Inclusion Criteria:

• involved in a traumatic event and admitted to the level 1 trauma center within 12 hours after the trauma

Exclusion Criteria:

• Glasgow coma scale score of less than 14 (at the time that you speak to patient)
• Amnestic for the events during and immediately following the traumatic event
• Unable to understand consent procedure or current substance abuse
• Traumatic event occurred more than 12 hours before initial medication dose can be given (i.e., patient life-flight or transferred after significant time has passed).
• Allergy to cortisol.
• Pregnant or breast-feeding
• Traumatic event of potentially ongoing nature that the participant is likely to be re-exposed to during the study (e.g. domestic violence)
• Presence of injuries (e.g. pelvic or lower extremity fractures) requiring readmission for surgery 1-2 weeks later once swelling has diminished. Patients requiring such delayed operative procedures will be excluded.
• Presence of medical condition that contraindicates the administration of cortisol, including (but not necessarily limited to) peptic ulcers, Cushing's disease, hypothyroidism, current alcoholism or cirrhosis, hepatitis, diverticulitis, nonspecific ulcerative colitis, myasthenia gravis, seizure disorders, renal insufficiency, disorders of immunosuppression, current viral or bacterial infection, diabetes mellitus, history of myocardial infarction, or recipient of solid organ or bone marrow transplant.
• On a current corticosteroid regimen (inhaled, oral, or injection). This may include patients with asthma, multiple sclerosis, arthritis, allergic conditions, optic neuritis, or tuberculosis
• Corticosteroid use in the previous 6 months
• Current use of medications that may have potentially dangerous interactions with cortisol including other corticosteroids, any immunosuppressant medications, drugs affecting hepatic microsomal enzymes, cyclosporine, and anticholinesterase agents.
• Injuries requiring treatment with steroids (e.g., suspected spinal cord injury, cerebral edema).
• Patients must be able to take oral medications within 12 hours post-trauma.