Which statement is true about the onset of relief after intra-articular glucocorticoid injection?

Which statement is true about the onset of relief after intra-articular glucocorticoid injection?

• A. Relief begins within 24-72 hours
• B. Relief begins immediately
• C. Relief begins after 2 weeks
• D. Relief begins after 6 weeks

Answer: (A)

Relief starts within 24 to 72 hours because the injected glucocorticoid rapidly dampens the joint’s inflammatory processes. It blocks pathways that produce inflammatory mediators and reduces synovial inflammation and associated swelling, which translates into pain relief. This isn’t immediate, since it takes a short time for the drug to diffuse locally and for the inflammatory environment to quiet down. Onset after weeks is unlikely; the symptom improvement is typically evident within a day or two, with maximum effect usually developing over the first week or so.

Relief starts within 24 to 72 hours because the injected glucocorticoid rapidly dampens the joint’s inflammatory processes. It blocks pathways that produce inflammatory mediators and reduces synovial inflammation and associated swelling, which translates into pain relief. This isn’t immediate, since it takes a short time for the drug to diffuse locally and for the inflammatory environment to quiet down. Onset after weeks is unlikely; the symptom improvement is typically evident within a day or two, with maximum effect usually developing over the first week or so.