Weighing the Risks: What You Should Know About Steroid Injections
Many people experiencing pain in their back, joints, or neck are offered steroid injections or cortisone shots as a quick fix. These treatments may seem like an easy solution to silence pain, but the reality is more complicated.
At Complete Spine Solutions, our mission is to empower you with the information you need to make educated health decisions. That includes understanding the potential risks and long-term consequences of commonly prescribed treatments—like steroid injections—and exploring safer, more sustainable alternatives.
The Purpose of Steroid Injections
Steroid injections are used to reduce inflammation and mask pain, often in areas like the spine, knees, hips, or shoulders. These medications are anti-inflammatory in nature and can offer short-term relief for people dealing with pain caused by conditions like arthritis, herniated discs, or sciatica.
But relief isn’t the same as healing.
These injections don’t address the root cause of the issue. They merely suppress the signal—pain—that your body is using to alert you something is wrong.
Common and Serious Side Effects of Steroid Injections
While steroid injections are widely used, they come with a list of potential side effects, some of which can be severe or long-lasting:
- Infection at the injection site
- Bleeding or nerve damage from the injection itself
- Skin flushing or redness
- Mood swings, anxiety, or agitation
- Difficulty sleeping or insomnia
- Weakened spinal ligaments, which may lead to instability
- Elevated blood sugar (especially risky for those with diabetes)
- Suppressed immune system, increasing infection risk
- Stomach ulcers and other digestive complications
- Vision issues, including increased risk of cataracts or glaucoma
The takeaway? These injections are not without consequence—especially when used repeatedly or without addressing the underlying cause of your pain.
Health Is an Inside Job
At CSS, we believe that health doesn’t come from the outside in. It comes from within.
Your body is a self-healing, self-regulating system when it’s functioning properly. And that starts with your spine and nervous system. When your spine is misaligned, it puts pressure on the nerves and interferes with your body’s ability to communicate, regulate, and heal.
Instead of masking pain signals, we help patients correct the structural issue causing those signals in the first place. Our spinal corrective care focuses on long-term healing—not temporary relief.
Why Corrective Chiropractic Care Works
Unlike outside-in interventions like steroid injections, Corrective Chiropractic Care:
- Identifies and addresses the root structural problem
- Restores nerve flow and promotes full-body healing
- Strengthens the spine rather than weakening it
- Supports immune, digestive, and hormonal function
- Encourages lasting improvements in mobility and pain levels
Through a combination of spinal adjustments, custom exercises, and traction-based care, we help patients regain their health without risky medications or procedures.
And it works. In fact, less than 1 in 100 of our patients ever need to be referred for steroid injections once they begin care with us.
A Safer Path to Relief and Vitality
While steroid injections may seem appealing when you’re in pain, they often delay real healing and come with hidden costs. Before pursuing this option, talk to your doctor—and consider a more natural path forward.
At CSS, we’ll assess your spine and nervous system, create a personalized plan, and guide you toward true, lasting health—from the inside out.
Share the Gift of Better Health
If you’ve experienced the benefits of care at Complete Spine Solutions, we encourage you to share that gift with friends or family members dealing with chronic pain. Invite them to schedule a free consultation and learn how a healthy spine and nervous system can transform their life.
Visit www.CompleteSpineSolutions.com to schedule today.
