Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), such as aspirin, ibuprofen and naprosyn are safe and effective, but only work on certain portions of the inflamed area. They do not have any effect on scar tissue. Tylenol is not an anti-inflammatory.

Although it is known too much cortisone is harmful, an absolute maximum number of injections has never been established. As long as the injections are providing a therapeutic benefit, a series of up to six injections is well-tolerated (most people only need one to two injections).

The benefit of a steroid injection is that it is a potent anti-inflammatory administered directly into the painful area. Absorption is very slow, so side effects are rare. However, the injections are fairly painful. The oral form of steroids are not painful, but they have more side effects and do not work directly on the […]

Corticosteroids are very safe and effective in low doses. Side effects usually involve facial flushing, insomnia, increased irritability and increased pain, and occur in less than 1 percent of patients.

When cells are injured, they release products called phospholipids. There are enzymes called phospholipases which convert phospholipids to arachidonic acid. Arachidonic acid (AA) is the chemical mediator of inflammation in the body. AA goes through several different chemical reactions (called oxygenation) to produce several chemical mediators of inflammation (leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and thromboxane). These chemicals have […]

Corticosteroids have many metabolic functions, the most potent and primary function being their anti-inflammatory properties.

Steroids are hormones produced by the body that have many metabolic functions. The steroids VM podiatrists use for controlling inflammation are called corticosteroids. They are produced by the cortex of your adrenal glands — the glands above your kidneys. Therapeutic steroids are synthetic analogs of the body’s naturally occurring corticosteroids, cortisone and hydrocortisone, and come […]