Steroid Injection (Corticosteroid Or Cortisone)

The current OARSI guidelines suggest that corticosteroids are effective in providing short-term pain relief, but are not appropriate for longer-term pain management. This is due to side effects and concerns that corticosteroid may cause further deterioration of the articular cartilage. Recent reviews find that function and stiffness are not improved and, like most injections, that the effects of corticosteroids vary from patient to patient.  However, despite these findings, most peak bodies continue to recommend limited corticosteroid use.

About

Corticosteroid injections, such as cortisone, hydrocortisone, and prednisone are synthetic versions of the hormone cortisol, which reduces inflammation. You can expect an injection of corticosteroid to give you short-term mild pain relief and reduced joint inflammation.

Be Aware

All joint injections come with the risk of infection.

Other possible complications of cortisone shots can include a temporary flare-up of pain and inflammation; the weakening of tendon tissue; osteoporosis; a whitening, lightening and/or thinning of the skin around the injection site; the death of nearby bone; or a temporary increase in blood sugar.

Most doctors limit the number of cortisone shots available to a patient to no more than three a year. This is due to concern that repeated cortisone shots might cause the cartilage within the joint to deteriorate.