Concierge MSK and sports medicine · London
Injection therapy for MSK and sports medicine, by consultant specialists.
One umbrella page for the main injections used in sports medicine, MSK and pain — steroid, hyaluronic acid, PRP, botulinum toxin, nerve and facet blocks — with the right clinician, the right agent and imaging guidance where it matters.
Why patients choose us
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The right clinician for the right injection
A consultant sports and exercise medicine physician, rheumatologist, MSK radiologist, pain specialist or orthopaedic surgeon — matched to your problem, not a generalist doing everything.
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Ultrasound-guided as standard where it matters
For hips, deep tendons, small joints and spinal work, guidance beats landmark-only every time. We book it that way.
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Injection as part of a plan, not instead of one
Load management, physio and lifestyle sit alongside the injection. Repeated shots without a plan usually means the wrong plan.
Indicative pricing
What private injection therapy costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
An ultrasound-guided steroid injection in our network: £350–£800, home the same visit.
| Injection | Indicative range | Typical duration | Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Landmark-only joint or bursa injection (steroid + LA) | £150–£350 | 10–20 min | Same visit |
| Ultrasound-guided steroid injection (single site) | £350–£800 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
| Fluoroscopy-guided spinal or pelvic injection | £600–£1,500 | 30–45 min | Same visit |
| Hyaluronic acid (viscosupplementation) — knee course | £450–£1,200 | 15–20 min | Same visit |
| Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) — single injection | £350–£800 | 45 min | Same visit |
| PRP course (typically 3 injections) | £900–£2,500 | Per visit | Over 6–12 weeks |
| Botulinum toxin (MSK / spasticity / migraine) | £400–£1,200 | 20–30 min | Same visit |
| Consultation only | £200–£400 | 30 min | Same visit |
Prices vary by clinic, by the specialist, by whether guidance is used, and by the agent. NHS access is available via GP referral or a first-contact physio into an MSK clinic. We confirm a firm private quote within one working day.
The problem
The right agent, the right clinician, the right plan.
Injection therapy is quietly one of the most misused tools in private MSK — the wrong agent, no image guidance, and no plan around it. We fix all three before you commit.
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Not sure it is needed?
For some problems, physio and load management should come before any needle. We say so before you agree to an injection.
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Worried about the wrong shot?
Steroid, hyaluronic acid, PRP and botulinum toxin all have specific indications. A consultant matches agent to problem.
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Want it done properly?
Ultrasound or fluoroscopy guidance where it matters, sterile technique, and a proper rehab plan afterwards.
The journey
From enquiry to rehab — what happens, in order.
One clinician from first message to review — including the rehabilitation window afterwards.
Phase 1 · Before your injection
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · On the day
A short visit at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
You tell us what is going on
A short, confidential form. Which joint or tendon, how long, what has already been tried.
- 02
Before
We come back with a recommendation
Within one working day: the right agent (steroid, HA, PRP, botulinum, nerve block), the right specialist, whether imaging guidance is needed, an indicative price.
- 03
Before
We arrange the appointment
Usually within one to two weeks. Any blood-thinning medication is reviewed, and you are told exactly how to prepare.
- 04
On the day
Arrival at the clinic
A focused consultation with the injecting clinician, sterile skin prep, and local anaesthetic infiltration.
- 05
On the day
The injection itself
Five to thirty minutes depending on the site and technique. Ultrasound or fluoroscopy guidance where indicated.
- 06
On the day
Home the same visit
A short observation, written aftercare, and home. No driver needed for most injections.
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After
Rehabilitation and review
Load management, physio and a review at four to six weeks to check response — and to reassess if the injection has not helped.
Typical end-to-end: 1–2 weeks from enquiry to injection. Rehab window: 4–6 weeks.
When it helps
When injection therapy is the right step.
The situations we see most, plus the one red flag that means an emergency rather than an appointment.
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Osteoarthritis flare
Painful knee, hip, shoulder or base-of-thumb OA — steroid for a flare, hyaluronic acid for the knee, PRP as adjunct in selected cases.
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Bursitis
Subacromial, trochanteric, olecranon or prepatellar bursitis that has not settled with rest and physio.
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Tendinopathy
Tennis or golfer’s elbow, patellar, Achilles, gluteal tendinopathy or plantar fasciitis — peritendinous steroid or PRP.
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Nerve entrapment
Carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel or Morton’s neuroma — perineural steroid and local anaesthetic.
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Spinal and facet pain
Facet joint, epidural, sacroiliac and nerve root injections for radicular or axial back and neck pain.
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Chronic migraine and headache
Botulinum toxin (NICE TA260) or greater occipital nerve blocks for chronic migraine and cervicogenic headache.
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Spasticity and focal dystonia
Botulinum toxin for post-stroke spasticity, cerebral palsy, piriformis syndrome and hyperhidrosis.
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Red flag: hot swollen joint
A rapidly hot, swollen, exquisitely tender joint with fever is possible septic arthritis — same-day A&E, not a clinic booking.
Injection types
Steroid is not the only option.
What each option actually involves — and which fits which problem.
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Corticosteroid (Kenalog, Depo-Medrone, hydrocortisone)
Triamcinolone, methylprednisolone, betamethasone for deep joints and bursae; hydrocortisone for superficial sites. Effective for OA flares, bursitis, tenosynovitis and carpal tunnel. Two to four per joint per year, no more. See also cortisone shots.
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Hyaluronic acid (Ostenil, Synvisc, Durolane)
Viscosupplementation, mostly for knee OA. Not NICE-endorsed but a proportion of patients report meaningful benefit. See our dedicated hyaluronic acid page.
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Platelet-rich plasma (PRP)
Your own blood, centrifuged for the platelet fraction. Used for lateral epicondylitis, patellar, Achilles and gluteal tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis, and hip and knee OA. Evidence is growing but still mixed.
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Prolotherapy (hypertonic dextrose)
Injection into ligament or tendon insertions. Some evidence for chronic Achilles and lateral epicondylitis; a guarded, selective recommendation from BASEM.
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Botulinum toxin (Botox, Dysport, Xeomin)
For spasticity, plantar fasciitis, piriformis syndrome, chronic migraine (NICE TA260), anal fissure, overactive bladder, hyperhidrosis and sialorrhoea.
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Nerve, facet and epidural blocks
Diagnostic lidocaine or bupivacaine plus therapeutic steroid — facet joint, epidural, sacroiliac, ganglion and dorsal root ganglion blocks with occasional radiofrequency follow-on.
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Perineural, trigger point, ACS and MSC injections
Perineural steroid for entrapment, trigger point injection for myofascial pain, autologous conditioned serum (Orthokine) for knee OA, and MHRA-regulated mesenchymal stem cell therapy for selected private cases.
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Consultation only
An honest discussion of whether an injection is the right next step at all — or whether load management, physio or a different treatment plan should come first.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of injecting specialists, we picked them.
Sports and exercise medicine physicians, rheumatologists, MSK radiologists, pain specialists and orthopaedic surgeons across central, north, west and south London.
Selection criteria
How we choose every injecting clinician in our network.
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Consultant-led — FSEM sports physicians, rheumatologists, MSK radiologists, pain specialists or orthopaedic surgeons
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Ultrasound or fluoroscopy guidance as standard for deep, small-joint and spinal injections
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BOA, BASEM, BSSR and FPM standards applied to technique, dosing and consent
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Injection framed within a broader load-management and rehabilitation plan
Safety and recovery
What to expect afterwards — honestly.
Injections are common, safe day-case procedures. The things worth planning are the agent, whether guidance is used, and knowing what is normal after.
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Injection-site pain is universal and brief
A few days of discomfort at the injection site is expected — cover it with paracetamol, ice and relative rest.
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Post-injection flare in 10–20%
A short crystal-induced flare in the 24–72 hours after a steroid injection. Uncomfortable but self-limiting.
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Skin depigmentation and fat atrophy
A small risk with superficial steroid, especially in darker skin. We choose agent and depth accordingly.
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Tendon rupture with high-dose steroid
Steroid into tendon substance risks rupture. We inject peritendinous only, and avoid repeated shots into a load-bearing tendon.
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Septic arthritis is rare
With proper aseptic technique the risk is under 1 in 10,000 — but a hot, swollen, painful joint with fever after any injection is an emergency.
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Systemic steroid effects
A short glucose rise in diabetics, occasional facial flushing or menstrual disturbance. We flag this before we inject.
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Nerve or vascular injury
Very rare with image guidance. We always aspirate before injecting to check we are not intravascular.
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Not a substitute for a plan
Repeated injections without a response mean the diagnosis or plan should be reviewed — not that another shot is needed.
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Red flags
Fever, a rapidly hot swollen joint, spreading redness or new neurological symptoms after any injection warrant same-day medical review.
Reading your procedure note
Your injection note in four parts. Read the last one first.
Whichever agent was used, the note the clinician sends you keeps to the same shape.
A quiet reminder
Procedure language is precise and can read coldly — we translate it for you.
If you would like us to talk you through the note before your review, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and agent chosen
Why the injection was done — OA flare, tendinopathy, nerve entrapment — and which agent and dose were used.
- 02 Technique
Guidance and technique
Landmark, ultrasound or fluoroscopy guidance, the approach used, aspiration performed, and local anaesthetic given.
- 03 Findings
Intra-procedural findings
Effusion aspirated, tendon appearance on ultrasound, spread of contrast on fluoroscopy, immediate response to local anaesthetic.
- 04 Impression
Aftercare, rehab and review timing
Read this first: what to expect over the next 48 hours, activity limits, rehabilitation plan and when to be reviewed.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for injection therapy varies by insurer and by indication — usually funded when medically indicated. PRP, prolotherapy and MSC injections are typically self-pay. We confirm cover before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about injection therapy.
Quick answers on which agent to choose, pain, cost, and how many injections are safe.
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What is injection therapy in sports medicine and MSK?
An umbrella term for a group of image-guided or landmark-based injections used to treat joint, tendon, bursa, nerve and spinal pain — including corticosteroid, hyaluronic acid, platelet-rich plasma (PRP), prolotherapy, botulinum toxin, nerve blocks and perineural injections.
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How do I know which injection is right for me?
It depends on the diagnosis. Steroid is the workhorse for OA flares, bursitis and carpal tunnel; hyaluronic acid is used for knee OA; PRP is emerging for tendinopathy and chondral disease; botulinum toxin covers spasticity, migraine and specific pain syndromes; nerve blocks are used for spinal and neuropathic pain. A consultant matches agent to problem.
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Does injection therapy hurt?
Most injections use local anaesthetic and take a few minutes. There is a sharp scratch, then a pressure sensation. Post-injection soreness for a few days is normal, and about 10–20% of steroid injections cause a short flare in the first 72 hours.
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How much does a private injection cost in the UK?
Landmark-only steroid injections start at £150–£350. Ultrasound-guided single injections are £350–£800. Fluoroscopy-guided spinal or pelvic work is £600–£1,500. A PRP course runs £900–£2,500 and botulinum toxin sits at £400–£1,200. We confirm a firm figure before you commit.
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How many injections can I have?
For corticosteroid, no more than two to four per joint per year — repeated steroid accelerates cartilage loss and softens tendon. PRP is usually a course of two to three at four-week intervals. Hyaluronic acid is a single injection or a short course depending on the product.
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Do I need ultrasound guidance?
For most hips, deep tendons, small joints and any spinal or pelvic work, yes — guidance materially improves accuracy versus a blind injection. For a large knee effusion, subacromial bursa or trochanteric bursa, a landmark injection by an experienced clinician is often adequate.
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Will an injection actually fix the problem?
Rarely on its own. An injection buys a window of reduced pain and inflammation in which physio, load management and lifestyle changes do the real work. Repeated injections without a broader plan usually indicate the plan itself needs reviewing.
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When should I see a GP or A&E urgently?
A rapidly hot, swollen, exquisitely painful joint with fever after any injection is a possible septic arthritis and needs same-day A&E. Spreading redness, new neurological symptoms or severe uncontrolled pain also warrant urgent review.
Related treatments
Looking for something else?
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Cortisone shots
Targeted corticosteroid injections for joints, bursae and tendons.
Learn more -
Hyaluronic acid injections
Viscosupplementation for knee osteoarthritis.
Learn more -
Hip injection treatment
Image-guided injection for hip pain and osteoarthritis.
Learn more -
Facet joint injection
Fluoroscopy-guided spinal facet block for back and neck pain.
Learn more -
All tests and procedures
Every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more