Steroid injections are a popular treatment option for pain and swelling in the body. Also known as corticosteroids, they provide excellent anti-inflammatory for patients with certain medical conditions and autoimmune disorders.People with muscle stiffness have also reported positive results from receiving steroid injections. Depending on the steroid type, it may take a few hours to a few days to see the effects of these shots. These benefits can last from days to months. Your recovery will depend on your response to the treatment.
Let’s talk about what you can expect regarding the results and recovery time of these injections and where you can go to receive steroid injections in Rochester Hills, MI.
What Are Steroid Injections?
The term “steroid” is a shortened form of “corticosteroid.” This synthetic drug is similar to the hormone cortisol, which your body naturally produces.
Corticosteroids have anti-inflammatory properties when injected. They can also lower immune system activity to alleviate the symptoms of autoimmune conditions.
There are different types of corticosteroid injections that you can take, depending on your medical issue. Some steroid injections spread throughout your body, while others only treat a specific area.
Some steroids quickly dissolve, while others can remain in your system for an extended time.
Results of Getting Steroid Injections
After receiving a steroid injection, you can expect a significant decrease in inflammation, redness, and soreness in the affected area. You can also expect reduced stiffness and aching when your provider injects it into a muscle or joint.
Steroids administered directly into the bloodstream can strengthen your body’s power to fight against infection and sickness. As mentioned, it is a popular intervention option for people with autoimmune conditions.
Steroid injections have helped patients with multiple sclerosis ease most painful symptoms.
Note that corticosteroid injections are not the same as anabolic steroids. The latter is an illegal substance that athletes tend to use for building up their muscle mass.
Treatment for Certain Medical Conditions
Your physician will consider your illness, age, allergies, activity level, and current medication when deciding on a particular steroid.
These injections have provided excellent results for people suffering from the following:
- Gout
- Bursitis or inflamed bursae
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Back pain
- Sciatica
- Tendinitis or swollen tendons in the hip, hands, knees, wrists, elbows, and shoulders
Possible Side Effects of Steroid Injections
Steroid injections are generally safe and effective for many patients. But you should still watch out for some side effects. The most common are mild pain and soreness at the injection site.
More serious side effects of receiving the substance are:
- Bleeding from the injections site
- Severe pain and aching
- Infection
- Tendon rupture
- Skin discoloration
- Allergic reaction
Getting too many injections too quickly can also trigger these side effects.
Some patients have experienced a weakening of their tendons, ligaments, and bones from repeated corticosteroid shots.
Recovery After Getting Steroid Injections
As mentioned, there is a variety of steroid types that you can receive for your particular medical issue. Each has a different rate of effectiveness.
Some patients experience relief within hours, while others might need a few days to notice results. That is because a short-acting, soluble steroid usually only takes a few hours to provide effects. Less soluble formulas tend to take at least seven days.
Your doctor will discuss the projected recovery period for your specific treatment plan. Factors that may come into consideration are dosages, formulations, and frequency of receiving shots.
The area of the injection site may also matter when waiting for results. For example, corticosteroids injected directly into the joints will offer quick relief for people with arthritis and other joint conditions.
Patients can successfully recover from their illnesses with an appropriate administration schedule.
Duration of Relief
Keep in mind that while fast-acting steroid injections can act quickly, they last much shorter in the body.
These types of corticosteroids dissolve rapidly and tend to offer about a week of relief.
Less soluble steroid injections, which take longer to take effect, generally provide more long-term pain relief. Patients who receive these shots experience relief for at least a few months. In some cases, the benefits even lasted for a year.
Steroid Injections Near You in Rochester Hills, MI
Do you need steroid injections near you? We at Ahlgren Spine Orthopaedic Surgery offer a range of options for neck, arm, back, leg, and buttock pain. Dr. Bradley Ahlgren is highly trained and board-certified to administer cervical, thoracic, and lumbar epidural steroid injections for pain relief.
To know more about our services, call us today at (248) 215-8080. You can also schedule an appointment by securing an online request form. In addition, you can visit us at our Bad Axe and Royal Oak offices for other concerns. Explore our complete location details on our website.
