Steroid injections are commonly administered to help alleviate inflammation as well as a variety of other conditions. Also known as corticosteroids, they can be administered either throughout the body or a specific part of the body where the problem lies. For inflammation and pain in the joints, steroids are typically administered directly into the joints. Steroid injections can also be administered via IV (or intravenously).

Steroid injections are commonly used to help treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and other inflammatory diseases. Procedures involving steroid injections may vary on a case-by-case basis depending on the severity of the condition or inflammation the patient is experiencing.

The benefits behind steroid injections is that the medication is directly being injected into the area in question. Steroid injections also assist the patient in experiencing a decline in pain and increased mobility. Joint inflammations get reduced with a steroid injection, leading to the joint structure being preserved and increased function.

The effects of a steroid injection can take place within the course of a few days and the benefits can be sustained for a period of a few weeks. It should be noted that the benefits will not be the same for everyone. Some conditions may necessitate only one steroid injection while other conditions may require more than one injection.

Some side effects of a steroid injection include:

• Pain lasting for 1-2 days
• Diabetic patients may witness an increase in blood sugar level for approximately 5 days
• Tendons becoming weaker and prone to rupturing
• The skin around the injection spot becomes lighter in pigmentation
• In rare cases, maybe allergic reactions