Is corticosteroid injection (a “block”) effective for treating tenosynovitis?

Tenosynovitis is a common condition in modern society, typically resulting from chronic traumatic inflammation caused by excessive friction within the tendon sheath. This condition predominantly affects middle-aged and elderly women, as they frequently perform household chores and engage in extensive hand-related activities—over time, such repetitive motions can accumulate and lead to tenosynovitis. So, is corticosteroid injection (“block therapy”) an appropriate treatment for tenosynovitis?

Is Corticosteroid Injection Effective for Tenosynovitis?

Corticosteroid injection offers relatively good short-term efficacy for tenosynovitis. The injection typically contains local anesthetics (e.g., lidocaine hydrochloride) and corticosteroids (e.g., betamethasone), which effectively alleviate pain associated with tenosynovitis and reduce inflammatory edema, thereby relieving both pain and functional impairment. However, long-term observation reveals that repeated use of corticosteroids and anesthetics may compromise the elasticity and tensile strength of the tendon sheath, tendon, and surrounding fibrous structures, rendering them comparatively more fragile.

Following corticosteroid injection, recovery from tenosynovitis generally takes approximately one week. Therefore, during this one-week post-injection period, patients must strictly avoid repetitive flexion-extension movements and excessive loading of the affected area, as these activities may exacerbate tissue edema and worsen pain. Moreover, excessive activity may interfere with drug absorption and distribution, thereby diminishing the therapeutic effect of the injection. Once the medication has been fully absorbed and edema subsides within one week, patients may gradually resume normal work and daily activities.

In daily life, patients should maintain a positive attitude, actively cooperate with their physicians’ treatment plans, take prescribed medications on time and in correct dosages, and pay close attention to routine self-care—these measures collectively promote faster recovery. We hope this information proves helpful to you.