TENDONITIS
My doctor says I may benefit from a steroid shot. What is that? Corticosteroid joint and soft tissue injections are frequently used to treat inflammatory musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions that cause significant disturbances in daily activity or have not responded well to conservative management like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Anytime the body is subject to injury, the body’s first response is to increase blood flow to the area, thus delivering special cells to disinfect and heal the area. This process in known as inflammation. As a result of inflammation, you feel pain with movement or at rest! To calm this angry joint or tissue down, NSAIDs can be used, like Motrin, Aleve, or Ibuprofen, but sometimes this doesn’t work or is not the best option. So, your orthopedic provider may suggest a corticosteroid injection. Corticosteroids injected at the site of inflammation decrease the amount of blood flow to the area, thereby decreasing the number of special cells delivered and reducing inflammation. A few common indications for an injection include: osteoarthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, trigger finger, and De Quervain’s tenosynovitis.
Oh ok. So, what happens during the injection? Glad you asked. Your orthopedist will prepare a solution that contains a local anesthetic (numbing medication) and a corticosteroid. To reduce your risk of infection, the site of the injection will be cleaned with an alcohol swab and/or iodine solution. Commonly, a cold solution may be applied to the skin to reduce the sensitivity of the area just before the injection. Depending on the depth and location of the inflammation, an ultrasound machine may be used to guide the needle to the injection site. Finally, take a deep breath, count to 10, or… Why imagine that? The injection is over.
Does this injection hurt? Well, that depends on your pain tolerance. It can, and mostly likely will. After the injection, you may experience pain, so icing the area helps. Some people begin to feel immediate relief from their initial complaint, whereas most notice signs of improvement 1-2 weeks later. Because this is still a procedure, it involves some risks, which include but are not limited to: infection, skin discoloration, and skin depression at the injection site and hyperglycemia (in diabetics). Please be sure to discuss your risks with your physician.
I hope this was helpful. If you have any questions, be sure to direct them to your orthopedist during your visit.
Guest blogger.....Eva Ingram, Brown Medical Student, MS4
