Cortisone Injection

A cortisone injection is a shot of steroid medicine used to calm pain and inflammation in a joint, tendon, or bursa (a small fluid-filled cushion near a joint).

It is most often given in the knee and shoulder, but it can also be used in the elbow, hip, ankle, wrist, and spine. For many people it offers real relief without surgery, and the effect can last for months.

What cortisone injections treat

Joints, tendons, and bursae let you move smoothly. When they become inflamed, the area gets painful, swollen, and stiff, and activity can hurt. A cortisone injection lowers that inflammation so the joint or tendon moves more comfortably.

It is used most for osteoarthritis, but it also helps joint pain from inflammatory arthritis (such as rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis), gout, back pain, and irritation of a tendon or bursa.

Injections can be given in large joints (knee, hip, shoulder), medium joints (elbow, wrist, ankle), and small joints (fingers, toes). Because joint pain can also come from a fracture, a ligament injury, or an infection, your doctor first confirms what is actually causing it.

How cortisone works

Cortisone is a steroid, the same kind of substance your adrenal glands make naturally. Delivered right into the joint, tendon, or bursa, it quiets the local immune response and reduces inflammation. Less inflammation means less pain and swelling, which is what gives you the relief

When to consider a cortisone injection

A cortisone shot is usually considered when joint pain, swelling, or stiffness keeps going despite rest, ice, anti-inflammatory medicine, and easing off the activities that aggravate it.

It is a non-surgical option, often used to get inflammation under control so you can move and do your therapy. It is worth seeing a specialist when symptoms continue in spite of those first steps.

Benefits of cortisone injections

For the right problem, a cortisone injection has several upsides:

• Pain relief that can let you get back to activities the joint pain had made difficult.
• Better movement, since lowering inflammation improves how the joint works and its range of motion.
• A non-surgical option that can avoid or delay a more invasive procedure.
• Fairly fast results, with many people feeling better within a few days to a week.
• Relief that, while not permanent, often lasts several weeks to several months.

The cortisone injection procedure

The shot is done in the office as an outpatient procedure. First the physician checks that you are not on blood thinners and have no active infection. If you have diabetes, your blood sugar should be well controlled beforehand, because cortisone can raise it for a short time after the shot.

You are positioned so the joint is easy to reach, and the skin is cleaned with an antiseptic (alcohol swab). A numbing medicine is usually given along with the cortisone so the injection is more comfortable and you get some immediate relief.

The physician marks the spot, gives the injection, and covers it with a small dressing. Ultrasound can be used to guide the needle to exactly the right place.

Cortisone vial, alcohol swab, and the syringe.

Recovery and aftercare

Afterward, you can apply ice and take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory or pain medicine as needed for one to three days. Some mild pain or redness at the site is normal and usually settles within one to two days. Keep the dressing dry for at least a day and avoid hot tubs for a day, and watch for any signs of infection.

It is important to note that the local anesthetic will wear off in 24h and cortisone will typically take 48h to start working. Therefore, you may have some pain the next day. This is normal, because that is how the medications work. It is usually managed with over the counter pain medication, icing, and resting.

Risks and side effects

Cortisone injections are generally safe, but they do carry risks, which is why they are spaced out rather than repeated often. Getting them too frequently can damage cartilage or thin the bone and nearby tissue.

Other possible side effects include joint infection, nerve irritation, weakening of a nearby tendon, a brief increase in pain right after the shot, temporary facial flushing, and a short-term rise in blood sugar in people with diabetes

If you have a cortisone injection, and are planning to have a joint replacement surgery in the future, usually you must wait 3 months after the injection to get joint replacement. The injection increases your risk of infection during joint replacement, but returns to baseline after 3 months.

How long relief lasts

Most people feel relief within a few days. The pain reduction can last several months, and sometimes up to a year. It is not always permanent, so some people need a repeat injection if symptoms come back, spaced safely apart.

When to see a doctor

See a specialist if joint pain, swelling, or stiffness continues despite rest and medication. Seek emergency care if you develop severe redness, fever, pain you cannot control, or other signs of infection after the injection.

Insurance & Cost

Cortisone Injection at Complete Orthopedics is covered by Medicare and most major insurance carriers (Aetna, Anthem BCBS, Cigna, Empire BCBS, UnitedHealthcare), as well as most workers’ compensation and no-fault insurance plans. Your out-of-pocket cost depends on your specific plan, deductible, and the medical necessity criteria that apply to your case.

Call our billing team at (631) 981-2663 before scheduling to verify your coverage and discuss expected out-of-pocket costs. For the full list of carriers we accept and patient billing protections, see our Insurance Information page.