Many friends get a steroid shot for a head cold that dryes them up.is this a standard way to care for a uri or just a short term" feel better".?

Overkill, bad idea: Steroids, "cortisone" are powerful anti-inflammatory medicines that can be extremely helpful, even life-saving for appropriate conditions. They also have numerous and serious side effects. Using them to lessen cold symptoms is like fly fishing with a cruise missle.

See below: Steroids are anti inflammatory, so they reduce inflammation. The reduction in nasal inflammation may aid congestion, but this is not a cure, and at most will only last 24 hours. I am not sure where they get this treatment, but i would not go to that provider.

Only justified when: Only justified when you have severe sinusitis where the mucous lining is so piled up that you have outflow obstruction. Generally, steroids should be avoided in viral or bacterial sinusitis. I see this done, as a feel-good bandage.