A:
Cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medicine. You can take it in pill form, intravenously (by IV), or have it injected directly into the inflamed area.
Cortisone shot can ease inflammation in many conditions. Examples include:
- Bursitis
- Tendonitis
- Gout
- Rheumatoid arthritis
Cortisone injections dont always work. And pain relief may be temporary. But in many cases, pain relief is dramatic and immediate.
Memory loss is not a recognized side effect of a cortisone shot. But you should note other side effects, such as:
Thinning of the skin at or below the site of the injection Tendon injury Increased blood sugar ( with diabetes) Infection More pain for a short time Serious problems are rare. But frequent injections could raise your risk for one.. Generally, doctors do not give frequent shots into any one part of the body. The usual number is 2 or 3 per year. And many doctors will only offer cortisone shots when other treatments (such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or physical therapy) have failed.
