INJECTIONS 

• A steroid injection is a therapy used to treat pain and joint inflammation.
• Before a steroid injection, inform your doctor of all medications you are taking and stop taking medicines noted by your provider at the specified time.
• The injection consists of corticosteroid medication, which will relieve pain and inflammation as well as an anesthesia to provide short-term pain relief.
• A steroid injection can relieve pain for as long as six months. 

Steroid injections, also commonly referred to as a cortisone injection or corticosteroid injections, help reduce joint inflammation and ease joint pain.

Your doctor may recommend steroid injections if you are experiencing pain associated with rheumatoid arthritis, back pain, bursitis, gout, osteoarthritis, tendonitis, or other types of arthritis.

A cortisone injection is typically one element in a more extensive treatment plan. It is often used alongside medications and physical therapy.

People of all ages can suffer from sports-related injuries. Sprains, strains, muscle pulls, and tendonitis are all too familiar injuries that MD West ONE sports medicine physicians treat on a daily basis.

Fellowship Trained Sports Medicine Physcians

We have fellowship-trained sports medicine physicians who specialize in treating sports injuries, so you can rest assured they can take care of even the most complex injury. They provide comprehensive sports medicine services including diagnosis, treatment, physical therapy, and when necessary, the latest surgical techniques such as arthroscopy. And because we know teamwork is key — MD West ONE, if neccessary, can utilize more than one subspecialist to treat your injury, minimize downtime, and expedite return to normal activity. Meet our sports medicine specialists below!

TREATMENTS & PROCEDURES:

A steroid injection can be given in the clinic setting, so you will go home the day of the injection. Your doctor or care team will clean the area around the injection and spray an anesthetic spray to numb the affected area. Your doctor may use an ultrasound or X-ray to watch the needle moving into the body and ensure it is going into the correct spot. As the medication is injected, you may feel pressure. 

The injection includes corticosteroid medication, which will relieve pain and inflammation as well as an anesthetic to provide short-term pain relief. You may experience a pain flare for a day or two after the infection. After this period, your pain should decrease, and your pain relief should last for up to six months.

After each cortisone injection, your doctor may recommend:

• Avoid heavy lifting or strenuous activity in the days after the injection.
• Apply ice to the injection site.
• If you have signs of infection, such as pain, redness, or swelling that last more than 48 hours, call your doctor.
• Do not use a bathtub or hot tub for 48 hours after surgery.

Your doctor will determine the appropriate timing of your cortisone injections. Generally, you should not get shots more than every six weeks and more than three to four times a year.