However, in some instances, it can take days or weeks for a person to feel relief.
The effectiveness of steroid shots also depends on what they are being used for.
These injections often treat orthopedic conditions such asarthritisandtendonitis.
Thianchai Sitthikongsak / Getty Images
This article explains how steroid shots work and discusses how long it takes for a steroid shot to work.
Thianchai Sitthikongsak / Getty Images
How Steroid Shots Work
Steroid shots work by decreasing inflammation.
In people with conditions liketendonitis,bursitis, andarthritis, pain is triggered by inflammation.
Once the inflammation goes away, the pain will get better.
A steroid shot starts to work immediately.
Inflammation usually improves within a few days.
Most people who have had a shot say the pain gets better quickly.
In some cases, you may need more than one dose to feel better.
Treatments likecortisone shotsare effective for many common inflammatory conditions, but they don’t help every person.
If your shot has not worked after a few weeks, let your healthcare provider know.
They can talk to you about other treatment options.
How Is a Steroid Given?
Different types of steroids vary in terms of strength, how long they last, and delivery method.
A steroid can be taken by mouth as an oral medication.
It can also be injected into a muscle or joint.
For bone and joint conditions, steroid shots are given in the spots where there’s inflammation.
A steroid like cortisone is often mixed with numbing medication (local anesthetic).
The anesthetic can help relieve pain.
It also makes getting the shot itself a little less uncomfortable.
Your healthcare provider will clean the skin over the area where they will be giving you the shot.
Then, they will inject the medication where it is neededoften in a joint or tendon sheath.
After the injection, the needle is taken out and a Band-Aid is placed over the site.
You might have a little bit of bleeding.
If you’re taking ablood thinning medication, you may have a little more bleeding at the injection site.
Even so, many people report almost immediate relief after an injection.
Pain relief is faster for some people for a couple of reasons.
Local anesthetics work right away.
This can bring a lot of pain relief.
In some cases, this is temporary.
However, its also possible that the treatment isnt the right fit for you.
Your provider can assess and figure out what the next steps in your treatment plan should be.
Side Effects of Steroid Shots
Some patients have reactions to steroid injections.
When cortisone is used, they may experience a cortisone flare.
A cortisone flare is a condition in which the injected cortisone forms crystals.
Otherside effects of cortisone shotsare possible but uncommon.
For many people, relief comes right after the shot is given.
However, the length of time for pain relief varies and can take days or weeks.
If your provider mixes a local numbing agent with the steroid, you may feel relief immediately.
Relief may also be quicker if your provider drains fluid from your joints.
However, your pain could temporarily get worse if you have a reaction called a steroid flare.
In this case, rest and ice on the spot where you had the injection can help.
Most people find steroid injections helpful for treating orthopedic conditions, but they don’t work for everyone.
If you’re not finding the injections helpful, let your provider know.
2017;9(3):188-194. doi:10.1177/1758573217693808
