PlainPill

Cortisone Injections

People mainly take Cortisone Injections for pain & inflammation. Based on 3 first-hand reports and 5 meta-analyses & systematic reviews in the medical literature. Ranked #3222 of 4,149 overall.

6
User score
Mostly negative
0% positive33% mixed33% negative33% unclear

Of reports that state an outcome, 0% are positive.

Clinical research
AStrong research base
5
meta-analyses
11
RCTs
135
papers

What Cortisone Injections does, according to users

Of the people who reported each effect, the share who said it got better.

betterno changeworse

What the research says

Systematic reviews and meta-analyses from PubMed, with their published conclusions.

AStrong research base

3+ meta-analyses or systematic reviews and 10+ randomized controlled trials in humans. The grade measures how much human research exists — read the conclusions below for what it found.

BMC Musculoskelet Disord · 2019 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Osteoarthritis- a systematic review of long-term safety implications for osteoarthritis of the knee

Conclusion: Given the safety and effectiveness of lifestyle interventions such as weight loss and exercise, these should be advocated in all patients due to the low risk of harm. The use of NSAIDs should be minimized to avoid gastrointestinal complications. Treatment with opioids has a lack of evidence for use and a high risk of long-term harm. The use of IAHA and PRP may provide additional symptomatic benefit without the risk of harm. TKA is associated with significant medical complications but is justified by the efficacy of joint replacement in late-stage disease.

PubMed 30961569 ↗
Int J Environ Res Public Health · 2022 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Manipulation under Anesthesia versus Non-Surgical Treatment for Patients with Frozen Shoulder Contracture Syndrome: A Systematic Review

Conclusion: Conclusions: This review suggested that limited and inconsistent evidence currently exists on the efficacy of MUA compared to other non-surgical strategies in the management of patients with FSCS. Future research should focus on clinical trials with higher methodological quality.

PubMed 35955074 ↗
Disabil Rehabil · 2024 · Meta-analysis / systematic review
Comparing dry needling or local acupuncture to various wet needling injection types for musculoskeletal pain and disability. A systematic review of randomized clinical trials

Conclusion: Evidence suggests the effectiveness of DN to WN injections is variable depending on the injection type, outcome time frame, and diagnosis. In addition, adverse event data were similar but inconsistently reported. PROSPERO Registration: 2019 CRD42019131826Implications for rehabilitationDry needling produces similar effects for pain and disability in the short and medium term compared to cortisone, Botox, and platelet-rich plasma injections. Local anesthetic injection may be more effective at reducing short-term pain.Long-term effects on pain and disability are similar between dry needling and p

PubMed 36633385 ↗

Dosage people report

As stated by users — not a recommendation. Follow the label or your doctor.

20 injections over past yearas reported

Reported side effects

How often each side effect came up across all reports.

No side effects reported so far.

What users say

First-hand experiences, quoted verbatim. We show one positive and one negative where both exist.

“I’ve had 20, yes 20, cortisone injections over this past year which helps the pain for 4 weeks but then it comes back.”
MixedRead the discussion ↗
Top discussions (3)

Other options for pain & inflammation

User data from public discussions; research from PubMed. Information only, not medical advice — talk to a doctor before starting, stopping or combining anything. Data updated October 3, 2026. How we rate