Steroid injections involve the usage of corticosteroids to treat a range of painful conditions. Corticosteroids are man-made versions of cortisol, a hormone that’s naturally made by your adrenal glands. These hormones naturally occur in response to injury or illness and to help reduce immune system activity and inflammation. In turn, steroid injections help increase your body's natural anti-inflammatory and immune-suppressing abilities.
Steroid injections have been used to treat a wide range of painful diseases, conditions, and injuries. At HPM they are used for joint and muscle conditions, such as:
Before your injection, you may need to stop taking certain medications. Talk to your doctor about what medications you are taking and if you need to stop taking them.
Steroid injections are performed in a pain management provider's office or hospital. Your provider will have you position yourself in a way that allows them access to the injection site. Usually the injection is performed under image guidance, either with ultrasound or fluoroscopy. This helps your provider figure out the exact location to inject the steroid medication. The medication is usually a mixture of steroid and anesthetic (numbing medication). The injection may be uncomfortable at first, but the numbing medication should provide relief quickly.
The injections are usually given in the following areas:
After the injection, the area may be sore for a few days. You can use ice on the injection site to help reduce the pain.
Most steroid injections take a few days before you start feeling relief. Some patients report relief much sooner, within a few hours of treatment.
Steroid injections usually last one to two months, but they can last longer, especially If used in conjunction with other pain management.
It's best to limit steroid injections to 3-4 times per year to prevent weakening the skin and bones around the injection site.
Potential side effects of steroid injections include:
Although it is rare, injections in the spine have caused a bad headache. Call your doctor if you experience this. Usually it can only be relieved by lying down.
Steroid shots may not be right for everyone. Discuss your options with your provider.
We have a team of highly trained health providers and pain specialists that are standing by, ready to guide you to the best treatment options in your area. A customized, detailed treatment plan is created for each and every patient. Reduce Pain and Restore Function. Ready to get started?
We offer an unparalleled patient experience, bringing together the best treatments with the top providers to serve rural areas across the country. Our unique patient-first approach is changing the face of pain management. Our talented medical teams are dedicated to guiding patients to the right treatments and the best plan of care. A customized, detailed treatment plan is created for each and every patient, including all surgical and non-surgical options, to ensure successful outcomes.
Patients may call our Non-Emergency Hotline to speak to one of our Registered Nurses about pain treatment options, or use our HIPAA Compliant eFax: 1.833.923.2295
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