It is not uncommon for specific joints to cause debilitating pain, either due to acute injuries or chronic arthritis. As a pain-alleviating treatment to delay eventual surgery or to augment physical therapy, injections of local anesthetic and steroid may be performed into or around specific joints. Common joints include the shoulder, knee and hip. These injections may be performed in the office or, if fluoroscopy is indicated, in an ambulatory surgery center.​

Certain conditions such as tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer’s elbow (medial epidcondylitis), carpal tunnel syndrome and other tendonopathies may benefit from localized injection of anesthetic and steroid. Also, certain peripheral neuropathies may respond to injections around the involved nerves. These injections are only performed if more conservative treatments fail and judicious amounts of medication are used. Typically, these procedures are performed in the office.