Steroid Injections of Hip / Trochanteric Bursa / Knee / Ankle / Toe / Shoulder / Wrist / Finger Joints

Steroid injections are 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.

The steroid medication provides an anti-inflammatory effect to reduce pain, nerve swelling, and irritation, helping your body to regain functionality for a 3 to 6 months. They can treat many kinds of inflammatory conditions like joint pain due to osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, sciatic pain, tendonitis, bursitis, and joint pain.

Local steroid injections are less likely to cause serious side effects than systemic forms (oral or IV) of steroid medications and can only be given a few times a year.

Depending on your case, your doctor may give you steroid injections along with pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or devices such as braces.