Often, one of the first options for joint pain is a cortisone shot. They have been a standard first treatment for 50 years.

Reduce Inflammation

Cortisone shots work by decreasing inflammation and lowering the immune system response. They can also be used to treat asthma and allergic reactions.

Steroid Shots

Cortisone shots belong to a whole group of steroid compounds---including cortisone, prednisone, prednisolone, hydrocortisone, and others.

Not Muscle Steroid

They are steroids, but not the kind of steroid that builds muscle. They are steroids that send signals in the body. Our body makes them naturally to manage stress, fight infections, and regulate inflammation, as well as for other functions.

Stress Steroid

When we are under severe stress, our adrenal gland floods our body with up to 10 times the normal amount of cortisone. It suppresses the immune system, which reduces inflammation. Because of its role in digestion, it can increase blood sugar, which over time, causes weight gain. That is one reason stress can make you gain weight.

Slow-Release Steroid

When cortisone is used as a pain-relieving shot, it targets inflammation right in the joint. It was first produced commercially in 1949. The injections are usually made up of microscopic containers that slowly release the steroid over time right in the joint.

Steroid Damage

The downside to pain shots is that steroid injections make arthritis progress faster. They seem to degrade cartilage and other connective tissues, which speeds up the need for a joint replacement.

Limit Use

Pain shots can be a way to limit pain if nothing else works. The goal of curbing pain is to keep active. To limit joint cartilage damage, try to limit pain shots to 2 or 3 times a year.