[Noah930]

Yes, that's a risk. We mention it to patients whenever we give them steroid injections. Fat atrophy and lightened skin pigmentation are 2 other things we mention. But it's extremely rare for tendon rupture to occur. I wouldn't say never, but rare enough that it's not a realistic problem. Rule of thumb: don't have them more often than about one every month, and don't have more than 3 injections in the same spot. There's no research out there which documents that 3 injections are safe, and 4 are not. But no one is really brave enough to deviate from this standard of care. Still, take it easy after the injection. The steroid usually takes 1/2 to 1 week to take effect, so until then your elbow may actually feel somewhat MORE sore. You can ice the elbow the night after the injection.