Some steroids occur naturally in the human body. Artificial steroids work like natural steroids to reduce inflammation.
- They are not the same as anabolic steroids used by bodybuilders to increase muscle size and strength.
- Steroid treatment for arthritis and related conditions can be taken in the form of tablets or given as an injection into the affected area.
- Injections Steroids are often used in people with rheumatoid and other forms of inflammatory arthritis. It can also be prescribed for osteoarthritis if there is a lot of joint pain, or you need additional pain relief for some time. The injection may reduce inflammation, which in effect, reduces pain.
Steroid injection uses
Different types of steroids are available for injection. Typical examples of injection steroids are:
• Hydrocortisone (Hi-Drop-Core-T-Zone)
• Triamcinolone (Try-am-sin-o-lone)
• Methylprednisolone (Meth-al-pred-niss-o-lone).
How Steroid Injection Works
Many injection steroids reduce pain within hours, and the effect is expected to last about a week. Your doctor or other health care professional may consider these short-acting soluble steroids. Soluble means that the drug dissolves rapidly in the body and begins to function quickly.
Many steroid injections take about a week to succeed but can relieve symptoms for two months or longer. These are defined as less soluble, so the drug will take longer to reach your body.
Note: How fast the treatment works, and how long it lasts will also depend on your condition.
Steroid injection is suitable for everyone
Injections steroids may be given to people of all ages, including children and adolescents with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA).
However, in young people, steroid injections should be used with caution. Only the lowest effective dose and the least possible time should be given. Too many steroid treatments for children can affect their development.
How is injection steroids taken?
Your doctor or nurse will talk to you about the most effective steroid combination and dosage. That will depend on your condition and your symptoms.
Healthcare experts would like to check your blood pressure and blood sugar levels before your first injection as injection steroids, which can cause your blood sugar to rise. If any of them is elevated, they can delay the infusion.
Depending on where the pain and inflammation occur, steroids can be injected:
- Directly into an inflamed joint, known as an intra-articular injection.
- Into the soft tissue near the joint called peri-articular injection.
- Into a muscle called intramuscular injection.
Note: Injection Steroids may not cure the root cause of the disease, but they can relieve symptoms.
