Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Painful Are Cortisone Shots?Managing PainWhat to ExpectSide EffectsWhen to Call a Healthcare Provider
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Painful Are Cortisone Shots?
Managing Pain
What to Expect
Side Effects
When to Call a Healthcare Provider
If you have an upcomingcortisone injectionto help with pain and swelling due toinflammation, you may wonder if it will hurt. You may also want to know if you can do anything to make this procedure more comfortable.
Cortisone shots can cause some pain, but it varies depending on where on your body they’re given.
This article explores what happens during a cortisone shot, how painful it may be, and how long the effects might last. It will also discuss ways to manage the injection pain.
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Shots vary in the amount of discomfort they may cause. Some factors that impact the level of pain a shot may cause include the location of the injection and the size of the needle. Not surprisingly, larger needles tend to cause more pain than smaller ones.
What Happens When You Get a Cortisone Shot?
In the hours immediately after the shot, pain may seem to decrease. This may be due to the numbing medication used during the injection. Pain relief is usually felt about a week after the cortisone shot.
Can You Drive After a Cortisone Shot?A study in men who had knee injections showed no difference in braking response time after a cortisone shot.However, if you experience pain after your shot, or if you are sedated for an epidural steroid injection, you should not drive. Speak to your healthcare provider to make a plan for your specific scenario.
Can You Drive After a Cortisone Shot?
A study in men who had knee injections showed no difference in braking response time after a cortisone shot.However, if you experience pain after your shot, or if you are sedated for an epidural steroid injection, you should not drive. Speak to your healthcare provider to make a plan for your specific scenario.
Where Do Cortisone Shots Hurt the Most?
Certain cortisone injections will hurt more than others based on their location. Injections into the palm of the hand and sole can be especially painful. Injections tend to hurt most when the cortisone is delivered to a small space.
Managing Pain from a Cortisone Shot
If you’re worried about the pain from an injection, let your healthcare provider know. They may be able to reduce your discomfort.
What to Expect After a Cortisone Shot
While you may feel pain during the actual injection, there can also be discomfort afterward. One of the most common side effects is called acortisone flare, which is when pain increases in the area being treated. The cortisone flare may occur within hours or days after receiving a cortisone shot.Some studies show that about one in five patients will experience a pain flare.
While the pain will often decrease on its own, there are some effective ways to reduce the symptoms more quickly, including:
You should rest for one to two days after an injection and gradually increase activity.The length of time it takes before a cortisone injection starts relieving pain can vary depending on where the injection is located, but it can be anywhere from three to five days to up to a week.Keep in mind that some individuals may need just one shot to experience relief, while others will need multiple injections.
The pain relief experienced after a cortisone shot can last anywhere from a few weeks to indefinitely, depending on factors such as the underlying cause of pain, the location of the cortisone shot, and what other therapies, if any, are being done at the same time. According to one study, cortisone shots for TMJ due to rheumatoid arthritis last around three weeks.Injections for other conditions can last up to 12 weeks.Ask your healthcare provider how long your cortisone injections might last for your particular condition.
Other Side Effects From Cortisone Shots
Cortisone shots can have other side effects besides a flare-up in pain. They include:
Most side effects are not serious. More serious side effects like bone density changes and adrenal gland problems are rare and mostly tend to occur when people get too many cortisone shots.
Infectionsare uncommon following a cortisone shot. However, call your healthcare provider if you develop ahigh feverover 100.4 F, have severe pain, increased swelling, a bloody discharge, or a deepred or purplish skin color.
If you are experiencing a significant increase in pain after your cortisone injection, ask your provider for strategies to mitigate pain and make sure everything is as it should be. Speak with your healthcare provider before taking an NSAID, especially if you are currently taking other over-the-counter or prescription medication.
Summary
Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory medication that may be given as an injection to treat pain and swelling. The size of the needle and the location of the injection can impact the level of pain and discomfort these shots may cause.
Keep in mind that there are ways to reduce the pain associated with these shots, and it’s best to speak with your doctor before the procedure if you’re worried about it.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.ElMeligie MM, Allam NM, Yehia RM, Ashour AA.Systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided versus landmark corticosteroid injection in the treatment of shoulder pain: An update.J Ultrasound. 2022;26(3):593-604. doi:10.1007/s40477-022-00684-1Daniels EW, Cole D, Jacobs B, Phillips SF.Existing evidence on ultrasound-guided injections in sports medicine.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(2):2325967118756576. doi:10.1177/2325967118756576Johns Hopkins Medicine.Injectable corticosteroids.Hospital for Special Surgery.What you should know about cortisone shots.Cassidy JT, McClean A, Hurley ET, Cashman JP.Is it safe for patients to drive after intra-articular knee injection?Knee. 2020;27(3):690-694. doi:10.1016/j.knee.2020.02.020Veritas Health.Cortisone injection risks and side effects.Wagner RD, Kilmartin C, Behar BJ, Chhabra AB, Freilich AM, DeGeorge BR.Is this going to hurt, doc? Predicting pain with corticosteroid injections for upper extremity conditions.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open. 2023;11(6):e5017. doi:10.1177/19417381221076470McMorrow K, Allahabadi S, Frazier L, Quigley R, Serrano B, Cole BJ.One to two days of rest is recommended before returning to sport after intra-articular corticosteroid injection in the high-level athlete.Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2023;5(5):100763. doi:10.1016/j.asmr.2023.100763Seigerman D, McEntee RM, Matzon J, et al.Time to improvement after corticosteroid injection for trigger finger.Cureus. 2021;13(8):e16856. doi:10.7759/cureus.16856American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Cortisone shot.Kroese JM, Kopp S, Lobbezoo F, Alstergren P.Corticosteroid injections in the temporomandibular joint temporarily alleviate pain and improve function in rheumatoid arthritis.Clin Rheumatol. 2021;40(12):4853-4860. doi:10.1007/s10067-021-05860-yAng TWA.The effectiveness of corticosteroid injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.Singapore Med J. 2015;56(8):423-432. doi:10.11622/smedj.2015118
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.ElMeligie MM, Allam NM, Yehia RM, Ashour AA.Systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided versus landmark corticosteroid injection in the treatment of shoulder pain: An update.J Ultrasound. 2022;26(3):593-604. doi:10.1007/s40477-022-00684-1Daniels EW, Cole D, Jacobs B, Phillips SF.Existing evidence on ultrasound-guided injections in sports medicine.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(2):2325967118756576. doi:10.1177/2325967118756576Johns Hopkins Medicine.Injectable corticosteroids.Hospital for Special Surgery.What you should know about cortisone shots.Cassidy JT, McClean A, Hurley ET, Cashman JP.Is it safe for patients to drive after intra-articular knee injection?Knee. 2020;27(3):690-694. doi:10.1016/j.knee.2020.02.020Veritas Health.Cortisone injection risks and side effects.Wagner RD, Kilmartin C, Behar BJ, Chhabra AB, Freilich AM, DeGeorge BR.Is this going to hurt, doc? Predicting pain with corticosteroid injections for upper extremity conditions.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open. 2023;11(6):e5017. doi:10.1177/19417381221076470McMorrow K, Allahabadi S, Frazier L, Quigley R, Serrano B, Cole BJ.One to two days of rest is recommended before returning to sport after intra-articular corticosteroid injection in the high-level athlete.Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2023;5(5):100763. doi:10.1016/j.asmr.2023.100763Seigerman D, McEntee RM, Matzon J, et al.Time to improvement after corticosteroid injection for trigger finger.Cureus. 2021;13(8):e16856. doi:10.7759/cureus.16856American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Cortisone shot.Kroese JM, Kopp S, Lobbezoo F, Alstergren P.Corticosteroid injections in the temporomandibular joint temporarily alleviate pain and improve function in rheumatoid arthritis.Clin Rheumatol. 2021;40(12):4853-4860. doi:10.1007/s10067-021-05860-yAng TWA.The effectiveness of corticosteroid injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.Singapore Med J. 2015;56(8):423-432. doi:10.11622/smedj.2015118
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
ElMeligie MM, Allam NM, Yehia RM, Ashour AA.Systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided versus landmark corticosteroid injection in the treatment of shoulder pain: An update.J Ultrasound. 2022;26(3):593-604. doi:10.1007/s40477-022-00684-1Daniels EW, Cole D, Jacobs B, Phillips SF.Existing evidence on ultrasound-guided injections in sports medicine.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(2):2325967118756576. doi:10.1177/2325967118756576Johns Hopkins Medicine.Injectable corticosteroids.Hospital for Special Surgery.What you should know about cortisone shots.Cassidy JT, McClean A, Hurley ET, Cashman JP.Is it safe for patients to drive after intra-articular knee injection?Knee. 2020;27(3):690-694. doi:10.1016/j.knee.2020.02.020Veritas Health.Cortisone injection risks and side effects.Wagner RD, Kilmartin C, Behar BJ, Chhabra AB, Freilich AM, DeGeorge BR.Is this going to hurt, doc? Predicting pain with corticosteroid injections for upper extremity conditions.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open. 2023;11(6):e5017. doi:10.1177/19417381221076470McMorrow K, Allahabadi S, Frazier L, Quigley R, Serrano B, Cole BJ.One to two days of rest is recommended before returning to sport after intra-articular corticosteroid injection in the high-level athlete.Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2023;5(5):100763. doi:10.1016/j.asmr.2023.100763Seigerman D, McEntee RM, Matzon J, et al.Time to improvement after corticosteroid injection for trigger finger.Cureus. 2021;13(8):e16856. doi:10.7759/cureus.16856American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Cortisone shot.Kroese JM, Kopp S, Lobbezoo F, Alstergren P.Corticosteroid injections in the temporomandibular joint temporarily alleviate pain and improve function in rheumatoid arthritis.Clin Rheumatol. 2021;40(12):4853-4860. doi:10.1007/s10067-021-05860-yAng TWA.The effectiveness of corticosteroid injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.Singapore Med J. 2015;56(8):423-432. doi:10.11622/smedj.2015118
ElMeligie MM, Allam NM, Yehia RM, Ashour AA.Systematic review and meta-analysis on the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided versus landmark corticosteroid injection in the treatment of shoulder pain: An update.J Ultrasound. 2022;26(3):593-604. doi:10.1007/s40477-022-00684-1
Daniels EW, Cole D, Jacobs B, Phillips SF.Existing evidence on ultrasound-guided injections in sports medicine.Orthop J Sports Med. 2018;6(2):2325967118756576. doi:10.1177/2325967118756576
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Injectable corticosteroids.
Hospital for Special Surgery.What you should know about cortisone shots.
Cassidy JT, McClean A, Hurley ET, Cashman JP.Is it safe for patients to drive after intra-articular knee injection?Knee. 2020;27(3):690-694. doi:10.1016/j.knee.2020.02.020
Veritas Health.Cortisone injection risks and side effects.
Wagner RD, Kilmartin C, Behar BJ, Chhabra AB, Freilich AM, DeGeorge BR.Is this going to hurt, doc? Predicting pain with corticosteroid injections for upper extremity conditions.Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open. 2023;11(6):e5017. doi:10.1177/19417381221076470
McMorrow K, Allahabadi S, Frazier L, Quigley R, Serrano B, Cole BJ.One to two days of rest is recommended before returning to sport after intra-articular corticosteroid injection in the high-level athlete.Arthrosc Sports Med Rehabil. 2023;5(5):100763. doi:10.1016/j.asmr.2023.100763
Seigerman D, McEntee RM, Matzon J, et al.Time to improvement after corticosteroid injection for trigger finger.Cureus. 2021;13(8):e16856. doi:10.7759/cureus.16856
American Society for Surgery of the Hand.Cortisone shot.
Kroese JM, Kopp S, Lobbezoo F, Alstergren P.Corticosteroid injections in the temporomandibular joint temporarily alleviate pain and improve function in rheumatoid arthritis.Clin Rheumatol. 2021;40(12):4853-4860. doi:10.1007/s10067-021-05860-y
Ang TWA.The effectiveness of corticosteroid injection in the treatment of plantar fasciitis.Singapore Med J. 2015;56(8):423-432. doi:10.11622/smedj.2015118
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