BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuSteroid injections - tendon, bursa, jointCorticosteroid injection; Cortisone injection; Bursitis - steroid; Tendonitis - steroidA steroid injection is a shot of medicine used to relieve a swollen or inflamed area that is often painful. It can be injected into a joint, tendon, or bursa. Description Your health care provider inserts a small needle and injects medicine into the painful and inflamed area. Depending on the site, your provider may use an x-ray or ultrasound to see where to place the needle.For this procedure:You will lie on a table or sit in a chair and the injection area will be cleaned. A numbing medicine may be applied to the injection site. Steroid injections can be given into a bursa, joint, or tendon.BURSAA bursa is a sac filled with fluid that acts as a cushion between tendons, bones, and joints. Swelling in the bursa is called bursitis. Using a small needle, your provider will inject a small amount of corticosteroid and a local anesthetic into the bursa.JOINTAny joint problem, such as arthritis, can cause inflammation and pain. Your provider will place a needle in your joint. Sometimes ultrasound or an x-ray machine may be used to see where exactly the needle's location is. Your provider may then remove any excess fluid in the joint using a syringe attached to the needle. Your provider will then exchange the syringe and a small amount of corticosteroid and a local anesthetic will be injected into the joint.TENDONA tendon is a band of fibers that connects muscle to bone. Soreness in the tendon causes tendonitis. Your provider will put a needle directly adjacent to the tendon and inject a small amount of corticosteroid and a local anesthetic.You will be given a local anesthetic along with the steroid injection to relieve your pain right away. The steroid can take up to 5 to 7 days or so to start working. Why the Procedure Is Performed This procedure aims to relieve pain and inflammation in a bursa, joint, or tendon. Risks Risks of steroid injection may include:Pain and bruising at the site of the injection Swelling Irritation and discoloration of the skin at the injection site Allergic reaction to the medicine Infection Bleeding in the bursa, joint, or tendon Damage to nerves near the joint or soft tissue An increase in your blood glucose level for several days after the injection if you have diabetes Before the Procedure Your provider will tell you about the advantages and possible risks of the injection.Tell your provider about any:Health problems Medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and supplements Allergies History of diabetes and how well your blood sugar level has been controlledAsk your provider if you should have someone to drive you home. After the Procedure The procedure takes little time. You can go home the same day.You might have slight swelling and redness around the injection site. If you have swelling, apply ice over the site for 15 to 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times per day. Use an ice pack wrapped in a cloth. DO NOT apply ice directly to skin. Avoid a lot of activity the day you get the shot.If you have diabetes, your provider will advise you to check your glucose level more often for 1 to 5 days. The steroid that was injected can raise your blood sugar level, most often only by a small amount.Look for pain, redness, swelling, or fever. Contact your provider if these signs are becoming worse. Outlook (Prognosis) You may notice a decrease in your pain for the first few hours after the shot. This is due to the numbing medicine. However, this effect will wear off.After the numbing medicine wears off, the same pain you were having before may return. This may last several days. The effect of the injection will start usually 5 to 7 days after the injection. This can decrease your symptoms.At some point, most people feel less or no pain in the tendon, bursa, or joint after a steroid injection. Depending on the problem, your pain may or may not return.Open ReferencesReferencesAdler RS. Musculoskeletal interventions. In: Rumack CM, Levine D, eds. Diagnostic Ultrasound. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 25.Gupta N. Treatment of bursitis, tendinitis, and trigger points. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 52.Saunders S, Longworth S. Practical guidelines for injection therapy in musculoskeletal medicine. In: Saunders S, Longworth S, eds. Injection Techniques in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:section 2.Waldman SD. Deep infrapaterellar bursa injection. In: Waldman SD, ed. Atlas of Pain Management Injection Techniques. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 160.AllVideoImagesTogA Closer Look Foot pain - InDepth(In-Depth)Related Information Review Date: 6/8/2022 Reviewed By: C. Benjamin Ma, MD, Professor, Chief, Sports Medicine and Shoulder Service, UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, San Francisco, CA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. 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Steroid injections - tendon, bursa, jointCorticosteroid injection; Cortisone injection; Bursitis - steroid; Tendonitis - steroidA steroid injection is a shot of medicine used to relieve a swollen or inflamed area that is often painful. It can be injected into a joint, tendon, or bursa. Description Your health care provider inserts a small needle and injects medicine into the painful and inflamed area. Depending on the site, your provider may use an x-ray or ultrasound to see where to place the needle.For this procedure:You will lie on a table or sit in a chair and the injection area will be cleaned. A numbing medicine may be applied to the injection site. Steroid injections can be given into a bursa, joint, or tendon.BURSAA bursa is a sac filled with fluid that acts as a cushion between tendons, bones, and joints. Swelling in the bursa is called bursitis. Using a small needle, your provider will inject a small amount of corticosteroid and a local anesthetic into the bursa.JOINTAny joint problem, such as arthritis, can cause inflammation and pain. Your provider will place a needle in your joint. Sometimes ultrasound or an x-ray machine may be used to see where exactly the needle's location is. Your provider may then remove any excess fluid in the joint using a syringe attached to the needle. Your provider will then exchange the syringe and a small amount of corticosteroid and a local anesthetic will be injected into the joint.TENDONA tendon is a band of fibers that connects muscle to bone. Soreness in the tendon causes tendonitis. Your provider will put a needle directly adjacent to the tendon and inject a small amount of corticosteroid and a local anesthetic.You will be given a local anesthetic along with the steroid injection to relieve your pain right away. The steroid can take up to 5 to 7 days or so to start working. Why the Procedure Is Performed This procedure aims to relieve pain and inflammation in a bursa, joint, or tendon. Risks Risks of steroid injection may include:Pain and bruising at the site of the injection Swelling Irritation and discoloration of the skin at the injection site Allergic reaction to the medicine Infection Bleeding in the bursa, joint, or tendon Damage to nerves near the joint or soft tissue An increase in your blood glucose level for several days after the injection if you have diabetes Before the Procedure Your provider will tell you about the advantages and possible risks of the injection.Tell your provider about any:Health problems Medicines you take, including over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and supplements Allergies History of diabetes and how well your blood sugar level has been controlledAsk your provider if you should have someone to drive you home. After the Procedure The procedure takes little time. You can go home the same day.You might have slight swelling and redness around the injection site. If you have swelling, apply ice over the site for 15 to 20 minutes, 2 to 3 times per day. Use an ice pack wrapped in a cloth. DO NOT apply ice directly to skin. Avoid a lot of activity the day you get the shot.If you have diabetes, your provider will advise you to check your glucose level more often for 1 to 5 days. The steroid that was injected can raise your blood sugar level, most often only by a small amount.Look for pain, redness, swelling, or fever. Contact your provider if these signs are becoming worse. Outlook (Prognosis) You may notice a decrease in your pain for the first few hours after the shot. This is due to the numbing medicine. However, this effect will wear off.After the numbing medicine wears off, the same pain you were having before may return. This may last several days. The effect of the injection will start usually 5 to 7 days after the injection. This can decrease your symptoms.At some point, most people feel less or no pain in the tendon, bursa, or joint after a steroid injection. Depending on the problem, your pain may or may not return.Open ReferencesReferencesAdler RS. Musculoskeletal interventions. In: Rumack CM, Levine D, eds. Diagnostic Ultrasound. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2018:chap 25.Gupta N. Treatment of bursitis, tendinitis, and trigger points. In: Roberts JR, Custalow CB, Thomsen TW, eds. Roberts and Hedges' Clinical Procedures in Emergency Medicine and Acute Care. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 52.Saunders S, Longworth S. Practical guidelines for injection therapy in musculoskeletal medicine. In: Saunders S, Longworth S, eds. Injection Techniques in Musculoskeletal Medicine. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:section 2.Waldman SD. Deep infrapaterellar bursa injection. In: Waldman SD, ed. Atlas of Pain Management Injection Techniques. 5th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 160.