Pre-injection local anesthesia does not affect experienced pain in intra-articular hip injections

BACKGROUND Intra-articular hip injections (IAHIs) are commonly used for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes but are often associated with patient anxiety and fear. The disparity between anticipated and experienced pain during IAHIs and the role of preinjection local anesthesia in pain modulation remains unclear. AIM To investigate the difference between anticipated and experienced pain during IAHIs and the impact of pre-injection local anesthesia. METHODS This prospective study enrolled 60 patients undergoing IAHI, 30 receiving pre-injection superficial local anesthesia and 30 serving as a control group without pre-injection local anesthesia. Pain levels were assessed using numeric rating scales. RESULTS Patients significantly overestimated anticipated pain compared to experienced pain (6.43 ± 2.48 vs 3.68 ± 2.37, P < 0.001). Pre-injection local anesthesia did not significantly reduce experienced pain (3.19 ± 2.38 vs 4.20 ± 2.29, P = 0.130). CONCLUSION Patients overestimate anticipated pain during IAHIs. Pre-injection local anesthesia does not reduce experienced pain.