| It is not uncommon to hear about athletes that receive | | | | that cortisone shots are safe up to three times, |
| cortisone shots for tendinitis, inflammation, and other | | | | although individual sources do differ a bit. Some |
| injuries most often related to the shoulder, knee, or | | | | sources say three times in a lifetime; others say three |
| spine. Cortisone shots are steroids that numb pain and | | | | times in a year. Regardless, it is known that the |
| greatly reduce inflammation. They are a great | | | | removal of inflammation through steroid use also |
| temporary solution for pain, and a means to help | | | | results in tissue breakdown, specifically ligaments, |
| people return to enough activity to heal. In the case of | | | | cartilage, and surrounding joint capsules. Scary stuff, |
| the athlete, it's more complicated. | | | | right? |
| Many athletes suffer from injuries that may sideline | | | | Matthew Leach, of MLB.com, quoted Mr. Johnson to |
| them for weeks, months, or even full seasons. When | | | | have said: |
| push comes to shove, it's hard to 'sit out,' watch your | | | | "It wasn't going as planned, so the next step was to do |
| team losing, and sometimes even suffer without pay | | | | this," Johnson said. "Hopefully this will knock out the |
| during the entire process. Job security is based upon | | | | inflammation and whatever is in there and I'll be |
| performance, even if your injury isn't held against you, | | | | throwing soon. I'm getting antsy." |
| you have less total performances to 'show your stuff' | | | | Clearly, Tyler Johnson is feeling the social and possibly |
| and make a splash. Making a decision to 'return to play' | | | | financial pressures discussed above. Whether this |
| as fast as possible, rather than focusing on the | | | | cortisone shot breaks down the ligaments surrounding |
| long-term consequences of an action, is increasingly | | | | his shoulder or not, it certainly is not healing his rotator |
| difficult as today's athletes get better and better at | | | | cuff tendinitis. Only through proper rest and exercise |
| what they do. | | | | will he be able to have long-term success with his |
| Physical Therapy and Orthopedic literature suggest | | | | shoulder. |