| Doctors often inject cortisone-type medications into | | | | treatment is indicated, but sometimes they persist |
| painful damaged joints and tendons. Single injections | | | | for months to cause pain, particularly in the fascia on |
| can relieve pain and swelling and appear to be safe, | | | | the bottom or back of the heel, in the large tendon |
| but repeated injections can damage joints and delay | | | | in the back of the lower leg, or in the tendons on the |
| healing. | | | | elbows or shoulders. Cortisone-type drugs reduce |
| Scientists in Greece injected cortisone-type drugs | | | | swelling and lessen pain and can allow an athlete or |
| repeatedly into the joints of rabbits and showed that | | | | exerciser to get back to sports, but cortisone |
| they damage cartilage. A paper in the Journal of Bone | | | | injections weaken the tendons for more than 84 |
| and Joint Surgery shows that the injecting | | | | days. |
| cortisone-type medications repeatedly into injured | | | | If you suffer chronic pain in the tendons, muscles, |
| tendons and ligaments, delays healing and weakens | | | | ligaments or fascia, check with your doctor to see if |
| tissue. | | | | you have a chronic disease causing it, such as arthritis |
| In light of these findings, you would think that | | | | or hepatitis. The non-steroidals that are usually |
| doctors would stop injecting joints and tendons. | | | | prescribed block pain but do not help tissue to heal. |
| However, people can be crippled by arthritis and a | | | | Your doctor may prescribe light rehabilitation |
| single injection into a damaged knee joint can allow | | | | exercises. If you receive a cortisone-type injection, |
| an arthritic to walk without pain. The same principle | | | | make sure that you protect that area from hard |
| applies to athletes and exercisers, who can develop | | | | exercise for at least two months after you receive |
| pain in their tendons, muscles, fascia and ligaments | | | | the injection. |
| from injuries. When injuries heal in a few days, no | | | | |