Which hip joint injections are offered and who are they for?

Persistent hip joint pain (often from hip osteoarthritis in a weight‑bearing ball‑and‑socket joint) tends to push the same decision: keep going with exercise/medication and activity modification, try an injection to manage symptoms for a time, or move towards hip replacement if day‑to‑day function is failing.

A practical way to think about injections is as a “step between” stages: they can be used to calm symptoms, to help confirm that the pain is coming from inside the hip joint, and sometimes to buy time before a bigger decision. At Lincolnshire Hip, this non‑surgical step sits alongside hip replacement within its “two paths through hip pain” model, delivered through local clinics in Grantham and Sleaford as ultrasound‑guided outpatient hip joint injections (not surgery). The service is led by Professor Paul Lee.

The main hip joint injection types discussed in this guide are:

• Corticosteroid (steroid): a symptom‑relief injection, most often used when inflammation and pain need settling to help function for a period of time.
• Hyaluronic acid (HA / viscosupplementation): a lubricating “gel” injection aimed at modest symptom improvement; in hip osteoarthritis studies, benefits are typically reported over the short‑to‑mid term (for example, around 4–6 months in randomised trials).
• Platelet‑rich plasma (PRP): a blood‑derived biologic injection used with the aim of supporting the body’s own repair processes (preparation methods vary between clinics).
• Arthrosamid (polyacrylamide hydrogel): a single‑injection, longer‑lasting cushioning hydrogel; the longest follow‑up evidence is currently in knee osteoarthritis (3–5 years), so hip use is generally an extrapolation rather than a hip‑specific long‑term evidence base.

Across these options, injections may help symptoms but do not reliably stop hip osteoarthritis progressing for everyone. Lincolnshire Hip is part of the MSK Doctors group and accepts patients without referral for hip assessment; suitability is usually confirmed after examination and imaging review, before weighing up side effects, costs, and how each injection fits into a hip‑preservation plan versus hip replacement.

What side effects and pain flares are normal after a hip injection?

A common worry is that the hip joint will feel worse immediately after an injection. A short‑lived “flare” of pain, stiffness or swelling around the injection site is common across ultrasound‑guided hip joint injections, and it usually settles as the local irritation calms over the first couple of days.

1) The classic pattern after a steroid hip injection

NHS guidance on hydrocortisone (a corticosteroid) injections describes the most common problem as intense pain and swelling where the injection was given, sometimes with bruising, which typically improves over a few days. Patients are commonly advised to rest the injected joint for about 24 hours, avoid heavy exercise, and use simple pain relief such as paracetamol or ibuprofen if safe for them. A Royal Berkshire NHS leaflet specific to steroid hip injections (Jan 2025) puts a number on this: around 1 in 10 people get a “steroid flare”, with the hip becoming more painful for up to 2 days.

2) Side effects that can happen with any hip joint injection

Because steroid, hyaluronic acid (HA), PRP and Arthrosamid are all placed into the hip joint using a needle (usually under imaging guidance), there is an overlap in short‑term reactions and rare complications. UK hospital and clinic information lists:

• Temporary increase in hip pain for 24–48 hours
• Bruising or bleeding at the injection site
• A transient feeling of fullness/pressure in the hip
• Facial flushing for up to 48 hours
• Rare but important risks such as hip joint infection (increasing redness, swelling and pain), and nerve irritation/injury

Published hip‑specific side‑effect rates for HA and PRP are limited, but the day‑to‑day expectation is broadly similar: a brief flare, local tenderness and bruising are possible, while serious complications remain uncommon.

3) Arthrosamid: plan for several days of soreness and a quieter fortnight

MSK Doctors aftercare advice for Arthrosamid (polyacrylamide hydrogel) notes that it is normal to have pain, soreness, swelling and stiffness for several days after the injection, sometimes worsening as the local anaesthetic wears off. Typical advice includes regular paracetamol and a short course of an NSAID such as ibuprofen for 2–3 days if appropriate, and deliberately “lazy” relative rest for around 1–2 weeks while the gel integrates; NSAIDs for about 7 days may be used in some protocols.

Practical aftercare checklist (first 24–48 hours)

• Relative rest of the hip for about 24 hours and avoidance of heavy exercise
• Simple analgesia (for example paracetamol, and ibuprofen if safe)
• Follow the written plan provided after the injection appointment

Red flags that break the usual “flare” pattern

• Rapidly worsening hip pain after 48 hours rather than improvement
• Increasing redness, heat, swelling or discharge at the injection site
• Fever or feeling systemically unwell
• New, progressive numbness or weakness in the leg

How much do hyaluronic acid hip injections cost in the UK?

Private pricing for a hyaluronic acid (HA) hip joint injection in the UK tends to sit in the “mid‑hundreds of pounds” bracket, because it is usually delivered as an image‑guided intra‑articular injection and commonly bundled with assessment and the procedure itself.

What does an HA hip injection aim to do, and how long might it last?

HA (often described as a “gel” injection) is used as a lubricating, cushioning treatment inside an arthritic hip joint, aiming to reduce pain and improve function for a period of months rather than years. In a 2025 level‑I systematic review of randomised trials in hip osteoarthritis (982 patients; mean follow‑up about 6 months), HA injections were associated with improvements in pain and function scores versus baseline, with higher‑molecular‑weight HA showing better pain scores than some comparators at around 4–6 months; longer‑term disease‑modifying effects were not established in that review.

Can HA hip injections be accessed on the NHS?

National policy is a major reason access is limited. NICE’s 2022 osteoarthritis guideline (NG226) advises clinicians not to offer intra‑articular hyaluronan injections to manage osteoarthritis, while noting that intra‑articular corticosteroid injections may be considered for symptom relief.

Local commissioning often mirrors that position. For example, a 2023 Cheshire & Merseyside Integrated Care Board policy states that intra‑articular hyaluronan is “not routinely commissioned” for injections into peripheral joints including the hip, meaning NHS funding is generally reserved for exceptional cases rather than routine treatment.

Guide costs in UK private practice (where HA fits in the “injection ladder”)

Published UK clinic price lists suggest HA for a large joint typically costs around £250–£450 per injection. Examples include:

• Joint Care Clinics: HA injections from about £350, including consultation and an ultrasound‑guided hip joint injection.
• Belfast Private GP: £259 for a hyaluronic acid knee injection, versus £159 for a corticosteroid joint injection.
• MSK Clinic guide: HA injections £250–£450 (reported in a January 2025 post).

Putting those figures into a simple cost tier (guide costs):

• Steroid: ~£150–£200
• HA: ~£250–£450
• PRP: often ~£400–£800
• Arthrosamid: commonly ~£2,000–£3,000

Despite NICE’s stance, some people still self‑fund HA when the goal is a time‑limited attempt to improve pain and walking tolerance (for example over 4–6 months), particularly if earlier treatments have not helped, steroid is not preferred, or delaying hip replacement matters.

Consultation questions to bring (HA‑specific)

• Based on current imaging, is pain likely coming from inside the hip joint (where HA is placed)?
• Which HA product (including molecular‑weight category) is being considered, and why?
• What is the expected time window of benefit in this hip (for example, months, not years), and how will success be measured?
• If HA does not help, what is the next step in the Lincolnshire Hip pathway (another injection type vs progressing towards surgery)?

Lincolnshire Hip is part of the MSK Doctors group and accepts patients without referral for hip assessment in Grantham and Sleaford.

What does a PRP hip injection cost and how does it compare?

PRP (platelet‑rich plasma) is usually offered as a biologic hip joint injection: a small blood sample is taken, the platelet‑rich portion is concentrated, and then injected back into the hip under ultrasound guidance. In practical terms, it is positioned as support for the body’s own repair processes and symptom control, rather than as an artificial “gel” lubricant like hyaluronic acid.

The evidence picture is mixed by joint. Much of the stronger PRP research base sits outside the hip, while robust, hip‑specific randomised trials and long‑term follow‑up are more limited. That is why PRP for hip osteoarthritis is often discussed as a promising but not definitive option, where the goal is typically pain reduction and improved function (sometimes to help delay, rather than avoid, hip replacement).

In UK private practice, PRP is commonly priced higher than a basic steroid or hyaluronic‑acid injection because it includes blood handling and preparation. A UK PRP clinic guide (7 May 2025) quotes a typical per‑injection price range of about £250–£800, and some providers sell PRP as a course rather than a one‑off. One PRP clinic describes a “standard treatment” as 3 injections over about 6 weeks (often spaced roughly fortnightly), which can materially change the overall cost compared with single‑shot injections.

A hip‑specific example helps set expectations: an ACTIVATE/MSK Clinic page dated 15 July 2025 lists a consultation from about £180 and a PRP hip injection package from around £780 per hip joint (including consultation). Exact pricing varies by clinic, imaging, and what follow‑up is bundled.

Set against other hip injection options, published UK price lists place PRP broadly in the “higher” tier:

• Steroid joint injection: for example £159 in one UK private GP price list.
• Hyaluronic acid: commonly mid‑hundreds (for example from £350 including consultation and ultrasound‑guided hip joint injection in one clinic list).
• PRP: often hundreds per session, sometimes sold as a multi‑injection course.

Within Lincolnshire Hip’s hip‑preservation thinking, PRP is often framed as a biologic option that may suit people who are still aiming to stay active with hip joint pain, and who accept that outcomes can be variable. Arthrosamid, typically the highest‑cost option, is covered separately.

Where does Arthrosamid sit among hip injection options?

Arthrosamid is usually discussed as the “longer‑acting filler” end of the hip injection spectrum: a 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel placed into the hip joint under image guidance, aiming to cushion the joint and reduce symptoms rather than to act like a steroid (anti‑inflammatory) or a biologic injection such as PRP. It is also described as non‑biodegradable—in other words, it is designed to remain in the joint rather than being broken down over time—and it is not a treatment that “regrows” hip cartilage.

That permanence is part of the appeal for some people with hip osteoarthritis who want an outpatient option that may last longer than a standard single‑shot injection. However, it also means Arthrosamid sits in a different category from short‑lived injectables: it is not intended to be a temporary medicine that simply wears off after a few weeks.

The strongest published outcomes data so far come from knee osteoarthritis, not the hip. In a 3‑year extension of a randomised trial, a single 6 mL intra‑articular injection of 2.5% polyacrylamide hydrogel was associated with sustained improvements in WOMAC pain (mean change around –13 points on a 0–100 scale at year 3), with no serious adverse events attributed to the device in that report. A separate multicentre, prospective study following patients to 5 years also reported sustained improvements in WOMAC pain, stiffness and function after a single injection, again without serious device‑related events reported. A 2025 retrospective comparison likewise suggested longer persistence of symptom improvement versus single steroid or hyaluronic acid injections at 6–12 months in knees. For hip osteoarthritis, using Arthrosamid is therefore an extrapolation from knee data, because comparable long‑term hip trials remain sparse.

In the first few days after an Arthrosamid hip injection, short‑term flare‑type symptoms are still expected. MSK Doctors aftercare guidance notes that pain, soreness, swelling and stiffness for several days can be normal as the local anaesthetic wears off; paracetamol plus a short course of an NSAID such as ibuprofen may be advised where safe. Activity is usually kept intentionally light in the early phase—often around 1–2 weeks—to protect the joint while the gel integrates.

Cost is another reason Arthrosamid tends to be considered later in the “hip injection ladder”. A UK cost guide published in 2025 describes Arthrosamid as typically £2,000–£3,000 per injection depending on what is included. Lincolnshire Hip lists a £2,995 guide price for a non‑surgical ultrasound‑guided injection package with local follow‑up (to be confirmed with the clinic), placing it at the top end of common private injection costs.

Arthrosamid is most often weighed up when hip pain is significant, hip replacement is not the immediate plan, and there is acceptance of (1) the gel’s non‑biodegradable nature, (2) the evidence gap in hip‑specific outcomes, and (3) the higher, largely self‑funded cost. Lincolnshire Hip is part of the MSK Doctors group and accepts patients without referral for hip assessment in Grantham and Sleaford.

How does Lincolnshire Hip help you choose the right hip injection?

Choosing a hip injection at Lincolnshire Hip is framed as a matching exercise between (1) what the hip joint looks like on examination and imaging, and (2) what the person needs day to day—rather than picking from a price list. Across options, a short-lived “flare” in the first 48 hours is a common theme; beyond that, the trade-offs tend to be about likely duration of symptom control, cost, and how strong the hip-specific evidence is for the chosen agent.

In a typical pathway, Professor Paul Lee leads a consultant appointment in Grantham or Sleaford, focusing on how the pain behaves (for example, walking distance, stairs, night pain) and what reproduces symptoms on a hip examination. Imaging is then reviewed—often an X‑ray for osteoarthritis and, where needed, an MRI—to judge how far structural change has progressed and whether symptoms are most likely coming from inside the hip joint.

From there, the discussion usually centres on a small set of decision factors:

• severity and pattern of hip joint arthritis on imaging (for example, joint‑space loss versus earlier change)
• previous response to physiotherapy and any prior hip injections
• whether the goal is short‑term settling (often where a steroid injection is used diagnostically or for flare control) or a longer attempt to delay surgery
• tolerance for a few days of post‑injection soreness and reduced activity
• budget and views on self‑funded care, noting that some options (such as hyaluronic acid) have limited routine NHS availability, while PRP and Arthrosamid are usually private

This also clarifies when injections remain a “hip‑preserving” outpatient step, and when the conversation shifts to hip replacement as the definitive pathway—something Lincolnshire Hip links to surgery at Weymouth Street Hospital (London) when symptoms and function are no longer manageable.

Lincolnshire Hip is part of the MSK Doctors group and accepts patients without referral for consultant-led hip assessment in Grantham and Sleaford.

1. [1] A prospective, open-label, clinical investigation of a single intra-articular polyacrylamide hydrogel injection in participants with knee osteoarthritis: A 5-year extension study. (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06526-0 https://doi.org/10.1186/s13018-025-06526-0