How to Treat Joint Pain With Cortisone

Cortisone is a steroid used to treat pain associated with inflammation of the joints. It is designed to be similar to the type of cortisone produced in the body by the adrenal gland when stress occurs. Cortisone is most commonly used in the form of injections to treat joint pain, but it may also be used in creams, lotions and oral tablets.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Use regular cortisone injections to relive the pain caused by the swelling and inflammation of your joints. Cortisone is injected directly into the joint to reduce the swelling and pressure on the nerve tissues, which usually results in pain relief. Your doctor will administer the cortisone injections on an intermittent basis or as needed, most likely performing the injections in an outpatient procedure at her office.

2. Remain as calm as possible during the procedure for the cortisone injection. The needle used for cortisone injections is usually significantly larger than a standard needle used for vaccinations so do your best to relax, take deep breaths and look away from the needle if necessary. Making sudden movements of your body during the injection could cause the doctor to make a mistake during the injection that could result in a serious injury.

3. Bring a friend or family member with you to your appointment for the cortisone injection to treat your joint pain. It is possible that the area of your body where you are injected may be sore and make it difficult to drive yourself home. It is a good idea in general to refrain from driving following the procedure to avoid any unnecessary strain on the joints.

4. Expect the relief of joint pain from cortisone injections to last for a period of several weeks in most cases. Depending on your joint pain, you may need more frequent cortisone injections. Your doctor will help you determine how often cortisone injections will be necessary and what other treatment methods may help in relieving your symptoms.

5. Be prepared for your doctor to use a local anesthetic in combination with the cortisone injection to reduce the pain of injection itself. The anesthetic will reduce some of the pain immediately but once it wears off you may need to wait a few days before the cortisone takes effect. The anesthetic also will help the doctor determine the exact area where you are in pain, which will help him find the exact location that will be appropriate for the injection.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that cortisone is not a cure for joint pain, but it may simply help reduce some of the pain temporarily.

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