Cortisone Injections are Not For Everyone
Brian, who is a very active mature gentleman, keeps fit with weight training and general house hold duties, suffered a shoulder injury nearly a month ago.
He was in great pain, his sleep was disturbed and everything was becoming very gruelling and hard just to get through the day, as his physical ability became more impaired, at the time he was looking after his partner after she had just come out of hospital after having had a hip replacement, The GP suggested a cortisone injection!. A discussion with his partner took place.
Brian then came to see me. I Treated him on the Bioneuro “Dry” Therapy (∑Q®) system and Neuromuscular and Sports Injury Therapy, as I have found they work so well together to achieve better results for clients.
We witnessed powerful results with Brian, his ability to move his shoulder increased and the pain decreased to the point of it being unnoticeable. His GP was impressed with the outcome. They were both happy about there no longer being a need for any injection!
Brian said about how he is feeling now “I feel great, pain free and I will strongly recommend the Bioneuro “Dry” Therapy (∑Q®) to anyone I know is in pain “
There are various issues and complications that can arise from cortisone injections such as, Atrophy and Depigmentation of the skin at the injection site.
Introduction of bacterial infection into the body, localized bleeding from broken blood vessels in the skin or muscle, soreness at the injection site, and aggravation of inflammation in the area injected because of reactions to the corticosteroid medication (post injection flare).
Increased pain after the injection is typically due to a post injection flare as a true allergic reaction to cortisone is very rare.
Tendons can be weakened by corticosteroid injections in or near tendons. Tendon ruptures as a result have been reported.(information from Internet ) This is not to say that Cortisone Injections don’t have their place, because that is wrong below are some facts about Cortisone Injections and we hope they may also alleviate some myths.
What is cortisone?
Cortisone is a type of steroid that is produced naturally by a gland in your body called the adrenal gland. Cortisone is released from the adrenal gland when your body is under stress. Natural cortisone is released into the blood stream and is relatively short-acting.
Injectable cortisone is synthetically produced and has many different trade names (e.g. Celestone, Kenalog, etc.), but is a close derivative of your body’s own product. The most significant differences are that synthetic cortisone is not injected into the blood stream, but into a particular area of inflammation. Also, the synthetic cortisone is designed to act more potently and for a longer period of time (days instead of minutes).
How does the cortisone injection help?
Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Cortisone is not a pain relieving medication, it only treats the inflammation.
When pain is decreased from cortisone it is because the inflammation is diminished. By injecting the cortisone into a particular area of inflammation, very high concentrations of the medication can be given while keeping potential side-effects to a minimum. Cortisone injections usually work within a few days and the effects can last up to several weeks.
Lumbar Back Pain, Knee Pain Treatment, Shoulder Bursitis, Arthritis, Trigger Finger, Tennis Elbow, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Are there side effects? Yes. Probably the most common side effect is a ‘cortisone flare,’ a condition where the injected cortisone crystallizes and can cause a brief period of pain worse than before the shot.
This usually lasts a day or two and is best treated by icing the injected area. Another common side-effect is whitening of the skin where the injection is given.
This is only a concern in people with darker skin, and is not harmful, but patients should be aware of this.
Other Side effects of Cortisone Injections
Although rare, can be quite serious. The most concerning is infection, especially if the injection is given into a joint. The best prevention is careful injection technique, with sterilization of the skin using iodine and/or alcohol. Also, patients with diabetes may have a transient increase in their blood sugar which they should watch for closely.
Because cortisone is a naturally occurring substance, true allergic responses to the injected substance do not occur. However, it is possible to be allergic to other aspects of the injection, most commonly the betadine many physicians use to sterilize the skin.
Can I get a cortisone injection more than once?
Yes. There is no rule as to how many cortisone injection can be given. Often physicians do not want to give more than three, but there is not really a specific limit to the number of shots.
However, there are some practical limitations. If a cortisone injection wears off quickly or does not help the problem, then repeating it may not be worthwhile. Also, animal studies have shown effects of weakening of tendons and softening of cartilage with cortisone injections.
Repeated cortisone injections multiply these effects and increase the risk of potential problems. This is the reason many physicians limit the number of injections they offer to a patient.
The Bioneuro Dry Therapy (∑Q®) works on the central and peripheral nervous systems and aids quicker restoration to full health. Also non- invasive a good and non painful alternative with no needles either!
What we are saying is “Consider the Bioneuro Dry Therapy (∑Q®) system, before the cortisone injections. As it will, relieve the Pain at the same time as aiding the muscles to heal and disbursing the inflammation.”
