Beware of receiving steroid injection for pain while you are waiting for the state of Arizona to allow surgeons to perform elective surgical procedures. There have been many studies that have shown an increase in infection rate for patients who received a steroid injection less than three months before undergoing total joint replacement. There is also an increase in the infection and revision rate in patients who receive a steroid injection less than one month prior to undergoing an arthroscopic rotator cuff repair. A good alternative to a pain relieving steroid injection is injecting your own platelet rich plasma (PRP) into the affected area. This proven technique that has been used to avoid surgery, is also effective in providing short term pain relief in patients who are waiting to be cleared for surgical intervention but do not want to be further postponed by the adverse effects of steroids. There have also been studies that have shown a decrease in the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine after patients received a corticosteroid joint injection. It is well known that corticosteroids decrease inflammation but also decrease the immune response that is essential for healing and avoiding infection. Be smart and use your own blood products to fight inflammation and pain while not impairing your body’s defense system against infection. PRP is a safe, effective alternative to addicting opioids and harmful corticosteroids.
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