Corticosteroid Injections: What You Need to Know

At Function First Chiropractic, we often help patients manage joint, tendon, and nerve pain. Understandably, many of our patients ask about corticosteroid injections (also called cortisone shots) as a potential treatment option — and it’s important to understand both the benefits and the risks before deciding on a course of action.

First, a quick note: as a chiropractor, I am unable to provide corticosteroid injections. These are typically administered by medical doctors, such as sports medicine physicians or orthopedic surgeons.

Corticosteroids are a type of steroid medication that help reduce symptoms of inflammation — swelling, spasm, pain, and redness. They can be highly effective at helping patients feel more comfortable, which is why they are so commonly used. However, notice that I said they help manage pain, rather than treat it. Pain is a symptom, not the root cause of the problem.

At Function First Chiropractic, we focus on identifying and addressing the root cause of your pain, rather than just covering up symptoms. Our approach is holistic and proactive — and while corticosteroid injections have a place in care, we believe in exhausting conservative options first whenever possible.

When Corticosteroid Injections Are Typically Used

Corticosteroid injections are often recommended for conditions with a strong inflammatory component, such as:

• Osteoarthritis

• Bursitis

• Tendonitis

(You might notice these conditions all end in "-itis," indicating inflammation.)

They are also sometimes used for conditions like:

• Carpal tunnel syndrome (nerve compression)

• Spinal disc herniations

• Rotator cuff tears

Even in these cases, inflammation plays a major role. For example, with nerve compression injuries, the nerve itself often becomes inflamed, making corticosteroids a tool for managing that inflammation — not repairing the nerve or resolving the underlying cause.

Conservative Options for Managing Inflammation

Before considering injections, many patients can successfully manage pain and inflammation through conservative treatments, including:

• Ice and heat therapy

• Gentle movement and rest

• Decompression therapy

• Chiropractic adjustments

• Corrective exercise

• Cold laser therapy

• Massage therapy

• Acupuncture

• Dry needling

• Physical therapy

• Weight management

These options carry fewer risks and support true healing, not just symptom relief.

When Corticosteroid Injections Can Be Helpful

Sometimes, the level of pain and inflammation is too great for patients to tolerate even gentle conservative care. In these cases, a corticosteroid injection can serve as a bridge — temporarily reducing pain and swelling so that we can more effectively implement conservative treatments like corrective exercise and chiropractic care.

When used thoughtfully as part of a comprehensive care plan, corticosteroids can support recovery — but they should never be relied upon as a stand-alone solution.

Important Risks to Consider

Like all medications, corticosteroid injections come with potential side effects, including:

• Pain, bruising, or swelling at the injection site (usually temporary)

• Temporary increase in blood sugar levels (especially important for those with diabetes)

• Thinning of the skin over the injection site (with repeated injections)

More serious, although less common, risks include:

• Tendon rupture (occurs in less than 0.1% of cases)

• Nerve damage

• Accelerated cartilage damage, leading to faster joint degeneration

• Tendon weakening, increasing risk for future injuries

• Avascular necrosis, a serious condition where blood supply to a bone is compromised, causing permanent damage

It's important to note: most serious complications are linked to repeated or frequent injections. That’s why we advocate for using injections sparingly — reserving them for severe cases where conservative management alone isn’t enough.

Final Thoughts

To summarize:

• Corticosteroid injections are a powerful tool for managing inflammation-related symptoms — but they do not treat the root cause of an injury.

• Conservative therapies like chiropractic, massage, corrective exercise, and physical therapy are safer long-term solutions that address the true problem.

• Best practice is to use corticosteroid injections sparingly and always in combination with conservative care, especially corrective exercise.

• Multiple injections can increase the risk of serious complications and should be carefully considered.

As a member of our Function First family, you have access to comprehensive, conservative care designed to promote true healing. Dr. Taylor specializes in chiropractic care and corrective exercise strategies that aim to restore function, reduce pain naturally, and prevent future injuries — keeping you strong, mobile, and thriving!