Cortisone Injection (Corticosteroid Injection)
of Soft Tissues & Joints
Medical Author: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
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.
Next: What are the advantages of cortisone injections? »
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