You can usually drive after a cortisone injection if you feel fine, but it's often safer to have someone drive you home or wait a few hours, especially if the injection was in a limb used for driving (foot, hand, wrist) due to potential temporary numbness, weakness, dizziness, or pain that could affect your ability to control the vehicle safely. Always follow your doctor's specific advice, as recommendations vary, but waiting at least 24 hours, avoiding strenuous activity, and resting the area for 24-48 hours are common guidelines to prevent issues.
Most people leave their injection feeling fine. Injections into the sacroiliac joint can sometimes make the leg feel weak for 2-3 hours. In these instances, some people may need a ride home.
After a cortisone shot, your care team might ask that you:
Cortisone injections are a treatment method often prescribed by GPs that can be a great way to treat bursitis. Ideally, they are performed under ultrasound, and can reduce the inflammation of the bursa quickly.
If you experience a post-injection steroid flare wait until it has passed prior to driving again (typically a few days after the injection). Ensure you can perform an emergency brake before starting to drive again. Contact your insurance company if you have any concerns.
You should only drive after a cortisone injection if it's clinically safe for you to do so. If you feel drowsy, numb, or weak following your injection, you shouldn't drive. It's best to bring someone else to your injection appointment with you so you won't need to drive afterwards.
The most painful places for a cortisone shot are typically small, sensitive areas with dense nerve endings, like the palm of the hand, sole of the foot (plantar fascia), fingers, toes, or ankle joints, because they have less space for the medicine and more surface nerves compared to larger joints like the shoulder or knee. Pain is also worse if the tissue is already severely inflamed, and the needle size can play a role.
Compared to cortisone injections, PRP therapy offers several advantages: Reduced risk of side effects: PRP is derived from the patient's own blood, minimizing the risk of allergic reactions or other adverse effects.
Corticosteroids have a short-term immunosuppressant effect and can make it harder for your body to fight an infection and heal itself. People who take blood-thinning medications (anticoagulants) or have a bleeding disorder (like hemophilia) may not be able to receive steroid injections.
Yes, many GPs and some specialists offer bulk billed cortisone injections, meaning no out-of-pocket cost to you.
You can walk immediately after your cortisone injection but avoid heavy activity and keep movement gentle for the first 24 to 48 hours. Use ice and rest to manage discomfort and avoid aggravating the injection site.
Since steroids cause your body to retain more water, it's also common to experience urinary frequency, says Kaplan. Just knowing that this can potentially happen — and that it will soon pass — can help. “It's not something to worry about,” she says. “It's not a long-lasting symptom; it will improve within a few days.”
After the injection
In most cases you should aim to have 24-48hours of relative rest. During this time youshould avoid strenuous or impacting exercise.
There is no formal limit on the number of cortisone shots you can receive, and the frequency will depend on the patient's specific circumstances.
It can take several days for the steroid to begin to work and may take up to 2 weeks for it to have maximum effect. If required, a simple analgesic such as paracetamol (Panadol) or anti-inflammatory should be sufficient. An ice pack may also provide some relief.
Our doctors recommend limiting this treatment to one or two injections separated by four to six months. If pain persists, doctors may recommend surgery to relieve symptoms. The site of injection may be swollen or tender for one or two days.
The length of pain relief after a cortisone shot depends on the condition being treated, how long it has been present, and which part of the body is being injected. If a cortisone shot is working for the patient, it can last at least 3 to 6 months, and sometimes longer.
Based on these findings we have something called as Rule of 2. If a patient consumed 20mg/day or more Cortisone or its equivalent, for a duration of 2 weeks or more, within 2 years then the dosage of the steroid medication should be doubled preoperatively.
Some medicines that corticosteroids could interact with include:
If the initial cortisone shot didn't work, your doctor may recommend trying steroid injections. Steroid injections use a different type of steroid than cortisone to reduce inflammation and pain. These injections are usually given directly into the joint or the surrounding tissue.
Corticosteroid Injection
Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory medications that are very effective in alleviating pain caused by joint inflammation. For some people, this medication can provide long-lasting relief when injected directly into a joint.
While there's no single "strongest," Omega-3 fatty acids (from fatty fish) and curcumin (from turmeric) are consistently cited as highly potent natural anti-inflammatories, alongside powerful antioxidants from fruits and vegetables like blueberries, plus herbs like ginger and garlic, all working to reduce inflammation pathways. A comprehensive anti-inflammatory diet emphasizes these foods, though Omega-3s and curcumin often stand out for their significant impact.
A hydrocortisone injection usually takes a few days to start working, although sometimes they work in just a few hours. How many hydrocortisone injections will I need? This depends on your joint pain.
Steroid injections should generally not be used when you have congestive heart failure, kidney diseases, diabetes, or if you have an active infection. Side effects that may occur are tenderness to the injection site, swelling of the area, redness or warming in the chest or face, or a temporary increase in blood sugar.
Depending on the site, average injection pain was 3.1–4.5 on a 10-point scale.