Cortisone Injection (cont.)
What are the advantages of cortisone injections?
Cortisone injections can be administered easily in the doctor's office. Other advantages
include the rapid onset of the medication's action, dependability, and minimal
side effects. Another distinct benefit of a corticosteroid injection is that the
relief of localized inflammation in a particular body area is more rapid and
powerful than with traditional antiinflammatory medications given by mouth such
as aspirin. A single injection also can avoid certain side effects, notably
irritation of the stomach, that accompany many oral antiinflammatory medications.
What are the disadvantages and side effects of cortisone
injections?
Disadvantages of cortisone injections are the necessity of piercing
the skin with a needle as well as potential short- and long-term side
effects. It should be emphasized that though each of these side effects is
possible, they usually do not occur.
Short-term side effects are uncommon but include shrinkage (atrophy) and lightening of the color (depigmentation) of the skin at the
injection site, introduction of bacterial infection into the body, local
bleeding from broken blood vessels in the skin or muscle, soreness at
the injection site, and aggravation of inflammation in the area
injected because of reactions to the corticosteroid medication
(postinjection flare). Tendons can be weakened by corticosteroid
injections in or near tendons. Tendon ruptures as a result have been
reported.
In people who have diabetes, cortisone injections can elevate the
blood sugar. In patients with underlying infections, cortisone
injections can suppress somewhat the body's ability to fight
the infection and possibly worsen the infection or may mask the
infection by suppressing the symptoms and signs of inflammation.
Generally, cortisone injections are used with caution in people with
diabetes and avoided in people with active infections. Cortisone
injections are used cautiously in people with blood-clotting
disorders.
Long-term side effects of corticosteroid injections depend on the
dose and frequency of the injections. With higher doses and frequent
administration, potential side effects include thinning of the skin,
easy bruising, weight gain, puffiness of the face, elevation of blood
pressure, cataract formation, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis),
and a rare but serious damage to the bones of the large joints
(avascular necrosis).
Next: Are there special advantages in using cortisone injections for joint inflammation (arthritis)? »
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