MEDICAL EFFECTS OF STEROID INJECTIONS
Injection therapy is a treatment that can be prescribed by our podiatrists at Posture Podiatry Glasgow for the improvement of painful foot and ankle conditions that are associated with inflammation. The effects of the injection are usually noticeable after 2-3 days.
to treat pain associated with inflammation. Inflammation can occur in a number of joints and soft tissues of the ankle and foot, resulting in pain, restricted movement, and impaired function. A steroid is not a painkiller directly, instead, it is a powerful anti-inflammatory. The steroid's ability to reduce inflammation means that it can reduce the pain that is the result of inflammation.
Analgesic effect
When an area becomes inflamed it becomes swollen, this swelling places increased pressure on the nerve endings at that site leading to pain and discomfort. The substance which is injected into the joint known as cortisone is produced naturally by the adrenal gland and has a strong anti-inflammatory effect on the body. It has the ability to prevent capillaries from becoming dilated and leaking blood into the surrounding tissues.
Steroid injections contain cortisone and a local anesthetic. The cortisone that the body produces naturally is released into the bloodstream and is short-acting (it does not last long), whereas the cortisone that is used at Posture Podiatry Glasgow is a synthetic form that is delivered directly to where it is needed, this means it does not go into the bloodstream and so systemic side effects are avoided. The synthetic cortisone used in injection therapy is long-acting, giving greater respite from symptoms because the effects last much longer.
Benefits of steroid injections
- Provides relief from pain and discomfort
- Helps to improve range of motion at the joint
- Allows the patient to return to normal activity if function has been compromised
- Reduces swelling and inflammation at the affected joint
- Steroid injections have fewer side effects than oral steroids
- Has a faster onset than other anti-inflammatories
How to book and costs
Initial assessment plus follow up appointment to carryout injection £220
Download all the information on Steroid Injections
This information booklet covers all the details on steroid injections.
