How Does It Work?
Steroid injections, also known as cortisone injections, are a type of treatment commonly used to reduce inflammation and pain in a specific area of your body. They’re often used to treat a variety of conditions like arthritis, tendinitis, and bursitis, among others. We perform our steroid injection with Ultrasound Guidance to ensure the treatment gets to the precise location where it is needed.Â
These injections typically contain a corticosteroid medication and a local anesthetic. The corticosteroid is a type of steroid that’s very similar to a natural hormone produced in your body called cortisol. It’s not the same type of steroid that some athletes take illegally, which is a different class of drugs called anabolic steroids. Steroid injections work by reducing inflammation in the targeted area. Inflammation is your body’s natural response to injury or disease, but sometimes this inflammation can cause pain or damage to your tissues.
The corticosteroid medication in the injection works by damping down your body’s immune response, which can help to reduce this inflammation and provide relief from pain. The local anesthetic in the injection helps to numb the area, providing immediate pain relief. The corticosteroid, on the other hand, usually starts to work within a few days following the injection, and its effects can last several weeks or even longer.
They are usually a part of a broader treatment plan that may include physical therapy, lifestyle modifications, and other medications.Â