Synthetic anti-inflammatory mimics natural process
Cortisone was one of the major prescription drug breakthroughs of the 20th century, but today it is over prescribed.

Synthetic cortisone is not a pain-relieving drug as many think, but rather a powerful anti-inflammatory medication. Cortisone is a type of steroid produced naturally by your adrenal gland and released when your body is stressed.

Injectible cortisone is synthetically produced. It has many different trade names, Celestone, Kenalog, Prednisone, etc., and 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 the inflamed area. Pain is decreased because inflammation is diminished. Many conditions where inflammation is an underlying problem are helped by cortisone shots, including shoulder bursitis, arthritis, tennis elbow and carpel tunnel syndrome.

Cortisone can be given on a short-term basis at very high concentrations while keeping potential side effects to a minimum. Probably the most common side effect 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: A physician specializing in internal medicine must carefully monitor your intake of cortisone. Prolonged use of cortisone, especially when ingested orally, can have side effects ranging from inconsequential to horrific. In extreme cases, it can lead to obesity, hair growth in unusual places or a buffalo hump.