Anyone ever have a knee injection?

[Hrhpd]

My dr suggested cortisone or synvisc. He said I'll " probably" be fine to drive myself home and that the pain is " not that bad". I was just wondering if anyone had one themself and could tell me how it went for you?

My daughter is a competitive cheerleader (lots of advanced tumbling.) She has a chronic injury to her knee. So far, in lieu of surgery, the ortho is giving her cortisone shots every 4-6 months. Her knee will start hurting, she gets the shot and says the pain is then completely gone for about 4-6 months. Then the shot wears off and we do it again. She has to go easy on her knee for 24 hours (no tumbling) and the full effect is realized in 3 days. We have it timed perfectly now. I schedule shots so they happen 3 days before the biggest competitions. We are also proactive and schedule them so that we never let the pain get too bad in the knee.

The ortho says we can keep doing it as long as it is working. And since it does not take her out of practice or competition like surgery would, she has chosen to go this route until it doesn't work anymore. And we are going on our 3rd year of shots.

She also says the shot is not bad. They give a smaller numbing shot before and then 5 minutes later give her the big one. A couple of Tylenol a few hours later and no problems.

Edited to add: This is in full approval of her doc. Although she is a teen, the injury is not one that she is doing further damage that will plague her into adulthood to by foregoing surgery. And I trust her doc. He is the lead ortho surgeon for our NFL and NBA team.

 

[lisaviolet]

Friend has had synvisc many times. Made a huge difference. If she could afford it she would choose to have it on a regular basis.

 

[minkydog]

That is a lot of cortisone to be injected- I assume it was over many years. You should not have more than 3 cortisone shots in one year or you put yourself at risk for brittle or fractured bones and destroyed joint cartilage if you get to many.

Yes, the injections were given over the course if 4 years. I'm in the middle of the Orthovisc series now, but I expect ill need more cortisone later. My arthritis is severe, bone on bone, so we are just trying fo make the knee work until I can have TKR, probably another 2years.

 

[DVC-Don]

Hurt like heck for the injection but felt fine after the needle came. In my case it did not last long and I had to have surgery.

 

[M5ward]

Supartz in both knees every summer for the last four or five years to provide cushioning and lubrication for the remaining cartilage. I drive myself both ways and have a normal day after the shorts. Wednesday will be my third shot in this year's series. I'm not going to say it doesn't hurt at all because that would be a lie...but it certainly isn't terrible and is well worth the relief.

 

[FlyingDumbo]

Had a cortisone shot today, it went poorly. The Dr sent his PA to do it. She sprayed some cold spray, then stuck the needle in. She then dug all around while yelling at me that if I didn't relax my leg she couldn't get it in the right spot. You know what makes it nearly impossible to relax? Someone digging in your knee with a needle while yelling at you! Then after poking all over the place there was a burning feeling, and some pressure. The cortisone itself was quick, the digging around while yelling at me made me nearly vomit. Then while I was getting myself together, she told me if I stopped eating so much and lose some weight I could save myself a lot of trouble. Now, I am overweight, I had a baby 14 months ago. I'm wearing a 12 or 14 at the moment. I was EXERCISING when the knee pain started. It wasn't so much what she said, but the tone and way she said it. As if she as disgusted with me. Anyway, I asked to speak to the DR before I left. I told him how poorly it went and how her timing and tone on the weight loss thing could have been better. He told me she is still " getting the hang of it" which I assume means she is new. He also explained that while weight loss is very good for joints, it's not going to fix the knee cap grinding issue I have since the cartilage is almost gone. I'm ready for bed now. It's very sore, very swollen, and all black and blue.

 

[minkydog]

Had a cortisone shot today, it went poorly. The Dr sent his PA to do it. She sprayed some cold spray, then stuck the needle in. She then dug all around while yelling at me that if I didn't relax my leg she couldn't get it in the right spot. You know what makes it nearly impossible to relax? Someone digging in your knee with a needle while yelling at you! Then after poking all over the place there was a burning feeling, and some pressure. The cortisone itself was quick, the digging around while yelling at me made me nearly vomit. Then while I was getting myself together, she told me if I stopped eating so much and lose some weight I could save myself a lot of trouble. Now, I am overweight, I had a baby 14 months ago. I'm wearing a 12 or 14 at the moment. I was EXERCISING when the knee pain started. It wasn't so much what she said, but the tone and way she said it. As if she as disgusted with me. Anyway, I asked to speak to the DR before I left. I told him how poorly it went and how her timing and tone on the weight loss thing could have been better. He told me she is still " getting the hang of it" which I assume means she is new. He also explained that while weight loss is very good for joints, it's not going to fix the knee cap grinding issue I have since the cartilage is almost gone. I'm ready for bed now. It's very sore, very swollen, and all black and blue.

OMG, that's horrible! I have never had such a bad experience. I'm glad you spoke to the doctor, but it concerns me that he defended her. She's getting the hang of it? Really. And he allows her to just keep poking people in the name of getting that experience? Surely there is something she can practice on besides people.

That PA was way off base with her lecture. Sure, being overweight affects knees but it's not like you weigh 500-lbs. There's a way to say losing some weight will take some of the extra pressure off your knee, without humiliating the person. I would NEVER, EVER allow her to touch my knee again!

And now get yourself two bags of frozen corn. Ice you knee on 20 min, off 20 min and take some Advil. Keep the knee elevated tonight to reduce the swelling. Hopefully, it will feel better tomorrow or the next day.

 

[EMAW_KSU]

Had a cortisone shot today, it went poorly. The Dr sent his PA to do it. She sprayed some cold spray, then stuck the needle in. She then dug all around while yelling at me that if I didn't relax my leg she couldn't get it in the right spot. You know what makes it nearly impossible to relax? Someone digging in your knee with a needle while yelling at you! Then after poking all over the place there was a burning feeling, and some pressure. The cortisone itself was quick, the digging around while yelling at me made me nearly vomit. Then while I was getting myself together, she told me if I stopped eating so much and lose some weight I could save myself a lot of trouble. Now, I am overweight, I had a baby 14 months ago. I'm wearing a 12 or 14 at the moment. I was EXERCISING when the knee pain started. It wasn't so much what she said, but the tone and way she said it. As if she as disgusted with me. Anyway, I asked to speak to the DR before I left. I told him how poorly it went and how her timing and tone on the weight loss thing could have been better. He told me she is still " getting the hang of it" which I assume means she is new. He also explained that while weight loss is very good for joints, it's not going to fix the knee cap grinding issue I have since the cartilage is almost gone. I'm ready for bed now. It's very sore, very swollen, and all black and blue.

You do not have very good luck with medical staff acting professional.

 

[4nana]

Had a cortisone shot today, it went poorly. The Dr sent his PA to do it. She sprayed some cold spray, then stuck the needle in. She then dug all around while yelling at me that if I didn't relax my leg she couldn't get it in the right spot. You know what makes it nearly impossible to relax? Someone digging in your knee with a needle while yelling at you! Then after poking all over the place there was a burning feeling, and some pressure. The cortisone itself was quick, the digging around while yelling at me made me nearly vomit. Then while I was getting myself together, she told me if I stopped eating so much and lose some weight I could save myself a lot of trouble. Now, I am overweight, I had a baby 14 months ago. I'm wearing a 12 or 14 at the moment. I was EXERCISING when the knee pain started. It wasn't so much what she said, but the tone and way she said it. As if she as disgusted with me. Anyway, I asked to speak to the DR before I left. I told him how poorly it went and how her timing and tone on the weight loss thing could have been better. He told me she is still " getting the hang of it" which I assume means she is new. He also explained that while weight loss is very good for joints, it's not going to fix the knee cap grinding issue I have since the cartilage is almost gone. I'm ready for bed now. It's very sore, very swollen, and all black and blue.

I totally agree with Minky and sure hope you're feeling better today. I am so sorry you had a bad experience w/your first shot . Absolutely unacceptable the way the PA spoke to you and I'm disappointed to hear the ortho's only excuse was 'she's getting the hang of it'....really? My ortho is a busy practice, so it's more convenient to get appt w/his PA, whom I love and never had any problem with. I also need to lose weight, but trust me, no Dr/PA wants to speak to me in that manner, let alone dig in my knee w/a needle . Positive vibes you feel better soon, can find another caring dr on your ins. plan, and if cortisone doesn't help, perhaps another type of pain relief.

 

[powellrj]

You do not have very good luck with medical staff acting professional.

I was thinking the same thing. Hope things get better for you.

 

[BuzzinDownToDisney]

At 19 I was told my hockey playing days were over by one Orthopedic surgeon, another suggested cortisone and after a few days I was back on the ice feeling better than I had in months. I've since had them sporadically when needed, and at 36 years old I still play 2-3x per week. It was really a relief!

 

[FlyingDumbo]

Just wanted to say the pain is so much better! It's not gone, but it's sooooooo much better! It was worth it! I had a big bruise that lasted about 5 days from the shot, but after the first 24 hours the pain and swelling went away.

Powellrj and EMAU KSU this is the same office as last time.

 

[aprilgail2]

I had the first one of five Supartz injections on Monday. Didn't feel the needle at all since they "freeze" the area first but did feel the gel going in a bit but it didn't hurt. Couldn't even see where the injection was when I took the bandage off. Knee feels a bit better- hopefully by the last shot it will feel great.

 

[AxSlash]

I had both knees surgery for medial meniscus repair, left knee in Oct 2014 and right knee in Dec 2016. I am 58 yr sports fanatic, played football as a kid and was very heavy into recreational mens ice hockey from 35 yr to 50 yrs age--weekly and I played year round. I believe I damaged my knees with the stops and movements made playing hockey. I moved down south, away from hockey and discovered running at age 57 yrs and lost tremendous amount of weight (unlike what I was ever able to do playing hockey). My hurt would come and go but aways still managed to run 30 miles/week up until 3 weeks ago. My right knee hurts too much to run anymore. When it is difficult to go up or down stairs and walk with a limp--nevermind how I walk getting out of bed in the morning like a 90 yr old yokel...yes, time to stop running until I figure out what the hell is going on. I finally talked to my knee surgeon a few days ago and he suggested Euflexxa. He told me that my right knee was worse of the two and had just a little OA, not like I am looking at knee replacement as he put me a complete ease of that. I suggested BOTH knees for the shots and am now waiting on the order/insurance as I was told it would take 2-5 weeks before I get the 1st of 3 injections (each knee). I want so much to finally not have pain and get back to my daily 4.5 mile runs each morning. In the meantime, I give my fitbit a workout of 15000 minimum steps/day necessary to keep the weight off and I keep myself on a maximum 1800 calorie/day diet.

 

[shelemm]

I have had plenty of cortisone injections over the years. I felt better immediately afterward each time. Worked like a charm for me.