What Is the Anti-Inflammatory Shot on the Buttocks?

October 12, 2025 •

5 min read

According to the CDC, millions of US adults have been diagnosed with conditions like arthritis, which often cause chronic pain. For those with severe or localized buttock pain and inflammation, doctors may recommend a specific injection to alleviate symptoms. This article explores what is the anti-inflammatory shot on the buttocks, its uses, and how it works to provide relief.

Quick Summary

The anti-inflammatory buttock shot typically involves a corticosteroid injection for targeted pain relief. It is most commonly used to treat piriformis syndrome and sciatica, which cause inflammation and nerve pain. The procedure, benefits, risks, and recovery process differ based on the specific type of injection administered.

Key Points

Piriformis Injection: A targeted anti-inflammatory shot into the buttock's piriformis muscle is a common treatment for sciatica caused by muscle irritation.
Corticosteroid Medication: The injection contains a steroid, like cortisone, to reduce inflammation and swelling, and a local anesthetic for immediate pain relief.
Imaging Guidance: For precision and safety, many injections utilize live imaging (fluoroscopy or ultrasound) to ensure the medication reaches the exact target location.
Not a Cure: While highly effective for temporary pain reduction, the injection does not fix the underlying cause and is often paired with physical therapy for lasting results.
Risks and Side Effects: Potential risks include temporary soreness, increased blood sugar (for diabetics), and, rarely, infection or nerve damage.
Distinguish from Illegal Injections: Medically administered injections are safe when properly performed, but highly dangerous illegal injections, such as liquid silicone, must be strictly avoided.

When people refer to an 'anti-inflammatory shot on the buttocks,' they are most often describing a corticosteroid injection aimed at reducing inflammation and pain in that specific region. This is not a single procedure but rather a category that includes targeted treatments, such as a piriformis injection, and more general intramuscular injections. The primary goal is to deliver potent anti-inflammatory medication directly to the source of the problem, offering relief when oral medications or other conservative treatments have failed.

Understanding Buttock Injections for Inflammation

Medical injections into the buttock area can serve different purposes, but they all generally involve corticosteroids, a powerful class of anti-inflammatory drugs.

Piriformis Injections for Targeted Relief

One of the most common reasons for a localized buttock injection is piriformis syndrome. This condition occurs when the piriformis muscle, located deep in the buttocks, spasms or becomes inflamed. Because the sciatic nerve often runs directly beneath or even through this muscle, a tight piriformis can compress and irritate the nerve, causing buttock pain and radiating symptoms down the leg, known as sciatica. A piriformis injection delivers a combination of a steroid and a local anesthetic directly into the muscle to reduce swelling, ease muscle spasms, and calm the irritated sciatic nerve.

Intramuscular Cortisone Shots for Systemic Effects

In some cases, an intramuscular cortisone shot may be administered into a large muscle, such as the buttock or upper arm, to address widespread or severe inflammatory conditions. Unlike the highly targeted piriformis injection, this approach allows the medication to distribute throughout the body via the bloodstream. This can be beneficial for conditions like severe allergic reactions or extensive skin problems like eczema or psoriasis.

The Science Behind the Anti-Inflammatory Action

Corticosteroids are synthetic versions of cortisol, a hormone your body produces naturally to regulate inflammation. When injected, they suppress the immune system's inflammatory response in a localized area. The mechanism works by:

Reducing chemical signals: Corticosteroids interfere with the production of inflammatory chemicals, preventing swelling and pain at the site.
Decreasing pain: For targeted injections like the piriformis shot, the steroid reduces the irritation of nearby nerves that trigger pain signals.
Providing immediate numbness: Many therapeutic injections include a local anesthetic, such as lidocaine. This provides immediate, short-term pain relief, which is distinct from the longer-acting anti-inflammatory effects of the steroid.

The Procedure for an Anti-Inflammatory Buttock Injection

For targeted injections like the piriformis shot, the procedure is typically quick and performed as an outpatient procedure in a clinic setting.

Preparation: The patient is positioned for easy access to the injection site. For a piriformis injection, this is often lying on the stomach on an X-ray table.
Localization: The doctor uses a specialized X-ray (fluoroscopy) or ultrasound to precisely locate the target muscle and nerve, ensuring the medication is delivered to the correct spot.
Anesthesia: A local numbing agent is applied to the skin to minimize discomfort during the injection.
Injection: The physician guides a thin needle to the targeted area and injects the medication. A contrast dye may be used to confirm proper needle placement.
Post-Procedure: A small bandage is applied. The patient is monitored for a short period before being discharged.

Potential Benefits and Risks: A Comparison

Anti-inflammatory buttock injections offer significant advantages, but they also carry potential risks that patients should understand.


Aspect	Benefits	Risks
Pain Relief	Provides potent, targeted relief directly at the source of inflammation and pain.	Initial pain may increase for a day or two before the steroid takes effect. In some cases, the injection may not provide any relief.
Duration of Relief	Effects can last for weeks to several months, providing a window for physical therapy and long-term recovery.	Relief is temporary and does not address the underlying cause.
Potential Side Effects	Fewer systemic side effects compared to oral steroids.	Minor, temporary effects like localized soreness, facial flushing, or elevated blood sugar for diabetics. In rare cases, infection, nerve damage, or bleeding can occur.
Targeted vs. Systemic	Piriformis injections pinpoint localized buttock pain and sciatica.	Intramuscular cortisone shots provide broader relief but may be less specific for localized nerve pain.

When is an Anti-Inflammatory Buttock Shot Recommended?

A doctor may recommend this type of injection for several conditions when more conservative treatments have not been effective. These include:

Piriformis Syndrome: Inflammation or spasm of the piriformis muscle causing pain and sciatica.
Sciatica: Nerve pain radiating down the leg caused by nerve compression or irritation in the buttock region.
Bursitis: Inflammation of the fluid-filled sacs that cushion joints, such as trochanteric bursitis on the outer hip.
Osteoarthritis: For hip arthritis, although the injection targets the hip joint, the discomfort is often felt in the surrounding buttock area.

Important Considerations and Recovery

After receiving a buttock injection, proper care is crucial for an effective recovery:

Rest and Activity: Limit strenuous activity for 24–48 hours, though normal, light activities are usually fine. For PRP or stem cell injections, the rest period can be longer.
Soreness Management: It is common to feel some soreness at the injection site. Applying ice packs for 15–20 minutes several times a day can help.
Physical Therapy: Often, the injection is part of a broader treatment plan that includes physical therapy to strengthen and stretch the affected muscles for more lasting relief.
Injection Frequency: Due to risks like tendon damage or potential side effects, doctors limit the number of steroid injections in a single area, typically recommending no more than 3–4 per year.
Illegal Injections: It is critically important to distinguish between medically administered corticosteroid injections and dangerous, non-medical injections (e.g., liquid silicone) offered for cosmetic purposes. Illegal injections pose severe risks, including infection, migration, and even death.

Conclusion

The 'anti-inflammatory shot on the buttocks' is a specialized medical procedure, typically involving corticosteroid injections, to treat localized pain and inflammation. While most commonly used for piriformis syndrome and sciatica, intramuscular injections can also be used for systemic inflammatory conditions. This targeted approach offers a powerful, temporary solution to alleviate pain and facilitate long-term recovery through rehabilitation. It is a proven, safe method when performed by a qualified medical professional and should not be confused with illegal, unregulated procedures. For anyone considering this treatment, a thorough discussion with a doctor is essential to understand the specific type of injection, its benefits, and its risks.

Frequently Asked Questions

The primary medication is a corticosteroid, a potent anti-inflammatory agent. For targeted injections, it is often combined with a local anesthetic like lidocaine for immediate pain relief.

The most common conditions treated are piriformis syndrome and sciatica, which involve inflammation and irritation of the sciatic nerve by the piriformis muscle. It can also help with some types of bursitis or hip pain.

The local anesthetic provides immediate relief, but it wears off after a few hours. The steroid's anti-inflammatory effects can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours, or up to a week, to start working.

The duration of pain relief varies from person to person and can last anywhere from several weeks to several months. The injection is not a permanent solution and may need to be repeated.

Common side effects include temporary soreness or bruising at the injection site and a brief increase in blood sugar for diabetics. Rare side effects include infection, nerve injury, or allergic reactions.

No, they are completely different. Medically supervised anti-inflammatory shots use safe, regulated corticosteroids. Illegal injections often contain dangerous, unregulated substances like liquid silicone and carry severe, potentially fatal, health risks.

Most doctors limit injections to a specific area to no more than 3-4 times per year to minimize the risk of tissue damage. The shots should typically be spaced several months apart.

The injection is a temporary solution that relieves inflammation and pain but does not cure the underlying condition. It is often used to manage symptoms and enable participation in physical therapy, which addresses the root cause for long-term improvement.