Cortisone shots are a common and effective treatment option for hip pain. These injections deliver a potent anti-inflammatory medication directly into the hip joint or surrounding tissues. Their primary purpose is to reduce inflammation, which can alleviate pain and improve mobility. While offering significant short-term relief, they are often part of a broader treatment plan.
Understanding Cortisone Injections
Cortisone is a synthetic version of cortisol, a steroid hormone naturally produced by the adrenal glands in response to stress and injury. When injected, cortisone acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent, mimicking the body’s natural response to inflammation.
Cortisone works by suppressing the immune system’s inflammatory pathways, reducing swelling, redness, and pain. While cortisone itself is not a pain medication, its ability to reduce inflammation indirectly lessens pain and can restore function.
Conditions Treated by Hip Cortisone Shots
Cortisone injections manage pain and inflammation from various hip conditions. One common application is treating hip osteoarthritis, a degenerative joint disease where cartilage breaks down. The injection targets the inflamed joint lining, offering relief from discomfort.
Hip bursitis, particularly trochanteric bursitis, often benefits from cortisone shots. Bursae are fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints; when inflamed, they cause significant pain. Cortisone injected into the inflamed bursa effectively reduces this localized inflammation.
Inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout affecting the hip, may also be treated. Certain types of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) can be managed to alleviate associated inflammation and pain. These injections can also serve a diagnostic purpose; immediate pain relief helps confirm the hip joint as the source of discomfort.
The Hip Injection Procedure
Receiving a cortisone shot in the hip involves several steps to ensure accuracy and patient comfort. The patient lies on an examination table, and the skin around the hip is thoroughly cleaned with an antiseptic solution. A local anesthetic is then applied to numb the injection site, minimizing discomfort from the needle insertion.
Imaging guidance is routinely employed for hip injections due to the depth and complexity of the joint, ensuring precise placement of the medication. Fluoroscopy, a type of real-time X-ray, or ultrasound imaging are commonly used. These technologies allow the healthcare provider to visualize the hip joint and surrounding structures, guiding the needle directly to the inflamed area.
Once the needle is accurately positioned, a small amount of contrast dye may be injected to confirm proper placement within the joint space. Following this, a mixture of corticosteroid and local anesthetic is slowly injected. The procedure is generally quick, often taking only a few minutes for the actual injection once preparation is complete.
Outcomes and Considerations
Following a hip cortisone injection, pain relief outcomes vary. Many experience immediate, short-term relief from the local anesthetic, lasting a few hours. Cortisone’s anti-inflammatory effects typically begin within one to two days, with significant improvement felt within three to seven days. Relief can last from a few weeks to several months, though results vary, and some may experience minimal or no relief.
Post-injection, it is common to experience a temporary increase in pain or a “cortisone flare” for one to two days, which typically subsides. Potential side effects include temporary increases in blood sugar levels for individuals with diabetes, facial flushing, and bruising at the injection site. Rarer, more serious risks include infection, allergic reactions, or damage to nearby tissues like cartilage or tendons with repeated injections. Healthcare providers typically limit the number of injections into a single joint to three or four per year, often spaced at least three months apart, to minimize these risks. After the procedure, resting the hip for 24-48 hours and applying ice can help manage any discomfort.