Jun 10 2008
Thought it may help some of my readers, as always these are on a first come, first served basis and may run out at any time, but to get your free knee pain kit just click:
http://info.synvisc.com/forms/knee_packet.aspx?int=knee_pain_kit&src=helloknees
Jun 10 2008
Corticosteroids, also known as glucocorticoids or just steroids, are synthetic replicas of a hormone that is produced in the body naturally, such as adrenaline or cortisol. By putting in more than normal amounts of hormones will reduce inflammation. They are often prescribed for cancer pain because of their ability to decrease nausea, increase appetite, and elevate mood. They come in injections and in pill form.
Injectable Steroids
Injectable steroids go directly into the affected joint. They will quickly reduce the pain and inflammation in the joint but their effectiveness will lessen over time. They are usually mixed with an anesthetic. Their side effects include bruising, bone thinning, weight gain, bloated face, cataracts, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Examples of Injectable Steroids
Triamcinolone (Kenalog)
Methylprednisolone (Depomedrol)
Pill Form Steroids
Steroids that come in tablet or pill form are administered in “dose packs”. These are short term supplies of a series of pills. Many patients will take smaller doses of steroids over a longer period of time. Their side effects include weight gain, puffy face, high blood pressure, bone thinning, less resistance to infection, and in the long term can give cataracts, high blood sugar, insomnia, and mood swings.
Examples of Pill Form Steroids
Cortisone (Cortone)
Prednisone (Deltasone)
Dexamethasone (Decadron)
