The Horrific Side Effects of Getting Cortisone Injections
Muscle Wasting

Some evidence indicates that there may be a connection between cortisone injections and muscle wasting or atrophy. This research mostly applies to when patients receive repeated injections or a high-dose injection. Low-dose injections may not have this effect. Rheumatoid arthritis patients who receive corticosteroid injections to treat a flareup of their condition have reported experiencing muscle wasting.
One study from the European Journal of Rheumatology found that this muscle wasting could go up to just over four pounds. Evidence suggests that muscle wasting is more common among individuals receiving glucocorticoid injections. However, it is not currently clear why reactions such as this occur. Thus, more research is necessary to confirm the connection between cortisone injections and muscle wasting.