Can Steroid Shots Help Osteoarthritis?
The injection of corticosteroids into the spaces between joints affected by osteoarthritis has proven to provide short-term relief from the pain of this condition. Corticosteroids are similar to cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands, which are above the kidneys.
Dr. Clement J. Michet Jr. of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, claims that periodic steroid injections can ease the painful symptoms of arthritis for periods of "several weeks or even months at a time." This form of treatment is purely palliative, however, and in no way reduces the underlying arthritis present in affected joints.
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What Is Osteoarthritis?
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The Arthritis Foundation points out that osteoarthritis, which also is known as degenerative joint disease and osteoarthroses, is the most widely diagnosed form of arthritis, affecting nearly 27 million Americans and millions of others worldwide. Osteoarthritis is marked by a breakdown of the cartilage in a joint, which "causes the bones to rub against each other, causing stiffness, pain and loss of movement in the joint," according to the foundation.
How Corticosteroids Work
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Because corticosteroids are chemically similar to the hormones the body produces--specifically, cortisone and hydrocortisone--they produce similar effects. The idea is to get the levels of the corticosteroids to outpace the levels naturally occurring in the body. When this happens, inflammation is drastically reduced.
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Why Opt for Injections?
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Many patients receive satisfactory pain relief from oral medications such as analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Naproxen sodium, aspirin and ibuprofen are over-the-counter NSAIDs. However, Dr. Michet notes that these oral medications have side effects of their own and often prove less effective in reducing pain after long periods of use. Patients who are experiencing unwanted side effects or little or no relief from oral medications often turn to steroid injections as an alternative.
Limit Injections
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If other measures, including both oral medications and physical therapy, have failed to produce adequate pain relief, patients may want to give steroidal injections a try. Dr. Michet says that injections of cortisone---at levels far higher than that produced naturally---can sometimes provide relief from pain for as long as six months. He suggests, however, an absolute limit of four injections a year in any given joint. More than that could risk damage to joints.
Side Effects
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As with virtually any medication, steroid injections have certain risks, both short term and long term. Among the commonly observed short-term effects are fluid retention, insomnia, mood swings, nervousness, weight gain and slow wound healing. Less common short-term side effects include acne, glaucoma, muscle weakness and stomach ulcers. Long-term side effects include osteoporosis, cataracts and damage to hip, knee or shoulder joints, although cataracts and joint damage are rare.
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