07) 5493 8038
Local anaesthetic (diagnostic) injection
A diagnostic injection is performed by injecting local anaesthetic into the hip joint under imaging guidance, without any corticosteroid. Its purpose is not to treat the arthritis but to confirm that the hip joint itself is the source of the pain.
This can be useful when it is unclear whether the pain is coming from the hip, the lumbar spine, or the sacroiliac joint. If the pain settles substantially after the injection, that confirms the hip is the source. If it does not, the pain is likely originating elsewhere.
Because the local anaesthetic is short-acting, the relief is temporary, typically lasting only a few hours. The diagnostic information, however, can be valuable in guiding further management decisions.
This injection is performed under imaging guidance at Sunshine Coast Radiology.
Corticosteroid injection
Corticosteroid injections into the hip joint under image guidance are commonly used in hip arthritis. In reality, they generally only provide short-term relief and often work better in patients with inflammatory arthritis rather than osteoarthritis. A corticosteroid injection should never be performed within three months of a joint replacement. Repeated injections can affect local immunity in the joint, which can be a risk factor for infection.
Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation)
Hyaluronic acid, sometimes referred to by brand name, such as Euflexxa, is injected into the joint to supplement the natural fluid that lubricates it. There are many other trade names, including Synvisc, Monovisc, and Duralane.
It is more established in the knee than in the hip. The evidence for hip osteoarthritis is limited. As a result, the outcomes of these injections for hip arthritis can be very hit and miss.
Some patients experience a significant local reaction to the injection itself, which is worth knowing before deciding whether to proceed. All injections carry a risk of infection in the joint.
Where it is used, it is performed under imaging guidance at Sunshine Coast Radiology. This is usually performed as three separate injections over three weeks. Sunshine Coast Radiology bulk bills this therapy.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
PRP involves drawing a small amount of your own blood, concentrating the platelets, and injecting that concentrate into the joint.
The evidence for PRP in hip osteoarthritis is limited and inconsistent. It is not covered by Medicare for this indication, so it is a significant out-of-pocket cost, and current clinical guidelines do not recommend it as standard treatment. Some people report benefit; the trial evidence has not consistently supported that. The evidence for PRP is more established in the treatment of tendinopathies such as trochanteric pain syndrome and tennis elbow.
Stem cell therapy
Stem cell therapy is not an established treatment for hip osteoarthritis. It is offered commercially in Australia, often at considerable cost, and is not TGA-approved as a standard therapy for this condition. Current evidence does not support its use for hip arthritis.
This is worth being particularly clear about, because it is one of the areas where people can spend a great deal of money on a treatment without a solid evidence base behind it. Anyone considering it should ask exactly what is being injected, what regulatory approval it has for this specific use, and what published evidence exists for hip osteoarthritis in particular, not for joint problems in general.
Radiofrequency ablation
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat, delivered through a needle under imaging guidance, to interrupt the small sensory nerves that carry pain signals from the hip joint. It does not treat the arthritis itself, the joint is unchanged afterwards, it reduces the perception of pain coming from it.
It is performed at Sunshine Coast Radiology. The evidence base for radiofrequency ablation of the hip is smaller than for the equivalent procedure in the knee, and the effect is temporary.
Questions to ask
- What evidence supports this injection for the hip specifically, not just for joints in general?
- Would this be diagnostic, therapeutic, or both?
- What would the realistic benefit be, and for how long?
- What does it cost, and is any of it covered by Medicare?
- What would happen if I didn't have it?
Common questions
Do cortisone injections work for hip arthritis?
Corticosteroid injection into the hip, performed under imaging guidance, provides temporary relief for some people, typically lasting from a few weeks to a few months. It does not alter the underlying arthritis and repeated injections are usually limited. It also has a diagnostic role, if pain settles substantially afterwards, that confirms the hip joint is the source.
Does hyaluronic acid work for the hip?
Hyaluronic acid injection is better established in the knee than in the hip. The evidence in hip osteoarthritis specifically is limited, and current clinical guidelines do not routinely recommend it for this joint. A meaningful minority of patients, roughly 10 to 20% in published data, experience a significant local reaction to the injection itself.
Is PRP effective for hip arthritis?
The evidence for platelet-rich plasma in hip osteoarthritis is limited and inconsistent, and it is not covered by Medicare for this indication. Current clinical guidelines do not recommend it as standard treatment, although some people report benefit.
Is stem cell treatment available for hip arthritis?
Stem cell therapy is not an established treatment for hip osteoarthritis and is not recommended in current clinical guidelines. It is offered commercially, often at substantial cost without Medicare rebate. Anyone considering it should ask what is being injected and what published evidence exists for that specific product in the hip.
What is radiofrequency ablation for hip pain?
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat delivered through a needle, under imaging guidance, to interrupt the small nerves carrying pain signals from the hip joint. It does not treat the underlying arthritis, it reduces the perception of pain from it, and the effect is temporary. It is performed at Sunshine Coast Radiology.
Should I have a hip arthroscopy for my arthritis?
Hip arthroscopy is not an effective treatment for established hip osteoarthritis, and the evidence against keyhole procedures for arthritic joints is consistent. It has a role in some younger patients with impingement or labral tears before significant arthritis has developed, which is a different situation.
Common questions.
Do cortisone injections work for hip arthritis?
Corticosteroid injection into the hip, performed under imaging guidance, provides temporary relief for some people, typically lasting from a few weeks to a few months. It does not alter the underlying arthritis and repeated injections are usually limited. It also has a diagnostic role: if pain settles substantially afterwards, that confirms the hip joint is the source.
Does hyaluronic acid work for the hip?
Hyaluronic acid injection is better established in the knee than in the hip. The evidence in hip osteoarthritis specifically is limited, and current clinical guidelines do not routinely recommend it for this joint. A meaningful minority of patients, roughly 10 to 20 percent in published data, experience a significant local reaction to the injection itself.
Is PRP effective for hip arthritis?
The evidence for platelet-rich plasma in hip osteoarthritis is limited and inconsistent, and it is not covered by Medicare for this indication. Current clinical guidelines do not recommend it as standard treatment, although some people report benefit.
Is stem cell treatment available for hip arthritis?
Stem cell therapy is not an established treatment for hip osteoarthritis and is not recommended in current clinical guidelines. It is offered commercially, often at substantial cost without Medicare rebate. Anyone considering it should ask what is being injected and what published evidence exists for that specific product in the hip.
What is radiofrequency ablation for hip pain?
Radiofrequency ablation uses heat delivered through a needle, under imaging guidance, to interrupt the small nerves carrying pain signals from the hip joint. It does not treat the underlying arthritis, it reduces the perception of pain from it, and the effect is temporary. It is performed at Sunshine Coast Radiology.
Should I have a hip arthroscopy for my arthritis?
Hip arthroscopy is not an effective treatment for established hip osteoarthritis, and the evidence against keyhole procedures for arthritic joints is consistent. It has a role in some younger patients with impingement or labral tears before significant arthritis has developed, which is a different situation.
This page provides general information about a medical condition and a surgical procedure. It is not individual medical advice and does not replace consultation with a qualified practitioner. Outcomes vary between individuals and all surgery carries risk. A referral is needed for a consultation with Professor Daevyd Rodda; without one, you can start with the practice nurse practitioner, who can provide it.