Cortisone (Steroid) Shot
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KEY POINTS
- Cortisone shots are used to treat swelling, irritation, and pain caused by arthritis, tendon or joint injuries, or an allergic reaction.
- Cortisone blocks the chemicals that your body makes that cause swelling and irritation. It also changes the way your immune system works.
- Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist what side effects the medicine may cause and what you should do if you have side effects.
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What is cortisone used for?
Cortisone is a type of medicine called a corticosteroid, or steroid. It is used to treat inflammation, which can help relieve symptoms such as swelling, irritation, and pain. Some conditions that are caused by or cause inflammation include:
- Arthritis
- Tendon irritation
- Joint injuries
- Chronic low back pain
A cortisone shot is often used to relieve pain and reduce the swelling of a joint, tendon, or bursa. (A bursa is a fluid-filled sac that acts as a cushion between tendons, bones, and skin.) These problems are common in knee, hand, elbow, and shoulder joints. Reducing the swelling helps relieve pain and can speed up recovery from an injury.
The cortisone is usually mixed with a local anesthetic and then injected into the painful area. The anesthetic makes the cortisone injection less painful and also relieves pain while you wait for the cortisone to take effect.
A shot of cortisone may also be given to reduce inflammation that affects your whole body, like an allergic reaction or a flare-up of rheumatoid arthritis.
How does it work?
Cortisone blocks the chemicals that your body makes that cause swelling and irritation. It also changes the way your immune system works.
What else do I need to know about this medicine?
- When the anesthetic wears off, the area where the shot was given may be red and quite sore. It may help to put an ice pack, gel pack, or package of frozen vegetables, wrapped in a cloth, on the area every 3 to 4 hours for up to 20 minutes at a time. You can also take an anti-inflammatory medicine such as ibuprofen. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicines (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, may cause stomach bleeding and other problems. These risks increase with age. Read the label and take as directed. Unless recommended by your healthcare provider, do not take for more than 10 days.
- How well the shot works depends on how much of the medicine is given, the cause of the problem, if the shot is given in the right area, your activities, and your overall health. Quite often, the shot will start to reduce the inflammation and relieve pain within 2 to 3 days. In some cases, the cortisone will permanently relieve your symptoms. In other cases, the pain relief lasts from a couple of weeks to a year or more.
Chronic (long-term) inflammation can be caused by overuse. You can help keep the inflammation from coming back by not overusing the injured area.
- Many medicines have side effects. A side effect is a symptom or problem that is caused by the medicine. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist what side effects the medicine may cause and what you should do if you have side effects.
- Cortisone can temporarily weaken the immune system. While receiving these shots, you should not get certain vaccines. Also, avoid contact with anyone who has chickenpox or measles, especially if you have never had these diseases. Your immune system may not be strong enough to fight off the infection while you are taking cortisone.
- Cortisone can temporarily raise blood sugar in people with diabetes.
If you have any questions, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information. Be sure to keep all appointments for provider visits or tests.
