Pain after shoulder injection

If you have an injection given into the shoulder joint or into the soft tissues around the shoulder then it's normally a painless procedure. Your doctor will carefully direct the injection into either the joint space or into the bursa area - you might find it slightly uncomfortable but it shouldn't be more than that.

Some people however get pain after the shoulder injection. This can either happen within an hour or two or be delayed in it's onset for up to 24 hours. This type of pain is called a "post injection flare."

No one is quite sure what causes the flare response. It may simply relate to the inflamed tissues reacting against the provocation of the needle or the injected substance. Other theories about pain after a shoulder injection is that the trigger is a change in local pH or electrolyte composition due to the effects of the injected drug or drugs (usually it's a combination of a local anesthetic and some locally active steroid agent).

If you are unlucky enough to experience a post injection flare pain after a shoulder injection then try to rest your arm on pillows or cushions, use ice packs and take some pain relief. Anti-inflammatory tablets often help but you should check with your doctor or pharmacist to make certain that these are suitable for you.

Prolonged pain is unusual and may need further investigation.

Pain that gets worse over several days is also rare and can sometimes point to infection as a cause - so again - if this happens to you then you should go see your doctor again for a check over.

Most people who have a shoulder injection get no pain at all - so don't worry too much if it looks like you might need one.