Drug treatment - injectable corticosteroids

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Corticosteroids generally are not used for osteoarthritis. However, the direct injection of corticosteroids into an inflamed joint can markedly reduce the swelling of soft tissues and relieve pain.

Unfortunately, corticosteroids can cause adverse side effects (such as joint degradation) when injected indiscriminately over long periods of time directly into a joint. Therefore, they should be used only to treat occasional bouts of joint pain and swelling in osteoarthritis, particularly in younger people.
A single injection may be sufficient to relieve osteoarthritis for several months. The effect lasts for different amounts of time in different people.
They don't work for everyone.

Review Date: 11/22/2006
Reviewed By: Alan Greene, M.D., F.A.A.P., Department of Pediatrics, Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University School of Medicine; Chief Medical Officer, A.D.A.M., Inc.

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