Steroid injections are commonly used to treat a variety of inflammatory conditions of the upper extremity. Examples of these include trigger fingers, De Quervain’s tendonitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, tennis elbow, and rotator cuff tendonitis.
Steroid injections typically contain a mixture of a synthetic cortisone and a local anesthetic such as lidocaine or bupivacaine. Cortisone is a steroid normally produced by the adrenal gland and is a powerful anti-inflammatory. Anti-inflammatory steroids are distinctly different from the anabolic steroids that have been abused by some athletes for body-building and performance enhancement. The local anesthetic dissolves the steroid and numbs the area of the injection, diminishing discomfort during the procedure.
The injection should take effect within a few days and the benefits can last for many weeks. The exact timing, however, varies from patient to patient. For some conditions, one injection can be enough to completely get rid of the inflammation and pain while for more severe cases, several injections may be required. Most patients respond well to injections although a small subset may not experience any relief of symptoms.
There is no set rule as to how many injections a person can get. Many providers use three injections as a rule of thumb although, in some cases, more frequent injections may be helpful. Your response to the first injection is very important in determining whether to proceed with re-injection: If the first injection doesn’t work or wears off quickly it may not be worthwhile repeating. Many providers limit the number of injections because repeated cortisone may cause damage to tendons and/or cartilage.
The most common side effect is known as a cortisone flare. This is thought to happen when the steroid crystallizes after being injected. In patients who experience a flare, a brief episode of pain lasting one or two days follows the injection. This pain can be worse than the initial discomfort for which the injection was given. Cortisone flares resolve spontaneously over a few days and can be treated with ice and immobilization.
Another common side effect, especially in patients with darker skin, involves skin discoloration at the injection site. The skin becomes locally lighter in color and sometimes thinner. Although this can improve, the whitening of the skin can sometimes be permanent.
One of the more serious complications from steroid injections is an infection, especially if the injection was given into a joint. Fortunately, infections are rare and can usually be prevented by carefully cleaning the skin before performing the injection. Very rarely, some patients may experience allergic reactions to the steroid or local anesthetic in the injection.
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