Table Of Contents
- What is a Cortisone (Steroid) Injection?
- How a Cortisone (Steroid) Injection Works
- Types of Cortisone (Steroid) Injections
- What to Expect From a Cortisone (Steroid) Injection
- How Long Do Cortisone (Steroid) Injections’ Effects Last?
- Are Cortisone (Steroid) Injections Safe?
- When Should You Consider a Cortisone (Steroid) Injection?
Cortisone (Steroid) Injections: Medical Uses and What Patients Should Know
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What is a Cortisone (Steroid) Injection?
A steroid injection involves a synthetic medication called corticosteroids (often referred to as “steroids”), which are injected directly into a joint to help reduce inflammation and pain, providing relief and supporting your recovery.
A steroid injection is typically administered to treat various joint conditions and other painful, inflammatory conditions, including arthritis and its forms, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
How a Cortisone (Steroid) Injection Works
Certain injuries and medical conditions can contribute to long-term (or chronic) inflammation that leads to persistent pain and other symptoms. A steroid injection is directly administered into the joint lining to reduce the inflammatory response during an acute or chronic injury. The steroid gradually “calms” your immune system, slowly inhibiting inflammatory processes that contribute to pain, swelling, and redness around the treatment area.
While pain relief may last several weeks or months, the injection itself only reduces inflammation. It is not meant to be administered on its own, as the shot has no healing properties beyond reducing inflammation in the treatment area. For example, it may be administered to support physical therapy that focuses on gradually restoring your knee’s range of motion after a sports injury.
Types of Cortisone (Steroid) Injections
Steroid injections are delivered via one of two methods.
Local Injections
Local injections involve directly injecting the steroid into the treatment area. This may be performed in various ways:
- Intra-articular injections are delivered directly into the joints
- Epidural injections delivered to the spine (mainly to address nerve compression)
- Soft tissue injections are delivered to areas outside the joints
Systemic Injections
Systemic injections are used to treat inflammation that affects much of your body. These steroids circulate throughout your bloodstream to reach affected areas and reduce inflammation. Depending on treatment needs, systemic steroids may be given as an intramuscular injection, administered intravenously, or taken as oral tablets.
What to Expect From a Cortisone (Steroid) Injection
Before the Injection
Before an injection, a comprehensive diagnosis will be conducted to assess your condition and determine if you are eligible for a steroid injection. If you are, your doctor will outline what you can expect from the procedure, including potential risks and side effects.
During the Injection
On the day of your injection, imaging tests will be used to determine the injection site and ensure an accurate delivery of the medication. The steroid injection is often prepared in combination with an anaesthetic to ensure your comfort during the procedure and support the steroid’s effects.
Once you are ready, the steroid is carefully injected into the injection site. The procedure does not take long, and you should experience only minimal discomfort during the shot.
After the Injection
Immediately after the injection, the treatment area may feel numb for a while. The steroid’s medical effects will also take some time to take effect, but should provide pain relief for some time. There may be a small risk of a flare-up with pain, but it should subside within a day or two. If you experience persistent pain or other side effects, notify your doctor immediately.
How Long Do Cortisone (Steroid) Injections’ Effects Last?
A steroid injection may last several weeks to months, but this can vary from person to person. Everyone responds differently to a steroid injection due to differences in their health, the condition they are seeking treatment for, the location of the injection, and other factors. In some cases, if there is minimal or ineffective pain relief after the injection, it may either mean the steroid did not reach the injection site or that there may be other complications that require other medical interventions to treat.
Are Cortisone (Steroid) Injections Safe?
Steroid injections prescribed by a licensed and qualified healthcare provider are generally safe. While some injections may cause side effects in some people, steroid injections may still offer lasting pain relief that will help with your gradual recovery alongside other ongoing treatment.
You should also avoid using any nonprescription steroid injections, as they may be harmful to your body. Additionally, your doctor will advise that you refrain from receiving any steroid injections under the following circumstances:
- You have an infection: Steroids contain a short-term immunosuppressant effect that reduces your body’s ability to fend off an infection.
- You have a serious injury or underlying condition: The steroid injection may mask symptoms that could be used to inform doctors about your current condition.
- You recently suffered a bone fracture and are still healing.
- You will undergo a surgical procedure very soon.
- You are taking blood-thinning medications.
- You may be allergic to steroids.
Consult your doctor beforehand to determine if you are eligible for a steroid injection.
When Should You Consider a Cortisone (Steroid) Injection?
A steroid injection may be worth considering if conservative (non-invasive) treatments for your condition are not providing lasting pain or symptom relief. While a steroid injection does carry potential risks and side effects, knowing what these are can help you make an informed decision and support a smoother recovery.
Consultant Anaesthetist and Pain Physician
Dr. Hope Ang
MBBS (NUS) | MMed (Anaes) | FAMS
Dr Hope Ang is a Consultant Anaesthesiologist with extensive expertise in acute and chronic pain management, dedicated to helping patients regain function, reduce suffering, and improve quality of life through evidence-based, personalised care.
With more than 18 years of clinical experience, Dr Ang specialises in the assessment and treatment of complex chronic pain conditions, including musculoskeletal pain, neuropathic pain, cancer-related pain, and persistent postoperative pain. His approach integrates interventional pain procedures, ultrasound-guided regional techniques, multimodal pharmacological strategies, and close collaboration with multidisciplinary care teams to address both the physical and functional impact of chronic pain.
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