How does cortisone shot work

A cortisone shot reduces levels of molecules that stimulate inflammation. This can improve joint function and reduce stimulation of your nerves which leads to pain. These shots often take effect within a few days , though some can be effective within a few hours, and can provide pain relief for up to several months depending on:. Cortisone and other corticosteroid shots are used to treat a wide variety of inflammatory conditions involving joints, muscles, or connective tissues.

Corticosteroid injections can cause short-term improvements in frozen shoulder and shoulder impingements. A study in American Family Physician found that over a period of 8 to 16 weeks, corticosteroid injections are more effective for managing frozen shoulder than oral corticosteroids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs , and physical therapy.

Cortisone shots are often used to treat knee or hip osteoarthritis. Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of your median nerve that often causes tingling or pain in your hand.

A review of studies suggests that corticosteroids can lead to short-term relief in about 45 out of people. Trigger finger is the locking of a finger caused by inflammation of the tendons. The study mentioned earlier found 54 to 86 percent cure rates after corticosteroid injections. Bursitis is inflammation of small fluid-filled sacs called bursae found around your joints. Cortisone injections may help reduce this inflammation temporarily. Corticosteroid injections for the bursa around the head of your femur provide greater pain relief at 6 weeks and 3 months than physical therapy and pain relievers, but not after one year.

According to a review of studies , the amount of cortisone that gets absorbed into your blood seems to vary significantly between people. But both joint and epidural injections can have effects that last for weeks. The most common side effects of steroid injections include:.

Your insurance may cover some or all of the cost. The exact cost that you pay out of pocket for a cortisone shot varies widely between clinics and depends on:. Supplementary treatment options vary depending on your particular issue. Some options may include:. A doctor may be able to recommend alternative treatments for your condition. Some patients react to the injection with what is called a cortisone flare.

A cortisone flare is a condition where the injected cortisone forms crystals. This can cause a brief period of pain that is worse than before the shot. The discomfort usually lasts a day or two. It can be treated by icing and resting the injected area. Other side effects are possible but uncommon. These could include skin color changes, increased blood sugar, allergic reactions, and more.

Most patients find cortisone helpful in treating orthopedic conditions, but it doesn't work for everyone. Cortisone shots can reduce inflammation, a common cause of joint and tendon pain. For many people, relief begins immediately, but the length of time it takes to experience pain relief may vary from days to weeks. If your healthcare provider mixes a local numbing agent in with the cortisone, you could feel relief immediately.

Relief may also be quicker if your doctor drains fluid from a swollen joint. On the other hand, your pain could temporarily get worse if you have a reaction called a cortisone flare. If that happens, ice and rest will help. If you haven't experienced pain relief, it's possible you haven't given the shot long enough to take effect.

It could also mean the cortisone isn't relieving enough of the inflammation. After a few weeks without relief, call your healthcare provider to see what the next steps should be in your treatment plan.

Dealing with joint pain can cause major disruptions to your day. Sign up and learn how to better take care of your body. Click below and just hit send! The lipid bilayer provides a site for cortisone crystallization at high cortisone concentrations. Sci Rep. In vivo toxicity of local anesthetics and corticosteroids on supraspinatus tenocyte cell viability and metabolism. Iowa Orthop J. Current interventions in the management of knee osteoarthritis.

J Pharm Bioallied Sci. The incidence of flare reaction and short-term outcome following steroid injection in the shoulder. Shoulder Elbow. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for VerywellHealth. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. These choices will be signaled globally to our partners and will not affect browsing data.

We and our partners process data to: Actively scan device characteristics for identification. I Accept Show Purposes. Side Effects of Cortisone Shots. Was this page helpful? It depends on the condition. Many times, with a simple inflammatory condition a single injection can cure the problem. Sometimes even temporary relief is helpful. Physical therapy is often facilitated by reducing or eliminating inflammation and pain with a cortisone injection.

This allows the patient to work on the stretching, strengthening and conditioning necessary to rehabilitate an injury. Obviously, an injection can not be expected to cure a chronic arthritic condition. An injection can, however, certainly give an extended period of symptom relief. This depends upon the condition and structure in question. With an arthritic joint, there are no specific limitations on cortisone.

For example, an arthritic knee can be re-injected as long as it gives reasonable relief. Generally we do not like to give it more often than every few months.

Basically, it is either going to work or not work. If it becomes apparent it only gives a relatively short and temporary effect, we will usually recommend some other type of treatment after several injections. Short term: when given by mouth, cortisone very rarely causes any problems.

It does not cause drowsiness and a person rarely feels anything other than relief of their pain symptoms. Sometimes patients will complain of a "flushing" sensation. Cortisone can cause loss of sugar control in diabetics, and stomach or gastrointestinal upset can also occur.

Remember that cortisone is often given to counteract reactions, so it is quite rare that it causes a reaction. Long term: Too much cortisone over a long period of time can cause organ and tissue damage. That is why a standard course of oral cortisone only lasts a little over a week. Too many cortisone injections can cause tissue damage or tendon rupture. Again it depends upon the location of the injection. Multiple tennis elbow injections are very safe, but only a limited number of trigger injections are advisable.

Other areas such as Achilles tendons are rarely injected for fear of tendon rupture.