Shoreline Orthopaedic |
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 patient education  What is cortisone? Cortisone is a steroid, and steroids are normally occurring hormones present in humans.
Hormones (such as estrogen and androgen) are also steroids. Cortisone is not the same type of
steroid that some athletes abuse to enhance athletic performance.
It controls and assists normal body functions. When used in orthopaedics to treat tendonitis,
bursitis, and arthritis, it is a potent local anti-inflammatory drug.
When used in large doses by mouth for a long time, it can cause osteoporosis, hunch back, moon
face, hypertension, diabetes and cataracts.
Emphatically, NO.
As with any injection, you may feel pain. Use of an ice pack on the injection site for a few hours after the injection should help minimize any discomfort you may feel. Local swelling from the medication may cause slight discomfort for a day. Resting after the injection will usually hasten improvement. Avoid activities that put stress
on the joint for the first two days.
Three to four a year without any dangerous side effects.
Occasionally, a patient may have a crystal reaction which is a two to three day, painful bur self-limited problem. A crystal reaction can be treated by ice and pain medicine. Rarely an infection can occur with any injection. If you develop warmth or redness, you should
contact your physician.
It's like a miracle for many sufferers. Bursitis and tendonitis are often cured with one or two
shots of cortisone. Mild joint arthritis or inflammation is often made asymptomatic (symptom-free)
for months or even years. For severe arthritis, results can be less predictable or dramatic.
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