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Types of Steroids Used for Arthritis

Thursday, March 26, 2009
Related Tags: steroids | arthritis | injected | oral | skin
 

Instructions

Oral Steroids

  • Step 1:
    Oral steroids for arthritis such as prednisone may be taken as a pill or liquid to control pain and inflammation and are especially effective for arthritis that affects multiple joints.

Oral Steroid Effects

  • Step 1:
    Side effects of oral steroids include high blood pressure, weight gain, osteoporosis, eye diseases and slow healing from infections and injuries.

Topical Steroids

  • Step 1:
    Topical steroids such as hydrocortisone are rubbed into your skin around the joint to reduce pain, swelling and inflammation.

Topical Steroid Effects

  • Step 1:
    Topical steroids may cause side effects at the point of contact with your skin, such as acne and redness or thinning of the skin.

Injected Steroids

  • Step 1:
    Steroids such as cortisone can be injected into the part of your body that has pain caused by arthritis, such as the knees or ankles.

Injected Steroid Effects

  • Step 1:
    Injected steroids may cause side effects, including pain where the steroid was injected, skin infections and changes in the appearance of the skin.

Warning

  • Step 1:
    Stopping the use of prednisone suddenly can cause symptoms of withdrawal, including low blood pressure, head and body aches, extreme fatigue, nausea and vomiting.

Resources


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