Cortisone Injection

[wdfifteen]

Holy Gamozes! The doctor game me a cortisone shot yesterday.
I am so reactive to drugs I could have a party on a couple of aspirin. He said I might not sleep well the first night. That was at about 4PM yesterday and since then I've slept 4 hours and I don't feel the slightest bit tired. We're planning to remodel the bathroom and I was all set to get started with the demo this morning at about 1 AM. The only thing that stopped me was MrsWD asleep in the next room.

OTOH I am so happy that for the first time in over a year I can sit, stand, and walk without pain in my back and hips that the euphoria might all come from that. I had a GREAT day outside for the first time in months. I even played a few chords on my guitar and though I could hear and feel the joint in my left thumb grinding it didn't hurt too bad. I feel 10 years younger.

[WPOZZZ]

My cortisone shots don't last very long, 3 weeks max, then I have to wait 9 more weeks. My rt ac joint is arthritic and when the doc give me the shot, it hurts like hell, move on to the next spot, then no pain for a while.

[Alan A]

I had one and it was magic. For a week.
The second and third ones did nothing. Stopped after that.
Hope you have more luck.

[JackDidley]

Took 2 in my heel but the shots did work. Steroids, they say can cure anything and cause everything.

[red-beard]

I had them in my elbow. Magic! Then the pain came back.

They ended up doing electro-infusion. That worked.

[HardDrive]

Not a long term solution, but I had a frozen shoulder, and it was magic. It let me get moving and doing PT.

[sugarwood]

Shots are just a band-aid and they damage tendons over the long haul.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Not a long term solution, but I had a frozen shoulder, and it was magic. It let me get moving and doing PT.

My doc said if it works I can get a shot every 3 months, and if it keeps me moving it will be worth some downside. I was able to do the PT stretches but in too much pain to get any real exercise. That's not good either, so it's a matter of pick your poison. I took the dogs for a two mile walk this morning and I'm feeling fine. Two days ago I would have spent the rest of the day in bed on a heating pad after a walk like that.

[Mike Andrew]

Plus 1 on the sleep issue the day of a cort shot. Maybe one of the med guys here can explain why that happens.
I am about due for a ski season blast in my right shoulder and that should work until late March. Sucks but keeps me doing what I enjoy and is allowing me to avoid replacement which, according to my ortho, will spell the end of my skiing days unless I am willing to risk serious consequences.

All choice in life have consequences. Just have to weigh the cost/benefit ratio.

[Ziggythecat]

If you recall, their President was treated with steroids when he claimed he had COVID , and was over the moon, for a few days

[vash]

I believe the injection is supposed to reduce inflammation so you can heal. You’re still suppose to rest the joint or whatever like it’s still in pain.

I had a very successful injection into my shoulder. I was feeling great, but I still babied it like it hurt. The pain stayed away. I essentially stopped doing archery for the duration, even tho I could draw my bow pain free.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by vash

I believe the injection is supposed to reduce inflammation so you can heal.

My issue is arthritis. It's never going to heal.

[vash]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

My issue is arthritis. It's never going to heal.

Oh. Yuck. That’s a bummer.

[sugarwood]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

My doc said if it works I can get a shot every 3 months, .

Potential side effects of cortisone shots increase with larger doses and repeated use.

Side effects can include:
Cartilage damage

[matthewb0051]

Had a dexamethasone shot in elbow following massive shoulder surgery. Within 5 minutes my entire arm became swollen like elephantiasis from fingers to shoulder. Incredible pain. Bunch of pain killers later and everything was ok. Luckily I was able to get my ring off before my fingers got too big.

[TimT]

I've had a number of cortisone shots in both of my elbows...

Left elbow is tennis elbow, right elbow is golfers elbow...

Please note: I have never played either sport!

Both conditions caused discomfort and pain... so I got shots in both elbows.. first round of shots.. The pain returned after a few months.. My right elbow took two shots.. and the last one was years ago. The left took four shots... again the last one was 5? years ago..

Anecdotal and all that.. but it worked for me..

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Potential side effects of cortisone shots increase with larger doses and repeated use.

Side effects can include:
Cartilage damage

“Some studies have shown that [steroid injections] can cause damage in tendons and may predispose people to tendon rupture,” according to Dr. Schaefer from the Cleveland Clinic. “I often remind patients that inflammation is also damaging to their joints, and cortisone actually prevents this damage. However, if patients rely on multiple cortisone injections just to cover up their pain, they may eventually wear out their joints prematurely.”

https://creakyjoints.org/treatment/cortisone-shots-for-arthritis-pain/

I have a bad knee from a basketball injury. Big chunk of the cartilage pad on the right knee is missing. Arthroscopy at 32 to clean the noise out. Bone on bone as well as ACL being compromised. Mechanical arthritis. 64 now.

I received one injection and then six months later another, 10 years ago. No big problems since, however, dropped golfing and any sport that put a side stress on knees, cage fighting especially. If I'm doing a complete four wheel brake job with car in the air it will get sore as I rotate around underneath causing sideways stress.

If it swells and gets tender, which is rare, it takes about a week to subside but I just limp a little and make some wincing faces then it settles back down.

Not sure it was the injections that lasted ten years. Guessing it was the change in behavior.

[WPOZZZ]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

My issue is arthritis. It's never going to heal.

Me too. Arthritic ac joint. Bone rubbing on bone.

Originally Posted by sugarwood

Potential side effects of cortisone shots increase with larger doses and repeated use.

Side effects can include:
Cartilage damage

I have no cartilage left.