Patient education: Steroid injection (The Basics)

What is a steroid injection? — Steroids, also known as "glucocorticoids," are medicines that help reduce swelling and pain. Doctors sometimes inject a steroid medicine into a joint or other part of the body to relieve pain. This is also sometimes called a "cortisone shot."

After the injection, the steroid starts to work within a few days.

How long does a steroid injection work? — It depends on the person and where the injection is given. For some people, the effects of a steroid injection can last for a few weeks or longer.

Sometimes, the doctor also injects a medicine called a "local anesthetic" with the steroid. This might help relieve pain until the steroid starts to work.

A steroid injection can help with pain, but it won't cure the problem that is causing the pain.

How do I prepare for a steroid injection? — The doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to do anything special to prepare. Before your procedure, your doctor will do an exam.

Your doctor will also ask you about your "health history." This involves asking you questions about any health problems you have or had in the past, past surgeries, and any medicines you take. Tell them about:

●Any medicines you are taking – This includes any prescription or "over-the-counter" medicines you use, plus any herbal supplements you take. It helps to write down and bring a list of any medicines you take, or bring a bag with all of your medicines with you.

●Any allergies you have

●Any bleeding problems you have

●Any other steroid injections you have had

Ask the doctor or nurse if you have questions or if there is anything you do not understand.

How is a steroid injection given? — When it is time for the injection:

●The doctor will clean the skin over the area where they plan to give the shot. (This is called the "injection site.")

●They might use ultrasound or a special kind of X-ray during the procedure. This is to check where to give the steroid.

●Sometimes, they might give a shot of medicine to numb the skin.

●They will inject the steroid.

●Then, they will take out the needle and cover the injection site with a bandage.

What happens after a steroid injection? — You can go home after the injection.

For the next few days, you might want to:

●Apply a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables to the injection site every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin.

●Rest the treated body part for a few days.

●Take medicines to relieve pain. Examples include acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol), ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), or naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve).

If you have diabetes, the doctor might want you to check your blood sugar levels more often for a few days. The steroid medicine might temporarily raise your blood sugar.

What are the risks of a steroid injection? — Your doctor will talk to you about all of the possible risks, and answer your questions. Possible risks include:

●Bleeding, bruising, or soreness at the injection site

●Damage to parts near the injection site – This might include cartilage damage, injury to nerves, tendon rupture, or thinning of skin and bones.

●Skin around the injection site becoming lighter or whiter in color

●Infection

●Health conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure getting worse for a few days

●Allergic reaction to the medicine

What else should I know? — Most of the time, doctors limit the total number of steroid injections to a certain area.

A steroid injection might be only 1 part of your treatment plan. Take your other medicines as instructed. Also, follow your doctor's recommendations about other treatments. These might include things like physical therapy or devices like a brace or cane.

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