Steroid injections in shoulder
Overall, exercise is the most effective shoulder pain treatment. However, severe shoulder pain sometimes limits the amount of exercise that can be done. In these cases, steroid injections in the shoulder directed to a painful structure can reduce pain and allow for more exercise.
Diseased tendons or arthritic joints release inflammation that causes pain. Cortisone is a powerful drug that reduces inflammation and therefore pain. So, reducing pain can help with exercise therapy.
A vast majority of shoulder injections are steroid injections (also known as corticosteroid injections), but we also inject Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP).
Type of Injection:
1/ Steroid Injections
Steroid is a strong anti-inflammatory medication that can provide rapid pain relief and restoration of movement. Steroid injections are very effective at relieving night pain in conditions such as frozen shoulder, sub-acromial bursitis and tendon complaints. They are often used to provide a ‘window of opportunity’ to allow you to engage in a comprehensive physiotherapy program.
2/Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) injections involve taking the patients’ blood, spinning it in a centrifuge and separating the blood. The PRP is then injected into the joint. This can be used for rotator cuff tears and shoulder osteoarthritis. This is a relatively new technique but has had some promising results in the literature.