What are reasons why steroids are given to reduce inflammation?

Pain relief: Steroids have strong anti-inflammatory properties. They are usually injected in the area on insertion of the tendons to the bone, in case of tendonitis or some times in a worn out joint to reduce pain and swelling in advanced arthritis, also given in the muscle tissue at so called trigger spots in the fibromyelgia patients. They can be injected in the epidural space for chronic back pain patients.