Local cortisone injections are injections directly into a joint, also known as
intra-articular steroids or local cortisone injection.
Cortisone’s effect when injected
directly into or around a joint It can reduce inflammation, redness
and swelling. This results in pain relief within 48 - 72 hours.
Advertisement
Cortisone is not a painkiller. Your
doctor might inject a local anaesthetic as well as the steroid directly into
your inflamed joint.
Name the cortisone used in a local
injection Preparations of methylprednisolone, triamcinolone or
beta-methasone can be used. Read more about suitable corticosteroids for
intra-articular injections in joint disease.
Who can benefit from a local steroid
injection? An intra-articular cortisone injection is given to reduce
inflammation and swelling within a joint. A peri-articular injection is
given to reduce pain and inflammation near a joint. For example, if you have
a tennis elbow your doctor may inject the tender area. People with inflamed
joints not responding on analgesics or NSAID’s. Knees, shoulders, elbows,
wrists, and ankles can be safely injected in a doctor's consulting room. Injection of the hip joint is usually done in a sterile theatre.
What are the possible
side-effects? 1. Intra-articular injections can produce a
crystal arthropathy that may worsen the prognosis of the joint
disease. 2. Repeated doses can increase the risk of catabolic
degenerative changes in the specific joints. Joint damage might follow after an
intra-articular injection. 3. In rare occasions the injection might
introduce infection into the joint, leading to more pain.
4. Occasionally with peri-articular injections some thinning or loss of
colour of the skin may occur at the injection site.
Who should not get local cortisone
injections? People with infected joints or infective disease should
not be injected with cortisone. Injections into joints previously infected
should also be avoided.
What should I do after the injection?
Weight-bearing joints should be rested for the first 1-2 days after
an intra-articular injection.
Bookmark with:
What are social bookmarks?