Corticosteroids are medications, such as hydrocortisone, cortisone and prednisone, used to treat a variety of conditions, states the Mayo Clinic. These medications work by reducing inflammation related to certain condition, such as asthma, lupus or arthritis. Doctors can deliver corticosteroids by mouth, intranasally, as a topical cream or by injection. Injections are the preferred method of corticosteroid administration for localized treatments because they help prevent serious systemic side effects that may occur with oral treatments.
Infection
A serious complication associated with corticosteroid injections is infection. You doctor will sterilize the injection site and use new, sterile needles to reduce this complication. However, infection is always a possibility. Look for severe pain at the injection site, in addition to redness, warmth or drainage if you suspect an infection. Additionally, let your doctor know if you have an achy joint after a joint injection because this may be a sign of a serious joint infection. Medications can treat most infections, but serious infections may require hospital treatment. Reduce your risk of infection by keeping the injection site clean and dry after the procedure.
Skin Complications
Injected corticosteroids may cause certain complications of the skin. According to the Mayo Clinic, complications include pain near the site of injection, shrinking of soft tissue and loss of color in the skin. For most corticosteroid injections, your doctor will likely numb the area with an anesthetic before injecting corticosteroid to reduce your pain. Soft tissue shrinkage and loss of skin color may occur after repeated injections in the same location. Therefore, be sure to remind your doctor of previous injection sites to avoid these long-term skin complications.
Nerve Damage
In rare cases, damage to nerves can occur with corticosteroid injections, reports Medline Plus. This complication is particular to spinal epidural or nerve root block injections. Because your doctor will use live x-ray, or fluoroscopy, to do this procedure, a nerve puncture is rare, but can occur. Be sure to let your doctor know of any shooting pain or sensation that you feel during the procedure. Although, shooting pains are a sign of correct placement of the medication, extreme pain that does not resolve may be a sign of nerve damage. Therefore, communication with your doctor is important in preventing this complication.
About this Author
Jacques Courseault is a fourth-year medical student who plans to practice physical medicine and rehabilitation. He is the fitness editor for Dr.Gourmet.com, founder and writer of Exercise Menu, and co-founder of Don’t Weight to Lose.
