Cortisone Injections
Clearwater, Tampa, St Petersburg, Florida
Cortisone is a type of steroid that can greatly reduce inflammation (swelling, redness and irritation). Cortisone (or a synthetic steroid) is unlike the steroids some athletes take. It will not make you gain weight or get bigger muscles. Since it is injected into an inflamed region and not taken as a pill, little of it goes beyond that region. With oral steroids, side effects can occur throughout the body. But with a steroid injection for local inflammation, you are not likely to have those side effects.
Why Have A Cortisone Injection?
Injecting cortisone quickly puts it directly into the inflamed region. If resting, wearing splints, or taking oral medication does not relieve your pain, a cortisone injection maybe appropriate. Injecting cortisone is less complex than having surgery, and cortisone often provides the lasting relief that can help you get out and enjoy life again.
What does a Cortisone Injection Treat?
Injecting cortisone can relieve pain for anything from a sports injury to arthritis. You may have an injection for treating inflammation, a sprain, or other problems. Over the course of treatment, the same region may or may not be injected more than a few times.
Your Injection Experience
Being injected with cortisone is simple and does not take long. You will be asked questions about your health, because certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, can be affected by cortisone.
The Injection Procedure
Your skin will be cleaned with a sterile disinfectant at the injection site. Next, you will be injected with local anesthetics (for short-term pain relief) and cortisone. It may take a moment for the doctor to get the needle in the precise region. Once you receive the injection you will then be ready to go home.
The Next Day or Two
Some patients feel more pain after being injected. This is normal, and it will go away soon. Ice the injected area on and off for a couple of hours and rest for the first day or two. It is not necessary to stay in bed, but avoid tasks that may strain the injured region.
After the injection, make sure you do not injure the treated region. Stay active – enjoy a walk or some other mild activity. Just be careful not to strain the region that gave you trouble. Look forward to feeling better.
Risks and Complications
As with any medical procedure, being injected with cortisone has certain risks and possible complications. These include:
- Briefly increased pain
- Changes in blood sugar levels
- Ruptured tendon (tissue that connects muscle to bone) (very rare)
If you continue to suffer with chronic pain and would like to explore if cortisone injections are an appropriate treatment option, contact Dr. Lox for an appointment at 727-462-5582 . Since 1990, Dennis M. Lox, M.D has applied his personal interests in sports medicine, cutting-edge regenerative medicine and chronic pain management to helping patients increase their quality of life.
Dennis M. Lox, MD, and the Florida Spine Center serve patients within the greater Tampa Bay area, including Clearwater, Tampa and St. Petersburg, as well as all of Florida and the US.
All statements, information or opinions provided by this website are provided for educational purposes only. We do not diagnose nor treat through this website or by telephone. As you consider any treatment, discuss them with your physician.
