Corticosteroids are commonly used as first line management for joint-related hip and knee pain, however they do have some negative effects on the body that aren’t always made clear. Did you know physio treatments can provide non-invasive alternatives that can have longer lasting results?
Corticosteroids or cortisone injections can help relieve pain and inflammation in a specific area of your body. They’re most commonly injected into joints — such as your ankle, elbow, hip, knee, shoulder, spine or wrist. Even the small joints in your hands or feet might benefit from cortisone shots.
Corticosteroids have been shown to be chondrotoxic (toxic to cartilage cells) and local anesthetic is associated with chondrolysis (death of cartilage cells). This can cause cartilage degeneration and therefore has the potential to accelerate osteoarthritis progression.
It becomes important to weigh up the risks of a corticosteroid injection especially in those people who have no or early joint changes. This becomes apparent in athletes who are referred for a cortisone injection in an effort to reduce time for return to sport. Is the short-term pain relief worth it to return to sport earlier worth it if we are ultimately jeopardising the longevity of a healthy joint?
Where to get a Corticosteroid injection or not is therefore a common question Physiotherapists are often asked by clients. As health professionals we always respond in a way to provide our clients with details and facts they need to know to help them make an informed decision.
Corticosteroid injections are essentially a very strong form of anti-inflammatory medication. They are administered by a medical practitioner and can be given into either a painful joint or muscle.
Evidence relating to corticosteroid injections show that they do provide some immediate pain relief, which often is a result of the local anaesthetic provided during the injection. The injections may then take a few days/weeks to start working and the positive effect typically wears off after a few months. The best long term effects of Corticosteroid injections have been shown when the injection is administered in conjunction with ongoing Physiotherapy.
If you have been referred for a Corticosteroid/Cortisone injection and are unsure, feel free to drop in or contact our physiotherapists to discuss.