Cortisone Injection

Cortisone Injection (Corticosteroid Injection)
of Soft Tissues & Joints

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?"

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.

Source: MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/cortisone_injection/article.htm