Is Contisone Shot Advisable While On Prednisone For Pain?

Posted on Sun, 12 Feb 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 13 Feb 2017 Answered on

Tue, 7 Mar 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : My wife is taking prednisone 9mg for pain and is thinking of getting a cortisone shot in her left hip for pain that has been with her , off and on, since a fall in the year 2010, She is taking the prednisone in smaller and smaller doses for two months now, but the new pain in her left hip cropped up and is not getting better. She has been told to avoid asprin , aleeve, advil, etc. but I thought that cortisone shot might not affect her stomach and cause bleeding like naiads(?)

Answered by Dr. Panagiotis Zografakis (6 hours later)

Brief Answer:
unfortunately it does...

Detailed Answer:
Hello,

corticosteroids (particularly in high dosages) increase the risk for gastrointestinal complications including worsening of peptic ulcer (bleeding from an ulcer is possible), rupture of frail structures like diverticula that may exist in the intestine, etc. A single shot is less risky than prolonged treatment with corticosteroids. Combination with NSAIDs would increase the risk significantly.

I hope you find this information helpful!
Kind Regards!

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar