After a cortisone injection, it is strongly advised to rest the affected joint for 24 hours and refrain from doing strenuous activity or exercise for several days. Resting after the injection is vital to reduce inflammation effectively.
The injection consists of two medications: Cortisone (a steroid) and Marcaine (a numbing agent). It is recommended that you refrain from any high level activities using your knee for approximately 48 hours.
If you received a cortisone shot in your knee, stay off your feet when you can. Apply ice to the injection site as needed to relieve pain. Don't use heating pads. Not use a bathtub, hot tub or whirlpool for two days.
As a general rule, we suggest that you rest for a minimum of 2 days after a steroid injection. After 2 days, we would suggest that you can gradually build up your activity levels.
If your injection had local anesthetic and a steroid, your legs may feel heavy or numb right after. You will probably be able to walk. But you may need to be extra careful.
Cortisone shots are a type of corticosteroid. Corticosteroids are manufactured drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone your adrenal glands produce naturally. Healthcare providers sometimes refer to corticosteroids by the shortened term "steroids."
Side effects of steroid injections
Side effects of injections into the joints, muscles or spine can include: pain and discomfort for a few days – paracetamol may help with this. temporary bruising or a collection of blood under the skin. flushing of the face for a few hours.
Like any injection, a steroid injection can be a bit uncomfortable at the time. Any discomfort is only temporary. You also have a local anaesthetic to make the area that is treated numb. This means that you experience as little pain as possible.
Some patients may experience a “cortisone flare” after their injection. This happens when the cortisone crystallizes and causes pain for a day or two.
Steroid injections can quickly relieve inflammation in the joints, and the effects may last from several weeks to several months. I've seen a number of patients who got significant relief from steroid injections every three or four months.
The shot will be administered into the affected joint. After the injection, it is important to massage the area or move it to disperse the medication. Ice should be applied to the injection site for at least the next 48 hours to help reduce potential pain and swelling.
Generally, if the first shot doesn't work, we may inject the same area again after 6-8 weeks. However, if a second shot doesn't work, we don't recommend a third shot. But, you can have multiple cortisone shots in different parts of your body.
Our physicians recommend resting for at least 24 hours after getting home as the anesthesia wears off and the body starts to heal after the injection. While some people experience relief right away, the full effects of the injection may not be noticeable for 1-3 days after the procedure.
If pain, redness, or swelling begin several days or weeks after the shot, this is not a cortisone flare reaction. Call your healthcare provider, especially if you have a fever with these symptoms.
Corticosteroids can effectively relieve symptoms such as joint pain, tenderness, and stiffness, but they are not without risks. For some people, the shot may cause a flare of pain and inflammation in the joint just after it is given. In most cases, these symptoms fade within 48 hours of receiving the injection.
Hyaluronic Acid Injections (Viscosupplementation)
Unlike cortisone shots, hyaluronic acid injections don't just suppress the feeling of pain being experienced, they reduce friction in the joints and help protect your cartilage and bone from further damage.
Over-the-counter medications — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) and naproxen sodium (Aleve) — may help ease knee pain. Some people find relief by rubbing the affected knee with creams containing a numbing agent, such as lidocaine, or capsaicin, the substance that makes chili peppers hot.
Hylauronic acid is a substance that is naturally present in joints, and functions as a lubricant and a shock absorbent. The idea behind these injections is that they will temporarily restore the natural function of the knee by injecting a substance which will provide cushioning and reduce bone-on-bone contact.
Things You Should NOT Do After Cortisone Shots
Avoid applying heat or cold therapy for too long or frequently, as this can irritate your skin and surrounding tissues. Do not apply ice directly to the injection site.
Hyaluronic acid injection is used to treat knee pain caused by osteoarthritis (OA) in patients who have already been treated with pain relievers (e.g., acetaminophen) and other treatments that did not work well.
The NHS suggests that you have no more than three injections per year and they should be at least 6 weeks between injections https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/steroid-injections/. If you have arthritis and we feel you may require multiple injections then we often use a substance called hyaluronic acid.
Cortisone is a type of man-made steroid that mimics the effect of cortisol, a hormone naturally occurring in the body. This is what distinguishes the medicine from anabolic steroids, which mimic testosterone.
Steroid injections are often recommended for people with rheumatoid arthritis and other types of inflammatory arthritis. They may also be recommended for osteoarthritis if your joints are very painful or if you need extra pain relief for a time. The injection can reduce inflammation, which in turn should reduce pain.