| Steroid injection represents a useful tool in the | | | | subsequent rotator cuff repair surgery more difficult. |
| management of chronic shoulder pain. If a doctor | | | | When it comes to making a decision with regards to |
| deems steroid injections to be of use to the patient, | | | | the use of steroid injections, one should consider that |
| they will typically use a lateral approach to inject the | | | | they are a beneficial tool when used appropriately. |
| subchromial space, particularly with rotator cuff | | | | When used in conjunction with physical therapy, they |
| problems. At different times, the doctor may use an | | | | can be a very effective tool in alleviating shoulder pain. |
| anterior approach or a posterior approach to actually | | | | Further, the doctor will perform the steroid injection |
| put steroid into the shoulder joint. To conduct these | | | | under sterile conditions as to not introduce germs into |
| straight injections would be less common though. | | | | the joint space, which further decreases the chance |
| Ideally, steroids should be thought of as providing | | | | that a problem will arise. This all means that one should |
| temporary relief and when used appropriately, and in | | | | not be excessively concerned when a doctor |
| conjunction with physical therapy, should serve as a | | | | suggests the use of steroid injections, especially when |
| sort of Band-Aid for the shoulder pain. In this way, | | | | one considers that steroids are actually produced by |
| steroids will give people a temporary period of time in | | | | the body in small amounts. |
| which physical therapy can really start working. This is | | | | The steroids injected into the joint are generally safe |
| primarily because the steroid is a very effective | | | | and do not have systemic side affects unlike steroid |
| anti-inflammatory, and for a short period of time will | | | | pills. For those concerned, steroid injections typically will |
| relieve pain enough to conduct therapy. | | | | not increase blood sugar levels to a significant degree. |
| Steroids have multiple actions. They act as | | | | Possible side affects/adverse affects of shoulder |
| anti-inflammatory, and therefore, frequently will reduce | | | | steroid injection would include an infection, bleeding into |
| pain in an area with inflammation. Also, and essentially | | | | the joint if the needle goes through a significant blood |
| a side effect is that, they will cause destruction of | | | | vessel, skin can ulcerate if too much steroid is injected |
| protein. Certainly steroid injections do risk complications, | | | | closely underneath the skin. Also there can be fat |
| and it is possible to get too many steroid injections into | | | | trephine under the skin and essentially leaving a dent in |
| a shoulder. Recently, there has been research to | | | | the contour of where the steroid was injected. |
| suggest that if someone were to get more than 3 | | | | Additionally, there can be tendon rupture and overall |
| steroid injections into the shoulder, it could make the | | | | weakening of the structure receiving the steroid. |