Steroid injections can help reduce inflammation and pain, but they come with risks, and their use is declining, especially for direct joint, tendon, and ligament treatments. While steroids may provide temporary relief, they do not heal damaged tissues and can cause cartilage breakdown, tendon weakening or rupture, bone loss, and increased infection risk. These concerns have led many experts to recommend alternative treatments.

Before receiving a steroid injection, inform your provider if you have diabetes, high blood pressure, an infection, or any allergies. Steroids can raise blood sugar and suppress the immune system, increasing the risk of complications. If you take blood thinners, you may need to adjust them before treatment. Steroids may also be avoided if you are pregnant, immunocompromised, or have osteoporosis due to potential long-term effects.

After an injection, you may experience temporary soreness, swelling, flushing, mood changes, or sleep disturbances, but these effects usually fade within a few days. However, repeated steroid use has been linked to joint degeneration, tendon damage, and delayed healing, leading many specialists to limit their use.

For safer alternatives, local anesthetic injections can provide pain relief without the risks of steroids. Regenerative therapies such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and Bone Marrow derived treatments offer promising options by stimulating the body’s natural healing process rather than masking symptoms. These approaches may be an alternative as they may promote long-term recovery while avoiding steroid-related complications.

If you are considering a steroid injection, talk to your doctor about potential alternative and risks so you are best informed about your healthcare decisions.