Steroid Shots
Why Doctors Recommend It?
Cortisone injections are used to help relieve pain caused by inflammatory conditions when medications and physiotherapy alone do not provide adequate relief. These conditions include osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, tendonitis, and bursitis. Cortisone works by reducing inflammation. It is injected directly into the affected area.
Doctors may perform the procedure if treatment with medications and physiotherapy has not relieved specific muscle or joint pain. Some doctors perform the procedure on a monthly basis, while others recommend using it only a limited number of times in an area causing pain.
Cortisone injection therapy is recommended when muscle and joint pain interferes with the quality of life and mobility. Reducing the pain and improving mobility may help restore a person’s ability to do daily activities and enjoy pastimes.
Why This Is Bad
Although cortisone injections are generally considered safe, there are certain risks. If a doctor does not correctly target the muscle or joint, damage to nerves or tendons is possible although this is extremely rare. People with darker skin may experience some changes in skin colour at the injection site. There is also a risk of bleeding or infection at the injection site. Some people may experience flushing or sweating if a higher dose of cortisone is used. For people with diabetes, cortisone injections may increase blood sugar levels.
Repeating this procedure has it’s own risks. Corticosteroids may lead to a number of side effects with prolonged use over many years. These include loss of bone density or cataracts.
With having the pain masked with cortisone, the patient will no longer treat the injury as an injury. They will continue on with their daily tasks as before the injury. When the cortisone runs its course, many people will find they are in more pain and have further damage as a direct result of cortisone not allowing the body to say that it’s injured.