Cortisone injection is utilized for treating many different forms of orthopedic issues, which include bursitis, arthritis, and tendonitis. Cortisone is a form of anti-inflammatory medication and not a type of pain killer. On the other hand, by alleviating the involved inflammation, pain usually subsides.
Cortisone injections are known to be extremely safe to execute. Cortisone injection side effects are usually minor and rare. But then, there are some possible side effects of this medication, which patients should be aware about.
The 2 Most Common Side Effects
Common side effects might take place primarily due to the small content of cortisone that enters the patient’s bloodstream. This may affect your whole body and not only the area where the medication was provided. Common side effects of a standard cortisone injection are usually minor and rare. Different from consuming oral steroids, or getting direct cortisone injection into the bloodstream, merely a little amount of the local injection is being absorbed by the patient’s body. Furthermore, while the body truly produces cortisone in nature, most people don’t really experience these common effects.
Those people who do experience might experience the following:
1. Increased Blood Sugar Level
The most typical side effect of taking the medication is mostly observed in people with diabetes. Diabetic patients must properly check the level of their blood sugar because cortisone might result to its temporary increase. People who are taking insulin must be particularly careful. They need to check their blood sugar more often and adjust their insulin doses once needed.
2. Facial Flushing
Patients might experience redness on their face and flushing sensation. Such reaction may be more frequent among women. It has also been observed into the maximum of 15% of patients. It might start within a couple of hours after the injection, which may last for up to a couple of days.
The Top 3 Restrained Side Effects
Restrained side effects are ones that are merely experienced in a certain body area. These cortisone injection side effects are rare as well.
1. Infection
If there is a breakage within the skin, such as when the needle is utilized to run cortisone, the possibility of infection may be present. In order to lessen the risk of infection, a healthcare expert should have the skin sterilize first.
2. Pain
After the injection process, there are some patients that may experience discomfort and an increase in the severity of pain from 24hrs up to 48hrs after the treatment. Usually, this subsides immediately and may be cured using an anti-inflammatory medication and ice pack.
3. Fatty Tissue Loss
High dosage of cortisone might display damaging effects on certain body tissues. Once the medication has been injected into the fatty tissue, it may result to a problem known as fat atrophy. This condition might lead to loss of fatty tissue that may then lead to skin dimpling or fat’s thinning out. Patients receiving cortisone injections within their heel to cure plantar fasciitis might find walking quite painful because fat which usually covers their steps might thin out.
Knowing about the different Cortisone injection side effects should be beneficial when dealing with the medication.
