INFO - Treatment with steroid injections / cortisone shots

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About.com: Orthopedics

Cortisone Shots

Treatment with steroid injections

Last updated 05 Aug 2007

Excerpt:

Are there side effects?

Yes. Probably the most common side-effect is a 'cortisone flare,' a

condition where the injected cortisone crystallizes and can cause a brief

period of pain worse than before the shot. This usually lasts a day or two

and is best treated by icing the injected area. Another common side-effect

is whitening of the skin where the injection is given. This is only a

concern in people with darker skin, and is not harmful, but patients should

be aware of this.

Other side-effects of cortisone injections, although rare, can be quite

serious. The most concerning is infection, especially if the injection is

given into a joint. The best prevention is careful injection technique, with

sterilization of the skin using iodine and/or alcohol. Also, patients with

diabetes may have a transient increase in their blood sugar which they

should watch for closely.

Because cortisone is a naturally occurring substance, true allergic

responses to the injected substance do not occur. However, it is possible to

be allergic to other aspects of the injection, most commonly the betadine

many physicians use to sterilize the skin.

Can I get a cortisone injection more than once?

Yes. There is no rule as to how many cortisone injections can be given.

Often physicians do not want to give more than three, but there is not

really a specific limit to the number of shots. However, there are some

practical limitations. If a cortisone injection wears off quickly or does

not help the problem, then repeating it may not be worthwhile. Also, animal

studies have shown effects of weakening of tendons and softening of

cartilage with cortisone injections. Repeated cortisone injections multiply

these effects and increase the risk of potential problems. This is the

reason many physicians limit the number of injections they offer to a

patient.

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/paindrugs/a/cortisone.htm

Not an MD

[Guest guest]

Yikes, then I don't know if it would really be worth getting the shot of a

little relief.

How many of you all would get them again?

Joy

<Matsumura_Clan@...> wrote:

About.com: Orthopedics

Cortisone Shots

Treatment with steroid injections

Last updated 05 Aug 2007

Excerpt:

Are there side effects?

Yes. Probably the most common side-effect is a 'cortisone flare,' a

condition where the injected cortisone crystallizes and can cause a brief

period of pain worse than before the shot. This usually lasts a day or two

and is best treated by icing the injected area. Another common side-effect

is whitening of the skin where the injection is given. This is only a

concern in people with darker skin, and is not harmful, but patients should

be aware of this.

Other side-effects of cortisone injections, although rare, can be quite

serious. The most concerning is infection, especially if the injection is

given into a joint. The best prevention is careful injection technique, with

sterilization of the skin using iodine and/or alcohol. Also, patients with

diabetes may have a transient increase in their blood sugar which they

should watch for closely.

Because cortisone is a naturally occurring substance, true allergic

responses to the injected substance do not occur. However, it is possible to

be allergic to other aspects of the injection, most commonly the betadine

many physicians use to sterilize the skin.

Can I get a cortisone injection more than once?

Yes. There is no rule as to how many cortisone injections can be given.

Often physicians do not want to give more than three, but there is not

really a specific limit to the number of shots. However, there are some

practical limitations. If a cortisone injection wears off quickly or does

not help the problem, then repeating it may not be worthwhile. Also, animal

studies have shown effects of weakening of tendons and softening of

cartilage with cortisone injections. Repeated cortisone injections multiply

these effects and increase the risk of potential problems. This is the

reason many physicians limit the number of injections they offer to a

patient.

http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/paindrugs/a/cortisone.htm

Not an MD

[Guest guest]

Did a search and found an answer, thought I would share.

--- In , " " <Matsumura_Clan@...>

wrote:

>

> About.com: Orthopedics

> Cortisone Shots

> Treatment with steroid injections

> Last updated 05 Aug 2007

>

>

>

> Excerpt:

>

>

> Are there side effects?

>

> Yes. Probably the most common side-effect is a 'cortisone flare,' a

> condition where the injected cortisone crystallizes and can cause a

brief

> period of pain worse than before the shot. This usually lasts a day

or two

> and is best treated by icing the injected area. Another common

side-effect

> is whitening of the skin where the injection is given. This is only a

> concern in people with darker skin, and is not harmful, but patients

should

> be aware of this.

>

> Other side-effects of cortisone injections, although rare, can be quite

> serious. The most concerning is infection, especially if the

injection is

> given into a joint. The best prevention is careful injection

technique, with

> sterilization of the skin using iodine and/or alcohol. Also,

patients with

> diabetes may have a transient increase in their blood sugar which they

> should watch for closely.

>

> Because cortisone is a naturally occurring substance, true allergic

> responses to the injected substance do not occur. However, it is

possible to

> be allergic to other aspects of the injection, most commonly the

betadine

> many physicians use to sterilize the skin.

>

>

> Can I get a cortisone injection more than once?

>

> Yes. There is no rule as to how many cortisone injections can be given.

> Often physicians do not want to give more than three, but there is not

> really a specific limit to the number of shots. However, there are some

> practical limitations. If a cortisone injection wears off quickly or

does

> not help the problem, then repeating it may not be worthwhile. Also,

animal

> studies have shown effects of weakening of tendons and softening of

> cartilage with cortisone injections. Repeated cortisone injections

multiply

> these effects and increase the risk of potential problems. This is the

> reason many physicians limit the number of injections they offer to a

> patient.

>

>

> http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/paindrugs/a/cortisone.htm

>

>

>

>

> Not an MD

>