Steroid Injections

One of the hormones your body produces is cortisol, which helps the body deal with stress and inflammation. Corticosteroids are a man-made version of cortisol that is used as a treatment option for many different conditions. If you have inflammation causing joint, back or muscle pain, steroid injections may be recommended to offer relief. At Primary Care Joliet, we can perform corticosteroid injections at our medical centers in Wilmington and Joliet, IL.

Corticosteroids are very different from anabolic steroids that are taken for muscle building. Corticosteroids are a medical treatment that can help your body reduce inflammation that occurs when there is an injury or disease impacting soft tissues and joints. Corticosteroids can be taken orally or by injection, but injection therapy is the preferred delivery method. This bypasses the digestive system which can reduce harmful side effects caused by steroid treatments.

What Conditions Are Treated By Corticosteroids?

Anything that causes excess inflammation may be a condition that can be benefited from a steroid injection. There are immune system diseases that cause inflammation throughout the body, from allergies to rheumatoid arthritis. These diseases allow the body to attack itself, resulting in inflammation. Injuries can also cause inflammation as the body tries to protect the injured tissue. Some of the conditions that may be treated with a steroid injection include:

• Arthritis – osteoarthritis, rheumatoid, gout and other varieties
• Muscle or tendon strains
• Ligament sprains
• Allergic reactions
• Lupus
• Multiple sclerosis
• Bursitis
• Tendonitis
• Back/neck pain or sciatica
• Plantar fasciitis

Steroid injections need to be carefully placed to ensure the medication is delivered to the exact location. Some steroid injections may be guided by imaging to ensure the needle and medication are in the right position, especially in tight areas within the spine or joints.

Steroid injections can relieve inflammation for pain relief and may be used as a diagnostic tool to determine the cause of pain or discomfort. If you have an inflammatory condition that could benefit from a steroid injection, contact our team at Primary Care Joliet. Call our center in Wilmington or Joliet, IL, to book your appointment.