Sorely in Need of Pain Relief?

So, you’re no Sammy Sosa or Chuck Finley or Venus Williams. But you’re sore nonetheless. Or your arthritis is acting up. An injection of cortisone might help by reducing inflammation. Your doctor might suggest the synthetic steroid if resting, wearing splints or taking oral medications doesn’t relieve your pain.

Injecting cortisone gets it directly to the inflamed region quickly. Because it’s injected and not taken as a pill, little of it goes beyond that region, so you’re not likely to have the side effects that come with oral steroids.

There are some complications, however, such as briefly increased pain, changes in blood sugar levels and--rarely--ruptured tendons.

Source: StayWell Co.