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Cortisone injections are aimed at relieving pain and inflammation in a particular area of the body.  Cortisone shots are generally given in joints, such as shoulder, wrist, ankle, hip and elbow as pain and tenderness in the seemingly small joints can be done away with this shot.  Apart from injecting into joints cortisone shots are widely used to treat inflammation that is widespread throughout the body, which could be due to allergic reactions, a bout of asthma attack or arthritis.  A cortisone shot generally consists of a local anesthetic and a corticosteroid medication.  You can have a cortisone injection at your doctor’s clinic.  However, to avoid the overuse of the medication the number of shots that one can have is restricted.  As a rule of thumb, you are not considered for cortisone injections more often than six months and physicians generally do not recommend more than three or four cortisone shots a year.  Depending on the severity of the condition, a good cortisone shot can suppress inflammation and tenderness in a particular area from six weeks to six months.

Though cortisone shots are commonly considered as pain-relieving shots, in actuality it does much more than relieving pain.  Cortisone is a type of steroid that lessens inflammation.  In most of the cases, it is the inflammation that leads to pain.  Besides, in the treatment of arthritis due to inflammation, cortisone shots are an integral part.  The following are some of the conditions in which cortisone injections are administered:

• • Bursitis
• • Gout
• • Plantar fasciitis
• • Psoriatic arthritis
• • Reactive arthritis
• • Rheumatoid arthritis
• • Tendinitis

Preparing yourself for the shot:

Primarily, you should stop taking blood thinners before scheduling yourself for the shot.  As you may be aware, blood thinners increase the risk of bleeding and bruising.  It should be noted that some dietary supplements have the properties of a blood thinner.  Feel free to seek the opinion of your doctor.

Post procedure:

At the doctor’s clinic, you may be asked to change into a medical gown.  You will then be positioned in such a way that the doctor can administer the injection precisely.  The injection site is then cleaned and an anesthetic spray may be applied to numb the area.  In some cases, an ultrasound or a kind of x-ray called fluoroscopy is used to assess the needle’s movement inside your body as it would enhance the precision of the injection.  The use of an imaging technology depends on the doctor’s preference, anatomy of the patient and the site being injected.  You may feel a slight pressure in the area where the injection is given.  Feel free to let the doctor know if you feel the injection increasingly discomforting.  The next step is to release the drug into the injection site.

Post procedure:

After the shot, it is perfectly normal to feel warmth of the chest and face.  In diabetic patients, cortisone shots are observed to temporarily spike up the glucose level.  Post procedure, you are supposed to protect the injection site for a day or two.  For instance, if you have received a shot in your knee, it is better to rest your legs and make sure you are not playing field games for a couple of days.  In order to relieve pain in the injection site, you can apply ice packs, but heat pads are a no-no.  Keep an eye out for signs of any infection.  If you feel anything untoward, call up your doctor.  However, redness and swelling may be there for over 48 hours, a temporary flare up in pain is quite normal post a cortisone shot.  For the next two days avoid, hot tub and bathtub, but showering is okay.

It may take a couple of days to feel the full benefit of a cortisone shot, until then it won’t be a bad idea to not subject your body to undue stress.  Once you started feeling pain relief, it is quite natural that you feel like doing all the activities of daily living including exercise.  However, to be on the safe side, it is advisable to resume normal daily activities gradually and increase intensity only over time.

Pros of cortisone injections:

Primary advantage of a cortisone shot is convenience; you can have an injection by just visiting your doctor’s clinic.  With cortisone shots, doctors can deliver potent medicine directly to areas of inflammation.  Quick relief from the aching pain is another advantage of cortisone shots.  In case of other anti-inflammatory drugs, there are chances of side effects such as stomach ache.  However as for cortisone shots there are no such side effects.

Are cortisone shots painful?

Like any medical shot, it may be mildly to moderately painful. Patients typically feel a pinching followed by a burning sensation that dissipates quickly.  When done by an expert doctor, you feel only a little pain.

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