Corticosteroid infiltration

Corticosteroid infiltration is the injection of corticosteroid into a muscle or joint. This method is often used to treat pain and inflammation (e.g. joint inflammation, tendonitis, bursitis, muscle stiffness, arthrosis) directly at the site of origin. Symptom relief often occurs within a few hours or a few days after the injection, but can vary from person to person. The number of infiltrations depends on the diagnosis, the severity of the inflammation and the patient's response to treatment.

Infiltration with corticosteroid can only ever be regarded as one aspect of a comprehensive therapy. It is only effective in combination with other conservative measures such as physiotherapy and physical applications.

Corticosteroid injections should not be used in a tendon, but only in the surrounding tissue, nor should they be used in cases of diabetes mellitus, glaucoma, pregnancy or corticosteroid intolerance.

The concern that orthopaedic corticosteroid injections can lead to obesity, osteoporosis or mood swings is unfounded. This only applies to the oral use of corticosteroid in high doses over many years.