The shot was like instant relief to my shoulder and allowed me to finish the game. But the pain would return throughout the season, and I received this shot at least three or four more times. The last few times came at my adamant persistence. The doctor warned me that repeated injections in the area would weaken ligaments and could increase the chances of rupture in the future.
I appreciated his warning but still opted for the shot. Without the cortisone injections I received during that period of time, I realistically don’t believe I would’ve been able to compete effectively. I personally made the decision to be injected with cortisone and was told rather openly what the consequences were.
But this is not how things in the NFL always work.
I remember seeing guys line up for their pregame injections of the wonder drug Toradol, frequently referred to as the “T-train” by players. A former teammate of mine with the Raiders, Akbar Gbajabiamila, wrote about this in an article for NFL.com back in 2012.
Article Appeared @http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2074981-nfls-stance-on-drugs-is-hypocritcal-and-harmful