A Guide to Arthritis Pain Relief Shots
Taking an arthritis pain relief shot can help one manage the pain associated with arthritis. The pain relief shots also reduce the inflammation and swelling associated with arthritis. Thus, it helps to decrease the discomfort caused by the disease. One should avoid taking opioids to get relief from arthritis pain as they may help treat the pain temporarily but can lead to addiction in the long term. Over 100 Americans die of opioid overdose each year, so awareness is crucial.
Several different types of injections are available for treating arthritis. If one suffers from osteoarthritis, the doctor may inject medication into the knee.
How do arthritis pain relief shots work?
Depending on the type of arthritis that one has, taking injections can help with the pain associated with the condition.
How long does it take for the effects to appear?
The effects of arthritis pain relief shots may appear immediately or occur after several days. Some people experience instant results while in other cases, the improvement will show up after several weeks. It all depends on the severity of the condition and other underlying factors. When it comes to cortisone injections, one may experience the same. Most people respond well to cortisone injections, however, in some cases, patients may experience some side effects and require a different course of pain treatment. Whatever be the case, cortisone injections are excellent anti-inflammatory medication for arthritis.
Cortisone injections
How do cortisone injections work?
Cortisone injections are injected into the area where the arthritis pain occurs. The doctor prescribes a cortisone injection to treat the pain. These injections vary in how water-soluble they are, how long-lasting the effect is, and how potent they are. Cortisone injections are usually administered under a local anesthetic to provide with instant pain relief and to help with any discomfort caused by the procedure. It usually takes a few days for the effects of cortisone- based arthritis pain relief shots to appear, while in some cases, people may notice immediate results. The doctor first cleanses the skin in the area where one will receive the injection. They will then place a needle at the joint or tendon sheath. Once the needle is appropriately placed, the doctor will inject the medications into the body.
Side effects of cortisone injections
Some people may end up having an adverse reaction to cortisone injections. This treatment may not suit them, and they may experience a cortisone flare. A cortisone flare is a condition in which the injected cortisone crystallizes and causes brief pain that is worse than the original ailment. This pain usually lasts for up to two days. The best course of treatment for the side effects of cortisone flares is to rest the infected area and ice it on a regular basis. Cortisone could have some other side effects as well. If one is suffering from the side effects of cortisone injections, they should visit a doctor immediately to get the right treatment for the same. However, it is quite rare for people to exhibit side effects after taking cortisone injections.
General tips
- If one is not feeling better even a week after taking arthritis pain relief shots, then they should consult a doctor.
- If one is suffering from any side effects, they should consult a doctor to receive treatment that can help with the side effects.
- Cortisone-based arthritis pain relief shots start to work very quickly. However, the duration in which one starts feeling relief varies from person to person.
- Some people experience instant relief, while others experience improvement after a few days. In some cases, one may experience relief after several weeks. By learning how cortisone injections work for arthritis, one can understand how many days it will take for arthritis pain to subside. Whatever is the case, one should opt for arthritis pain relief shots as it is one of the best treatment options available.