The Dark Side of Cortisone Shots: Joint Deterioration

You have no doubt heard about “steroids.” By the way, this is a terrible term! It causes nothing but confusion. We promise not to overwhelm you with chemistry. The core structure of steroids can be found in hormones like estrogen, progesterone and testosterone as well as in corticosteroids like cortisone and prednisone. The steroid injections we are referring have nothing to do with body building. This is all about cortisone shots for joint pain and inflammation.

Structural chemical formulas of corticosteroids (glucocorticoids): cortisol, cortisone, corticosterone

A Quick Overview of Cortisone:

A patient with rheumatoid arthritis first received cortisone just over 70 years ago. The results were impressive enough that doctors quickly embraced cortisone as a treatment for this crippling disease. By the early 1950s, patients were taking cortisone orally and receiving cortisone shots in their joints (Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, Sept-Oct. 2011). 

Cortisone was hailed as a miracle cure for rheumatoid arthritis. It reduced the pain and inflammation that crippled many patients.

People who relied upon crutches or wheelchairs to move could suddenly get around on their own. Doctors who prescribed oral cortisone or administered cortisone shots were seen as heroes by patients in pain.

The Darker Side of Corticosteroids Emerges:

Before long, however, the dark side of corticosteroids began to appear. Patients taking high doses for long periods of time experienced side effects such as hypertension, heart failure, diabetes, loss of potassium, blood clots, weight gain, cataracts, glaucoma, muscle weakness, bone loss and fractures.

A close family friend ended up with severe osteoporosis and horrible fractures after taking high-dose cortisone for many years. 

Once doctors realized that there were serious tradeoffs to long-term, high-dose treatment with corticosteroids, they became more discriminating. Nowadays, drugs like prednisone are mostly reserved for serious conditions such as Addison’s disease, Crohn’s disease, lupus and cancers such as leukemia and multiple myeloma.

When people experience severe asthma attacks or life-threatening allergic reactions, they may get cortisone shots in an emergency department. We have no quarrel with such treatments.

You can read about my personal story with prednisone. This corticosteroid reversed my sudden deafness (idiopathic sudden sensorineural hearing loss). Here is a link:

Prednisone Side Effects: Deal With The Devil?

Cortisone Shots: A Risky Tradeoff?

Doctors often offer athletes and older patients with arthritis steroid injections into sore joints. There is a widespread belief that such cortisone shots can provide “localized” treatment.

Many people, including some health professionals, believe that the injection of a corticosteroid such as methylprednisolone, betamethasone or triamcinolone into a joint can ease symptoms without systemic (whole body) side effects. There is growing awareness that conception may be way too optimistic.

Cortisone Shots and Joint Deterioration:

A review in the journal Radiology (Oct. 15, 2019) highlights some unpleasant reactions to such injections.  Among the most worrisome is that corticosteroids can accelerate the progression of osteoarthritis in that joint. In addition, if the bone tissue has begun to die (osteonecrosis), the steroid injection can make that worse. Certain types of stress fractures also become more likely, along with bone loss and rapid joint destruction.

Benefitting from Cortisone Shots:

Some people who have had such injections have been very pleased with the results.

One reader remarked:

“At around 60 years old, I’d have been unable to continue my daily 25-minute walk had I not had a knee injection. It did not hurt much. A few years later, I repeated it.

“Since then (I’m 71 now), I’ve not had any significant problems and have walked every day. I strengthen my knees at home with easy exercise and eat a very nutritious diet that keeps me thin.”

Lizzie reports benefit from cortisone shots:

“I had three instances of corticosteroid injection in a hip joint for severe bursitis. It didn’t hurt. It helped. Bursitis cleared up with no relapse in the past thirty years. No arthritis or joint problems in hips again. So far!”

A Darker Side of Cortisone Shots:

Others have not had such good results.

According to another reader:

“I recently had two cortisone injections at one time, hip and sacroiliac joint. I was immediately so anxious I was in agony. I am still having trouble sleeping after three weeks. My blood pressure shot up to 170 over 85 for a few days. My blood sugar levels were also unusually high.

“I lost 4 pounds in a week, although I was eating as usual. All in all, it was a horrible experience. And only one of the two injections relieved my pain. I will never have another cortisone shot.”

This reader’s experience demonstrates that even local treatments can have effects throughout the body. Insomnia, anxiety, hypertension and elevated blood sugar are well recognized systemic reactions to corticosteroids.

Taylor has seemingly experienced rapid knee deterioration from steroid injections:

“I am only 30 but I have already had eight knee surgeries. I used to get cortisone shots to get through a season. They worked great. I didn’t think there were any problems getting the injections every year. My doctors administered them willingly.

“I now have extremely bad arthritis. I am waiting to get a total knee replacement. The trick is finding a doctor who will perform this surgery on someone my age. It is interesting to think that those many years of cortisone shots might have actually made my knee problems get worse faster.”

Rose has a somewhat similar story:

“I have had a cortisone injection in both my knees every 3-4 months for the past four years. Now I have bone on bone osteoarthritis in both knees.

“When I would ask my doctor if there was any danger from the cortisone shots he would always say no. He said that I could continue to get them every three months. My last shot in my left knee was three weeks ago. I got no relief at all.

“I am finally going to bite the bullet and have a total knee replacement. I fear that when they cut me open my joints and leg bones may not be strong enough to hold the replacement.”

Balancing Benefits and Risks of Cortisone Shots:

As you can tell, some people benefit from corticosteroid injections. This seems to be especially true if there is localized inflammation such as bursitis. If the cortisone shots are not administered too often, it is conceivable that lasting damage can be prevented.

On the other hand, the evidence is mounting that frequent injections can lead to joint damage. You can read much more about the actual mechanism whereby this happens at this link:

Corticosteroid Injections in Joints Accelerate Arthritis

Learn a lot more about other ways to deal with arthritis in our eGuide to Alternatives for Arthritis. This online resource is available at this link.

Share your own experience with cortisone shots in the comment section below. We would love to hear both sides of this controversial subject.

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