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Update on Use of Injectable Corticosteroids

In this review article, doctors take the time to report on many studies using injectable corticosteroids for painful, inflamed joints. They discuss how steroids work inside the joint, their local effects, and side effects.

Some injections can be used for both joints and soft-tissues. The authors present a table of the common corticosteroids, how quickly they work, and how long they last. Most of the time corticosteroid are used for painful, swollen arthritic joints. They can be used for other problems like carpal tunnel syndrome, tennis elbow, and gout.

In looking over all the data collected, here's what we know from this review:

  • Patients given corticosteroid injections into the joints had much better results than patients given a placebo solution.
  • Long-term results require higher doses of the drug.
  • Pain relief seems to be linked to the specific drug used; some corticosteroids work better than others.
  • Repeated injections into the same joint are safe and effective for up to two years.
  • Injections work better for osteoarthritis compared to rheumatoid arthritis.
  • Injections work better than oral steroids for carpal tunnel syndrome.

    There's been a lot of doubt about the safety of steroid injections. There's much we don't know about how these drugs work. More studies are needed to clear this up. Once we understand how and why injectable corticosteroids relieve joint symptoms, then more effective treatment can be designed.

    • Reference: 

    Brian J. Cole, MD, MBA, and H. Ralph Schumacher, Jr., MD. Injectable Corticosteroids in Modern Practice. In Journal of the Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. January/February 2005. Vol. 13. No. 1. Pp. 37-46.

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