- Cortisone shots are sometimes a treatment option for the following conditions: bursitis, frozen shoulder, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome, trochanteric hip, De Quervain's tenosynovitis, myofascial pain syndrome, lupus, osteoarthritis, Morton's neuroma, plantar fasciitis, sarcoidosis, tendonitis, pseudogout, reactive arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, tennis elbow and rotator-cuff injuries.
- Cortisone shots are usually limited because of potential side effects and complications. If you have a noninflammatory condition, shots will probably be limited to no more than four per joint. If you have a chronic inflammatory condition such as rheumatoid arthritis, shots are usually limited to one per month.
- Soon after the shot, you may feel some slight pain and possibly stiffness around the site of the injection. Ice packs may be applied to the affected area to alleviate pain. For a day or two, you should try to rest the joint involved as much as possible. Contact your doctor if signs of infection occur. Signs of infection include redness, swelling and increased pain.
- While pain in the joint may initially increase after an injection, the pain and inflammation should begin decreasing approximately 48 hours after the injection. Cortisone shots work by functioning in the body just as the cortisone and hydrocortisone hormones produced by the adrenal glands. Corticosteriods help to regulate immune system function and to control inflammation within the body.
- Cortisone shots may cause some serious side effects. In some cases, the shots may cause the bone nearby the injection to deteriorate and even possibly die. Also, cortisone shots can cause nerve damage, weakened tendons, ruptured tendons and joint infections. In addition, the skin at the injection site may also be affected. The skin may thin or lighten in response to cortisone injections.
