Corticosteroids (steroids) are often used to regulate pain by reducing inflammation in the body. These synthetic drugs mimic cortisol, the natural hormone produced by the adrenal glands (located above the kidneys).
It is important to understand that corticosteroid injections are not the same thing as anabolic steroids used by bodybuilders and athletes to increase muscle size, strength, and endurance.
As a pain management clinic, it is our goal to offer treatment options and solutions that will help our patients safely manage their pain, eventually healing completely. Steroid injections are a very good option that has benefited patients living with a wide range of conditions, including back and neck pain and various types of arthritis.
As mentioned, steroid injections are man-made drugs that are very similar to cortisol. They reduce activity in the immune system while decreasing inflammation, helping the body fight off a wide range of inflammatory conditions.
Steroid injections are beneficial for several different reasons, namely because they allow for treatment of a localized area. If you are suffering from rheumatoid arthritis, tendinitis, or sciatica, for example, our doctors will be able to deliver a high dose of steroid right to the area that is bothering you. While steroids can be given intravenously or by mouth, injections are far more effective and fast-acting.
Steroid injections may be able to help with pain from joint conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis as well as gout. Individuals with inflammatory diseases such as bursitis and tendinitis may also be good candidates. If you are experiencing pain in the joints, tendons, or muscles anywhere in your body, contact Texas Partners Healthcare Group today and inquire about steroid injections.
One of the top benefits of steroid injections is that they are relatively pain-free and minimally-invasive. Unlike other types of medications, they do not carry serious side effects. Because these injections help reduce joint inflammation, they can also preserve overall functionality and structure.
Some people experience relief in about a week that lasts for two months or even longer, whereas others don’t feel the effects quite that soon.
Here at Texas Partners Healthcare Group, we often recommend steroid injections are added to a treatment plan that includes other pain management tactics. We are huge advocates for regenerative medicine and stem cell therapy and believe steroid injections can be a great supplementary treatment. They are safe for people of all ages, including young children and teenagers who are suffering from juvenile arthritis or other joint conditions.
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the risks and benefits of steroid injections, please call our Frisco pain management clinic today. Your health is our number one priority and we will do everything we can to help you find relief.