Cortisone Injection

Cortisone Injection (Corticosteroid Injection)
of Soft Tissues & Joints

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Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• What are corticosteroids?
• Is a cortisone injection merely a pain reliever or temporary remedy?
• For what conditions are cortisone injections used?
• What are the advantages of cortisone injections?
• What are the disadvantages and side effects of cortisone injections?
• Are there special advantages in using cortisone injections for joint inflammation (arthritis)?
• Are there special side effects that can occur with cortisone joint injections?
• How are cortisone injections of soft tissues given?
• How are cortisone injections of a joint given?
• "I've always heard that cortisone injections are painful? Are they?"
• Patient Discussions: Cortisone Injection - Describe Your Experience

What are corticosteroids?

Corticosteroids are a class of medications that are related to cortisone. Medications of this class reduce inflammation powerfully. They are used to reduce inflammation caused by a variety of diseases. Cortisone is one type of corticosteroid. For the purpose of this review, "cortisone" is used interchangeably with "corticosteroid."

Corticosteroids can be taken by mouth, inhaled, applied to the skin, given intravenously (into a vein), or injected into the tissues of the body. Examples of corticosteroids include prednisone and prednisolone (given by mouth), Solu-Medrol (given intravenously), as well as triamcinolone, kenalog, celestone, Depo-Medrol, and others (given by injection into body tissues). This article describes the role of cortisone injections into the soft tissues and joints.

Is a cortisone injection merely a pain reliever or temporary remedy?

Corticosteroids are not pain relievers. They reduce inflammation. When corticosteroids relieve pain, it is because they have reduced inflammation.

While the inflammation for which corticosteroids are given can recur, corticosteroid injections can provide months to years of relief when used properly. These injections also can cure diseases (permanently resolve them) when the problem is tissue inflammation localized to a small area, such as bursitis and tendonitis.

For what conditions are cortisone injections used?

Cortisone injections can be used to treat the inflammation of small areas of the body (local injections), or they can be used to treat inflammation that is widespread throughout the body (systemic injections). Examples of conditions for which local cortisone injections are used include inflammation of a bursa (bursitis), a tendon (tendonitis), and a joint (arthritis). Systemic corticosteroid injections are used for conditions such as allergic reactions, asthma, and rheumatoid arthritis affecting many joints.

Cortisone Injection - Describe Your Experience

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

Please describe your experience with a Cortisone Injection.

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