Dr. Carrie Jose, in her latest Health and Wellness column, explains why one should think twice before getting cortisone shots ...

Learn More: Steroid Injections for Arthritis, Gout, and More Cortisone shots are given into or around the affected tissue.

You can think of the cortisone shot as a bottle of ibuprofen that's squirted into the knee joint through a needle. Relief from a cortisone shot varies. It varies depending on the diagnosis.

It is a substance very similar to a steroid which is produced by the body. An injection of extra cortisone increases the body's ability to reduce pain, heat, redness and swelling of the joints.

Steroid injections are only given by healthcare providers in a healthcare setting (hospital or clinic). Your provider inserts a small needle to inject medicine into the specified area. Depending ...

Cortisone injections can offer pain relief that lasts ... and trigger points around your knee joint. By inserting thin needles into specific areas, this therapy helps release muscle tension ...