Corticosteroids, or steroids for short, are man-made drugs that are similar to cortisol, a hormone naturally produced by the body. Injectable steroids usually contain a local anesthetic that helps numb the area near the injection site and cortisone to reduce inflammation. They are used to treat arthritis-related swelling in people with conditions like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
Please don’t be confused – these are not the same steroids used by athletes to boost their performance (those are called anabolic steroids).
If you’re suffering from stiff, achy joints or pain and swelling in your hands, arms, or shoulders, let our highly skilled team at the Arizona Center for Hand to Shoulder Surgery help you.
How we can help
After reviewing your medical records, examining you, and developing a treatment plan, one of our experienced and compassionate doctors will administer Injectable steroids medication. You may feel a slight pinch or some warmth at the injection site, and those with darker skin may notice a slight skin discoloration too.
Your arthritis-related swelling should go down within days, and your pain should subside too. The results may last weeks or longer, helping you feel like your normal self again.
People with severe cases of arthritis may need more than one Injectable steroids but the shots will be spread out over time. We recommend no more than 3 steroid shots in one year to the same area of the body. This is meant to lower the risk of damaging tendons or cartilage with multiple cortisone injections.
Are steroid injections a good option for you?
Injectable steroids at the Arizona Center for Hand to Shoulder Surgery may be a good option if you have arthritis in your fingers, hands, wrists, elbows, or shoulders.
Here are some of the great benefits of steroid injections:
- Target the inflamed joint or area of inflammation directly
- Are usually tolerated well and have few side effects
- Limit the need to take more oral medication that affects your entire body
- Help you get results (less inflammation, pain, and swelling) within days
- Provides long-lasting results for weeks or even months (for some patients)
For people with rheumatoid arthritis or other systemic conditions, steroid injections play a small part in an overall treatment plan. Steroid injections can also fit into a treatment plan that includes physical therapy or occupational therapy.
Please discuss your condition and care plan with your doctor or an arthritis specialist at one of our Arizona locations for your Injectable steroids. Call us today to make an appointment in the Phoenix or Mesa, Arizona area, or visit our website to use our easy online booking tool.
