How Fast Do Joint Injections in Richardson Work?

You’ve had enough. You’re done feeling this excruciating pain in your shoulder from an injury. In your online research, you’ve come across a potential solution: joint injections in Richardson. Your doctor can give you a shot of cortisone, a powerful anti-inflammatory medication, directly into your shoulder. This treatment is touted as an effective way to handle joint pain, but how soon will you feel the effects of the injection? To answer this question, you need to understand some other information first. Keep reading to learn more and get closer to finding relief.

How do cortisone shots work?

When you have pain in or around a joint in your body, many conditions could be to blame, including arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, and others. In most cases, the pain stems from inflammation. Although you can take anti-inflammatory medication orally, cortisone shots deliver the concentrated drug exclusively to the targeted area. Cortisone works to reduce the swelling and inflammation and thereafter the pain that you feel in joints.

When can I expect to feel better after joint injections?

Although the cortisone itself typically starts to work to reduce inflammation as soon as it’s administered, you may not feel relief from your joint pain until later. In general, joint injections can take about two to five days before the pain begins to subside. However, some patients have immediate results while others have to wait several weeks before relief comes. In rare cases, cortisone injections may have no effect at all on joint pain. In other cases, it may simply require another injection before the inflammation and the pain diminish.

What factors can influence how long it takes for the effects to kick in?

The timing of the effects of cortisone shots can vary patient to patient, somewhat based on the following factors:

• Severity of the inflammation. The higher the pain level, the longer it may take for relief to come.
• Duration of the inflammation. If your inflammation has been there for a while (i.e., chronic), it may take longer for the cortisone to reduce it enough to alleviate your pain.

How long will the pain relief last?

Just as it is difficult to predict exactly when the inflammation will be lowered enough to reduce your pain, guessing how long the cortisone shot will be effective is just—a guess. Some patients experience complete pain relief, but for others, the pain may return after several weeks or months.

You don’t have to suffer! Respite from joint pain is possible through cortisone shots. If you’ve been struggling with pain management in Richardson, you have a local resource to turn to. So what are you waiting for? Find a provider near you that can give you ease your pain with cortisone injections.

About the Practice

Richardson Pain & Wellness is a clinic that helps patients overcome chronic pain and other problems that make them feel unlike “themselves.” Cortisone injections are among the many effective treatments provided under the guidance of an experienced medical team. To schedule a free consultation with Richardson Pain & Wellness, you can click here or call (972) 907-1125.