CORTISONE INJECTIONS

What are the benefits and downsides of Cortisone (steroid) injections?

Cortisone shots, or steroid injections, deliver medication directly to a specific area in your body that needs relief. Corticosteroids in these injections help reduce inflammation, making them useful for treating conditions such as arthritis, tendinitis, and bursitis.

What are cortisone shots (steroid injections)?

A cortisone shot is an injection that helps relieve pain and reduce inflammation (swelling). Healthcare providers may also refer to these as steroid injections or steroid shots—they all refer to the same treatment, which involves injecting a dose of corticosteroid into the body.

Corticosteroids are lab-made drugs that closely mimic cortisol, a hormone naturally produced by your adrenal glands. They work by temporarily suppressing your immune system’s activity to reduce inflammation.

Providers commonly use cortisone shots to treat inflammation in various joints, including:

  • Shoulders
  • Spine
  • Hands
  • Hips
  • Knees
  • Feet

Your provider may also use cortisone shots to treat inflammation in tendons or bursae—the fluid-filled sacs that help cushion the spaces around and between your joints, tendons, and bones.

Which conditions are treated with cortisone shots?

Cortisone shots can be used by healthcare providers to treat a variety of conditions that cause pain and inflammation, including:

What does a cortisone shot do?

A cortisone shot helps reduce pain and inflammation in the area where it is injected.

Inflammation typically occurs when your immune system sends cells to fight infection or heal an injury. By injecting cortisone directly into the inflamed area, your provider can calm the immune response at that specific location, which decreases pain and inflammation.

Does a cortisone shot affect the whole body?

Your provider will inject cortisone directly into the inflamed area of your body, delivering the corticosteroid precisely where it’s needed.

While the steroid medication does circulate through your bloodstream and may have some effects on other areas of your body, these systemic effects are generally minimal and typically go unnoticed.

Risks/ Benefits

What are the benefits of cortisone shots?

Cortisone shots are a safe and effective option for relieving pain and inflammation. They can help you manage symptoms or conditions that may make it difficult—or even impossible—to engage fully in your daily activities.

What are cortisone shot side effects?

The most common side effects of cortisone (steroid) shots include:

  • Pain at the injection site
  • A temporary increase in swelling
  • Bruising
  • Temporarily elevated blood sugar levels (people with diabetes should monitor their blood sugar more frequently for about five days after the shot)
  • Redness or discoloration of the skin at the injection site
  • Skin lightening or paleness near the injection site

Although it is rare, steroid injections can cause more serious side effects, such as:

  • Infections at the injection site
  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Fluid retention and increased swelling
  • Increased risk of osteoporosis in individuals who receive multiple rounds of steroid injections.

When should you not get a steroid shot?

You should not receive steroid injections if you have an infection, as corticosteroids have a short-term immunosuppressive effect that can make it harder for your body to fight off infections and heal properly.

Additionally, people who take blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants) or have bleeding disorders, such as hemophilia, may not be suitable candidates for steroid injections. Be sure to inform your provider about any existing conditions you have and how you’re managing them, including all medications and supplements you’re taking.

How long after a cortisone shot will I feel relief?

The time it takes for a cortisone shot to work can vary from person to person. Your symptoms, such as pain and inflammation, may not improve right away—it can take up to a week for the cortisone shot to take effect. If you haven’t noticed any improvement after 10 days, be sure to talk to your provider.

How often can you get a cortisone shot?

You may only need one cortisone shot to relieve pain and inflammation, particularly if you’re recovering from a temporary injury. However, if you have a chronic (long-term) condition, you might require additional steroid injections in the future.

Your provider will advise you on when it’s safe to receive another dose. Generally, you’ll need to wait at least three months between injections. Most people should not receive more than three shots per year.

How long does a cortisone shot (steroid injection) last?

Everyone’s body responds differently to a cortisone shot. Typically, the effects of steroid injections last anywhere from a few weeks to a few months. If you’re recovering from an injury, the cortisone shot should provide relief long enough for your body to heal completely.

For chronic inflammation, you may notice your symptoms gradually returning over time. If you experience new or worsening inflammation, be sure to discuss it with your healthcare provider.

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