Cortisone Injections..local podiatrist, Amy Hawker Talks
What is a Cortisone Injection?
Cortisone injections are used to help with extreme pain. Sometimes, traditional treatment options fail to help your injury. Have you tried changing your shoes? Have you tried orthotics and other therapies with little success? Well, maybe a Cortisone injection can help. Cortisone is a high strength anti-inflammatory drug. It is injected into injured tissue. Cortisone injections can reduce inflammation. They can relieve pain caused by your injury and promote healing.
Can all podiatrists prescribe cortisone for injections?
Unfortunately not all podiatrists can prescribe cortisone. Podiatrists need to additional training to prescribe medicines. I have completed extra training for endorsement for prescription medicines.. As a result of this study I am qualified and endorsed to prescribe medicines. In other words, I can prescribe and use cortisone to treat specific injuries.
Is Cortisone safe? Does it hurt?
Cortisone is a very safe and effective drug. We don’t use cortisone as a first line of treatment. In fact, most injuries often respond well to many other treatments. However, if your pain has been there a while we may need to try an injection. Cortisone can help with long standing pain. A cortisone injection can be a bit uncomfortable. In fact all injections can be. However, I can perform these injections under local anaesthetic. Consequently, the anaesthetic helps ease the discomfort as much as possible.
Common Injuries
Cortisone injections can be used for many sport injuries. Often they are used in addition to other treatment options. Here is a list of common foot and ankle injuries where a cortisone injections can be used.
Bursitis
Tendonitis
Sinus Tarsi Syndrome
Chronic Ankle Pain
Ganglion Cysts
Plantar fasciosis
A cortisone injection isn’t always a quick fix. As a result, it can sometimes take 2-3 weeks to see the full benefits. Therefore your main may not reduce right away. Despite this, in many cases immediate relief can be attained.
Cortisone Injection – What can I expect?
We use an alcohol swab to clean your skin. Therefore, the skin is sterilised to prevent infection. A small needle is used to administer and direct the cortisone into your injured tissue. We use very thin and small needles to make sure your are comfortable. Despite this, you may feel a little pain but it doesn’t last long. To numb the area we use an anesthetic. In other words, you won’t feel much discomfort. You may experience numbness from the injection. It can sometimes last for several hours after your procedure. It s important to rest for at least 24 hours afterwards.
So what next?
Finally, if you have an injury and nothing has worked for you. Then cortisone may be an option for you. Phone our clinic to speak to one of our team!
Amy Hawker
Senior and endorsed podiatrist