Wonder drug: cortisone
(1944)

Not a pain-relieving drug as many think, synthetic cortisone is a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Cortisone is a type of steroid produced naturally by your adrenal gland and released when your body is stressed. Natural cortisone is released into the blood stream and is relatively short acting. Injectible cortisone is synthetically produced and has many different trade names (Celestone, Kenalog, Prednisone, etc.), but is a close derivative of the body’s own product. The most significant difference is that synthetic cortisone is not injected into the blood stream but into a particular area of inflammation. Also, the synthetic cortisone is designed to act more potently and for a longer period. When pain is decreased, it is because the inflammation is diminished. Many conditions where inflammation is an underlying problem are amenable to cortisone shots, including shoulder bursitis, arthritis, tennis elbow and carpel tunnel syndrome.

Cortisone – are there side effects?
Yes. Probably the most common is a “cortisone flare,” a condition where the injected cortisone crystallizes and can cause a period of pain worse than before the shot. This usually lasts a day or two and is best treated by icing the injected area. Beware: prolonged use of cortisone, especially when ingested orally, can have side effects ranging from inconsequential to horrific and must be carefully monitored by a physician specializing in internal medicine. However, by injecting cortisone into a particular area of inflammation, short-term use at very high concentrations can be given while keeping potential side effects to a minimum.