How do steroids help arthritis?
ANSWER
Steroids (short for corticosteroids) are man-made drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your adrenal glands make. They work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the immune system. Steroid injections are one of the most effective ways to ease pain and improve your ability to move, but they generally don't cure the illness.
Steroids treat a variety of inflammatory diseases and conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and gout. Steroid injections can be added to a treatment program that may already include pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, physical therapy, occupational therapy, or supportive devices such as canes and braces.
Reviewed by David Zelman on June 1, 2020
SOURCES:
Mayo Clinic: "Cortisone shots."
Arthritis Foundation: "Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Treatment Options."
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: "Arthritis."
MedicineNet: "Steroids to Treat Arthritis."
Medscape: "Corticosteroid Injections of Joints and Soft Tissues."
Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance: "Corticosteroids."
SOURCES:
Mayo Clinic: "Cortisone shots."
Arthritis Foundation: "Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis: Treatment Options."
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases: "Arthritis."
MedicineNet: "Steroids to Treat Arthritis."
Medscape: "Corticosteroid Injections of Joints and Soft Tissues."
Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance: "Corticosteroids."
From: Steroid Injections
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