Cortisone belongs to a class of medications termed corticosteroids, and is a powerful anti-inflammatory drug. Although it is available in various forms, cortisone is most often given through either a local or systemic injection. And while cortisone has no specific pain reliving properties of its own, patients often report significant pain relief due to the reduction of inflammation.

Local cortisone injections are commonly used to treat inflammation due to bursitis, tendinitis, or painful joint arthritis, and involve a direct injection into the inflamed tissue. Systemic injections (IV's) are administered for the treatment of conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, which affects many joints.