Doctors recommend cortisone (steroid) injections and oral medications for many different painful conditions that are often caused by increased inflammation in a specific joint or throughout the body, such as:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Shoulder pain
- Hip pain
- Bursitis
- Bulging or Herniated Discs
- Pinched Nerves
- Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
- Tendinitis
- Sciatica
- Arthritis
Chiropractors not only have the knowledge and skillset to address these conditions, but they also have the ability to treat the root cause of the condition to prevent future flare-ups and injury. However, sometimes a patient has so much inflammation in their body that chiropractic care isn’t as effective. The patient needs to reduce inflammation before changes can be made in the body.
What is Inflammation?
The term “inflammation” has become such a buzzword that people often forget what it actually means and how it affects the body. Inflammation is your body’s natural defense mechanism designed to heal the body, whether you have a cold, a sprained wrist or chronic back pain. Inflammation is a good thing, but the problem occurs when your body is continuously fighting pain and the inflammation never goes away, instead causing increased pain or damage to the joints, organs and tissues throughout your body. A doctor doesn’t prescribe corticosteroid treatments for painin general, but the inflammation that is causing the pain.
Types of Corticosteroid Treatments
Cortisone Shots
Cortisone shots are steroid injections that contain corticosteroid medication and a local anesthetic that can help reduce inflammation and associated pain in a targeted area of the body. Cortisone shots are not meant to act as a pain reliever, but as a targeted method to reduce inflammation.
It is important to note that cortisone shots do not fix the root of the problem, but simply reduce inflammation and associated pain. Relief can last anywhere from several weeks to several months, therefore it’s recommended that a patient continue to seek alternative treatment to fix the problem itself, such as chiropractic care and physical therapy, in order to prevent future flare-ups and injuries.
Another important piece to consider is that cortisone shots have many risks involved, and the potential side effects increase with larger doses and repeated use. General guidelines recommend that corticosteroid injections are limited to every 6 weeks, and no more than 3-4 times a year. Therefore, if pain and inflammation persist, significant damage can be done to the joint or entire body through repeated steroid injection use.
Potential Side Effects:
- Cartilage damage
- Nerve damage
- Tendon weakening or rupture
- Thinning of nearby bone (osteoporosis)
- Death of nearby bone
- Thinning of skin and soft tissue
- Joint infection
Prednisone
Prednisone is another corticosteroid medication that is typically taken orally as a series, as opposed to a one-off treatment. Similar to a cortisone shot, prednisone can also help reduce inflammation and associated pain, though the recommended course of treatment is typically 10-15 days at a lower dose.
Oral steroids effect the entire body and therefore are the type of corticosteroid that is most likely to cause side effects.
Potential Side Effects:
- High blood pressure
- Swelling, particularly in the lower extremities
- Upset stomach and gastrointestinal symptoms
- Mood swings, memory issues, and other behavioral and phycological effects.
- Weight gain in belly, face and back of neck
Long Term Use:
- Eye problems, such as glaucoma or cataracts
- High blood sugar
- Increased risk of infections
- Osteoporosis
- Fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, and muscle weakness
- Thin skin, bruising, and slower wound healing
Our Approach to Corticosteroids
At Stow Family Chiropractic, we believe in helping the body heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery. However, we also believe in the necessity of traditional medicine and outside referral when a patient is not responding to chiropractic care.
If a patient has increased inflammation and severe pain that is preventing effective chiropractic care, Dr. Todd will refer the patient back to their PCP to seek advice about corticosteroid treatment. However, Dr. Todd will also educate the patient about associated risks with steroids and the importance of continued chiropractic care to fix the root of the problem and prevent future flare-ups.
Alternative Methods to Decrease Inflammation
Icing
Ice is nature’s very best anti-inflammatory! However, the more inflammation built up in the body, the more icing you will need to do in order to make a difference. We recommend the following protocol:
- Ice the area (typically the lower back or neck) for 15-20 minutes
- Take the ice off for 45-60 minutes
- Repeat this process as MUCH as possible (3-4 times per day minimum, up to 8-10 times per day)
Cold Laser Therapy
Cold laser therapy, also known as therapeutic laser, is a 5-minute treatment that reduces inflammation, pain, and swelling, and speeds up the process of healing. We recommend a series of 6-12 treatments at 2-3x per week for the best results, but more chronic conditions will likely require more than 12 treatments.
Diet Changes
Specific foods can contribute to increased inflammation throughout the entire body, so it is important to avoid these foods as much as possible during the healing process after an injury. Highly inflammatory foods include:
- Red meat
- Processed deli meats, bacon and sausage
- Processed baked goods
- Bread and pasta made with white flour
- Deep fried foods
- Foods high in added sugar
- Sugar-sweetened beverages
- Foods high in trans fats
Contact Us Today!
Chiropractic care utilizes a whole-body approach to healing that employs non-invasive techniques to restore your quality of life. These techniques, including chiropractic adjustments, therapeutic exercises, spinal decompression, and cold laser therapy, can often eliminate the need for invasive surgery and addictive pain medication. Our goal at Stow Family Chiropractic is to relieve pain naturally and restore your body’s ability to heal. To schedule an appointment, call us at 978-897-1770.