It is important to understand what is involved in cortisone injection therapy and how it works. Here is what you should know.
What are Cortisone Injections?
Derived from the hormone cortisol, cortisone is a potent anti-inflammatory medication. Consisting of a mixture of cortisone medication and a local anesthetic, cortisone injections are used to reduce painful inflammation.
Cortisone injection therapy is a common treatment for alleviating pain associated with many musculoskeletal and joint-related issues, including arthritis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, trigger finger, carpal tunnel syndrome, and golfer’s elbow. It’s also used to treat shoulder and spine pain.
In addition to addressing inflammation and pain, cortisone injections can also help regulate the immune system.
What’s Involved in Cortisone Injections?
During cortisone injection therapy, your doctor will administer the shot directly into the joint, soft tissue structure, or other afflicted area. This ensures that the medicine goes exactly where it’s needed. This means it works quickly. You can expect pain relief within a few days of treatment. The anti-inflammatory effects will continue for months.
While cortisone shots can sting a little when the needle goes into your skin, they’re not very painful. While some systemic side effects can occur because the medicine enters the bloodstream, cortisone injection therapy is widely regarded as safe.
Depending on your situation, you may only need a single cortisone shot to relieve your symptoms. In the case of chronic conditions, regular steroid injections may be necessary. Follow your doctor’s advice regarding follow-up injections, as repeated shots (and higher doses) have been linked with increased side effects.
Schedule an Appointment Today
While living with chronic pain can be debilitating, it doesn’t have to be that way. Cortisone injection therapy can alleviate your pain and help you feel like yourself again.
Orthopedic Associates of Long Island (OALI) offers treatments for a breadth and depth of orthopedic issues, including joint pain and chronic pain. To learn more about whether cortisone injections are right for you, call our main office at (631) 689-6698 to schedule an appointment at one of our seven locations across Long Island, NY.
