When we hear the word steroid, one thing comes at the top of our mind. Doping.

But to set the record straight, there are several kinds of steroids and the ones used in doping are included in the group called anabolic steroids which can produce effects similar to the male hormone testosterone.

Although may be banned in some sports because after all, it still has an effect on the physical and mental abilities of a person, cortisone is widely used as a treatment to reduce inflammation and pain, especially in joints and muscles.

Injected corticosteroid or most commonly known as cortisone shots are used in wide variety of problems such as arthritis, tendonitis, bursitis, osteoarthritis, gout, among others mainly as temporary treatment and management of pain.

With so many benefits that this hormone brings, how much does a cortisone shot cost?

Average Cost of Cortisone Shot

The basic, single cortisone shot price ranges from as little as $25 up to $100 per shot, which could still be discounted at some clinics offering promos if availed in sets, like when the issue is to be treated in series of shots until the desired result is achieved.

The costs may also depend on what part of the body is injected. A shot in the knee is reported to cost $300 to $900, while an elbow injection reportedly costs $200 to $250. Another one reported a shoulder shot costs $170 aside from the doctor’s visit that costs $200. Four shots at the lower back cost $500 as claimed by another patient.

There are several points in the body to which the cortisone or corticosteroid is being injected, depending on what issue is being treated. Hence, the cost varies. How much does a cortisone shot cost in some areas of the body? 

Some price examples are as follows:

• Cystic Acne – price ranges from $25 to $100 per shot

Cortisone shots are said to be the quickest way out of an active acne lesion especially when anticipating a fast approaching important event in your life that requires you to look your best. The cortisone is injected directly on the pimple to make it appear smaller and reduce its inflammation.

• Trigger Point/Tendon Injections – the national average cost is $868

These are the treatments for those who experience pain in certain parts of the body that are coming from another part that has trigger points. These trigger points are the knots of muscle-forming or clenched muscle fibers that are causing pain and stiffness. Injecting corticosteroid on the trigger point puts it into an inactive or relaxed state, therefore, mitigating the pain.

• Epidural Steroid Injection – the national average cost is $2,068

This is the non-surgical pain management treatment for those who are suffering from spinal pain caused by various conditions such as herniated disc, spinal stenosis, or degenerative disc disease. The cortisone is injected together with another numbing agent for the purpose of reducing the pain so that the patient can participate in physical therapy and should not be considered in any way the cure for the source of the pain as the effect of the treatment is just temporary.

What are Included

The inclusions in the cortisone shot price depend on what is being treated. Basic cortisone shots such as acne treatment basically involve cleaning the area prior to injecting to make sure it is disinfected thereby reducing the risk of being infected further.

But when the treatment is about issues of the joints, preparation is much more complex. The procedure starts with the same cleaning up of the area then followed by aspiration of the joint where excess fluids are being removed using a separate syringe. The fluid extracted may be sent to a laboratory for testing and diagnosis. The removal of the fluid alone may relieve some of the pain caused by the pressure of the excess fluid.

After these, the cortisone injection may proceed like in any simple injection procedure.

Additional Costs

You may likely be charged a doctor’s fee if cortisone injection is done in a doctor’s clinic or in a hospital unless it is included in a packaged treatment plan.

Shopping for Cortisone Shot

MDsave.com provides a healthcare locator for your cortisone shots needs and other health related issues. They can also help you get the service at the lowest possible price. You may also call them at (855) 946-6566 for more details.

Factors Affecting Cortisone Shot Cost

Several factors can affect the determination of how much does a cortisone shot cost. Some of these are mentioned below:

• The issue being treated – the problematic part of the body and the severity determine how much cortisone is needed to be injected in that particular area of the body.
• How many shots – like the first factor, the number of shots needed to achieve the desired results depends on what issue is being treated. Scar removal may take several shots in order for it to fade or the injection in the spinal column may be done several times as the need to alleviate pain arises.
• Facility – cortisone shots vary in different facilities depending on how big the facility is as clinics tend to offer cheaper shots compared to hospitals and specialty facilities.
• Insurance – depending on the purpose of the treatment, your insurance may or may not cover the cortisone shots. Needless to say that, if the cortisone shot is more of aesthetics than medical like the case of scar or acne treatment, insurance would not likely to cover it.

• Location – some areas around the country have a higher cost of health care than others and there are some which have higher demands of certain treatments. Therefore, varying cortisone shot price is expected.

Additional Information

Other benefits of cortisone shots are the following:

• Manage psoriasis
• Calm eczema
• Clear up nail fungus
• Check hair loss

It is important that cortisone use should not be abused. Like any other types of steroids, prolonged use may have a serious effect on health. But compared to taking it in tablet form, taking it through injections may have a lower side effect. These may include the following:

• Flushing or the increased blood flow through the skin causing redness and warm sensation
• Swelling of the face and fingers called edema
• Irregular menstruation
• Mood swings
• Thinning or color changes in the area of the injection