Holistic Approaches for Reducing Pain and Inflammation

10. Efficacy

The long term risks of cortisone shots should be weighed against short term benefits, though this greatly depends on what the injection is treating. For example, studies show that steroid injections are more effective at treating tendonitis than some other treatments, though there are no long-term benefits. Studies have also shown that overuse of cortisone injections for the treatment of arthritis in the knee may contribute to worsening outcomes, particularly since most patients live for decades following the onset of the condition.