Corticosteroid Injection
What Is a Cortisone Injection?
Cortisone injections, also called cortisone shots or corticosteroid injections, are used to help reduce inflammation and relieve pain from certain joint and musculoskeletal conditions. Depending on the condition, an injection may be given in or around an affected joint or soft tissue.
Corticosteroid injections may be used as part of a broader treatment plan when pain or inflammation is affecting movement or everyday activities. Your health care provider will determine whether an injection is appropriate based on your symptoms, diagnosis and overall health.
What Does a Cortisone Shot Do?
Cortisone shots use a corticosteroid medication to help reduce inflammation that may contribute to pain in a joint or nearby soft tissue. By reducing inflammation, an injection may provide temporary symptom relief and help make movement or participation in other treatments more comfortable.
A cortisone shot manages symptoms rather than correcting the underlying cause of every joint or musculoskeletal condition. How well it works and how long relief lasts can vary depending on the condition being treated and your individual response.
What Conditions Can Cortisone Injections Treat?
Corticosteroid injections may be considered for certain conditions involving pain and inflammation. Your health care provider will determine whether an injection is appropriate based on your diagnosis and treatment plan.
How Do You Get a Cortisone Injection?
If joint or musculoskeletal pain is not improving, your health care provider can evaluate your symptoms and determine whether a corticosteroid injection may be appropriate. Your evaluation may include a physical examination and review of your medical history, previous treatment and available imaging.
During the procedure, medication is injected into or around the area being treated. The medication used and injection technique depend on the location and condition. Your care team will explain what to expect before the injection and provide instructions for care afterward.
How Often Can You Get Cortisone Shots?
There is no universal maximum number of cortisone shots that every patient can receive. How often a corticosteroid injection is appropriate depends on where the injection is given, the condition being treated, your response to previous injections and your overall treatment plan.
For injections into a joint, your health care provider may recommend waiting at least three months before another injection. Repeated injections into the same joint may carry risks, including possible cartilage damage, so injections are not typically scheduled at regular intervals without considering your individual needs.
Recommendations can differ for injections involving a tendon, bursa or spine. Your health care provider will determine whether another injection is appropriate based on the location being treated, your symptoms and how you responded to previous treatment.
What Results Can You Expect from a Cortisone Shot?
Your response to a corticosteroid injection depends on the condition being treated and other individual factors. Some people may experience temporary discomfort or increased pain around the injection site before symptoms improve.
When effective, a cortisone shot can provide temporary relief from pain and inflammation. The amount of relief and how long it lasts vary from person to person. Your health care provider can explain what to expect based on the condition being treated.
Cortisone Shot Side Effects and Safety
Corticosteroid injections are commonly used for musculoskeletal conditions, but any medical procedure can have potential side effects and risks. Your health care provider will consider your condition, medical history and previous treatments before recommending an injection.
Possible Side Effects
Side effects can vary depending on the injection and individual patient. Some people may experience a temporary increase in pain after the injection. Other possible complications can involve the injection site, surrounding tissue or the joint itself.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
Before receiving an injection, tell your health care provider about your medical conditions, medications and any previous reactions to injections. Your care team can explain the potential benefits and risks that apply to your individual treatment.
Your Cortisone Shot Questions Answered
You may feel pressure or brief discomfort when the injection is given. Some people also experience temporary soreness or an increase in pain around the injection site afterward. Your care team can explain what to expect for your specific procedure.
How long symptom relief lasts varies from person to person and depends on the condition being treated. Cortisone shots provide temporary symptom management rather than permanently correcting the underlying cause of pain or inflammation.
A cortisone shot may not provide its full effect immediately. How quickly symptoms improve can vary depending on the condition being treated and your individual response. Your health care provider can explain what to expect following your injection.
Whether you can drive after a cortisone shot depends on the location of the injection, medications used during the procedure and instructions from your care team. Ask your health care provider about driving and other activities before leaving your appointment.
Follow the aftercare instructions provided by your health care team. Recommendations about activity can vary depending on where the injection was given and the condition being treated. Ask your provider when you can safely return to exercise, work and other activities.
Yes. A cortisone shot contains a corticosteroid medication used to help reduce inflammation. Corticosteroids are different from anabolic steroids. Your health care provider can explain which medication is being used and why it may be appropriate for your condition.
Get a Treatment Plan for Your Joints
Joint pain can affect movement and everyday activities, but the right treatment depends on the cause of your symptoms. CHRISTUS Health specialists can evaluate your condition and develop an individualized treatment plan that may include physical therapy, therapeutic joint injections or other treatment options.
Learn why acting early on joint pain matters and talk with a CHRISTUS Health specialist about your treatment options.