Injectable steroids, also called corticosteroid injections, are anti-inflammatory medicines used to treat a range of conditions. They can be used to treat problems such as joint pain, arthritis, sciatica and inflammatory bowel disease. Steroid injections are only given by healthcare professionals.
What Are Injectable steroids?
Injectable steroids are man-made drugs very similar to cortisol, a hormone your body makes in your adrenal glands. “Steroid” is short for corticosteroid, which is different from the hormone-related steroid compounds that some athletes use. You may hear them called cortisone injections, cortisone shots, steroid shots, or corticosteroid injections.
Steroids ease inflammation and slow your immune system. They can treat many kinds of inflammatory conditions.
What Conditions Do Steroid Injections Treat?
Injectable steroids treat problems such as:
Your doctor will consider your age, your level of physical activity, and other medications you’re taking when deciding whether to give you steroids.
Why Are Steroids Injected?
When your doctor Injectable steroids, they can deliver a high dose of medication directly to an inflamed area. Oral or IV steroids don’t guarantee how much of the medication will reach the problem area.
Steroid injections are one of the most effective ways to ease pain, but they aren’t a cure for the problem.
How Long Do Injectable steroids Last?
Pain relief from a steroid shot is different for each person. It usually starts to work within 24 to 48 hours. The effect can last several weeks or more.
What Are the Benefits of Injectable steroids?
Local steroid injections are less likely to cause serious side effects than other forms of steroid medications.
Steroid injections often ease inflammation in a joint so it can work better. They may keep you from needing to use oral steroids or higher doses of oral steroids, which could have stronger side effects.
