Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow It WorksEffectivenessSide EffectsHow Many Can You Have?
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How It Works
Effectiveness
Side Effects
How Many Can You Have?
Getting too many cortisone shots can cause serious problems like damaged cartilage and bone death. It can also make it harder to manage other conditions such as diabetes.
This article explains how cortisone shots work and their overall effectiveness in reducing joint pain and inflammation. It also outlines the maximum number of shots a person should receive per year and the risks of overuse.
Verywell/Emily Roberts
How Cortisone Injections Work
The goal of a cortisone injection is to improve pain and inflammation. Cortisone does not treat the underlying condition; it only treats the symptoms.
Cortisone injections are used to treat many joint problems, including:
By decreasing inflammation in a joint space with cortisone, pain and swelling can be reduced and joint mobility can be improved. Shots given into a joint space are referred to as intra-articular injections.
Are Cortisone Injections Bad for You?
Cortisone shots are effective for treating pain; they provide immediate relief that can last for months. This doesn’t mean, however, that the underlying condition has also improved.
With knee osteoarthritis, for example, the damage to the joint is ongoing and doesn’t stop simply because you feel no pain. In fact, because you feel good, you may place undue stress on the joint and add to the existing damage.
For pain and inflammation from an injury, a cortisone injection may help you feel more comfortable while your body heals, but the effects are temporary. This is why they are better suited for treating injury rather than long-term conditions.
For example, studies have found that corticosteroid injections given to treattennis elboware effective for up to six weeks, but that symptoms will often recur within a year. Additionally, many people report side effects like pain and skin atrophy following a cortisone injection.
Cortisone injections can provide rapid, effective relief of joint pain and stiffness, but they are not considered a long-term solution.
Cortisone shots do not help every orthopedic problem. Those with acute inflammation (meaning inflammation that is rapidly developing and recent) tend to respond well to intra-articular cortisone. Those with chronic inflammation (inflammation that is persistent and long-lasting) may find better, more lasting relief with physical therapy and other treatments.
Injections to Relieve Knee Pain
Cortisone shots can have serious side effects, and the risk of side effects increases when you get cortisone injections regularly. Some of these side effects include:
Because of its hormone-like effects, cortisone can also make conditions likediabetes more difficult to manage.
What is a Cortisone Flare? Causes, Side Effects, Coping
How Many Cortisone Shots Can You Have?
There is no hard-and-fast rule about the number of cortisone shots a person can receive in a lifetime. But generally speaking, healthcare providers do not like giving repeated cortisone shots to the same joint — such as the knee or the back — again and again.
There are exceptions to the rule. For example, if someone with severe knee arthritis is advised to delayknee replacement surgery, additional shots may be reasonable. This is because knee replacements are typically delayed for as long as possible to ensure they last for the duration of the person’s life.
On the other hand, if multiple shots are needed because the pain relief is inadequate, giving additional shots will not likely be of any real benefit. If anything, the shots may cause more harm (in terms of damage to cartilage and bone) than good. Other treatments may be far more effective.
Because of these and other concerns, you should listen to your healthcare provider if they suggest there are better options for you than cortisone. The treatments may not provide immediate relief, but they can possibly preserve the function of your joint more effectively.
Summary
2 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.Daftary AR, Karnik AS.Perspectives in ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal interventions.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2015;25(3):246-260. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.161445Hsieh LF, Kuo YC, Lee CC, Liu YF, Liu YC, Huang V.Comparison between corticosteroid and lidocaine injection in the treatment of tennis elbow: A randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial.Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;97(2):83-89. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000814
2 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.Daftary AR, Karnik AS.Perspectives in ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal interventions.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2015;25(3):246-260. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.161445Hsieh LF, Kuo YC, Lee CC, Liu YF, Liu YC, Huang V.Comparison between corticosteroid and lidocaine injection in the treatment of tennis elbow: A randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial.Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;97(2):83-89. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000814
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.
Daftary AR, Karnik AS.Perspectives in ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal interventions.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2015;25(3):246-260. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.161445Hsieh LF, Kuo YC, Lee CC, Liu YF, Liu YC, Huang V.Comparison between corticosteroid and lidocaine injection in the treatment of tennis elbow: A randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial.Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;97(2):83-89. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000814
Daftary AR, Karnik AS.Perspectives in ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal interventions.Indian J Radiol Imaging. 2015;25(3):246-260. doi:10.4103/0971-3026.161445
Hsieh LF, Kuo YC, Lee CC, Liu YF, Liu YC, Huang V.Comparison between corticosteroid and lidocaine injection in the treatment of tennis elbow: A randomized, double-blinded, controlled trial.Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;97(2):83-89. doi:10.1097/PHM.0000000000000814
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