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  Relief of symptoms Cortisone injection Surgery
What is usually involved?

Optional: wearing a splint during the day.

Optional: Non-opioid pain medication.

One to 3 cortisone injections.

A small surgery under local anesthesia to make more room for the swollen tendon.
What are the results? After one year, 95 of 100 patients are pain-free.

82 of 100 patients felt better 6 weeks after an injection.

85 of 100 patients are pain-free after one year with 1 to 3 injections.

Three months after surgery, 96 of 100 patients are pain-free.
What are the benefits? You avoid the risks and recovery time of surgery. You will not have a wound or a scar.

You avoid the risks and recovery time of surgery. You will not have a wound or a scar.

It’s not clear if you will pain-free sooner with than without an injection.

Severe symptoms get better more quickly after surgery than they would with non-operative treatment.
What are the risks and limitations? It can take a year or more for the problem to resolve on it’s own.

A steroid injection can cause discoloration and thinning of the skin.

Some people are disappointed when the injection doesn’t work or the pain returns in spite of injection.

You will have a wound with stitches and a scar will remain.

You have a small risk of infection and of temporary or permanent nerve damage.