Cortisone shots?

[imabrat]

What has your experience been with steriod (cortisone) shot?

To make a long story short, I have a knee replacement due to cancer. Ever since I was able to bear weight, I've been having a strange rubbing pain on the top of my fibula, going into the bottom of the implant. I was put on Celebrex and was told it would go away, but it hasn't. The orthopaedist has said it could be two things, as nothing is showing up on the X-rays or MRIs. He thinks it's bursitis and wants to give me a steriod shot. If that doesn't help, it's time to go into the operating room to take a look in there and possibly shave down some of the implant.

I had the option to get it today, but felt a little ambushed. I still had other doctors appointments to go to.
I'm fine with needles, but the idea of this shot is really freaking me out. If you've had one, what was your experience with it?

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

DW Lauri gets the a lot due to an autoimmune disease she has. She said she won't lie and say they don't hurt in certain joints, but she's had success with all but one shot. Her latest one in her knee lasted her about 2 yrs.

 

[denisenh]

I know the feeling...I went to the doc after weeks, actually months of horrid ankle pain. I was diagnosed with tendonitis and offered a cortisone injection as I had tried everything else. I don't mind needles or shots but I had never had this type,so I was nervous and hesitant. The doc waited till I was "ready" and I expected pain But....it didn't hurt and the relief was like HEAVEN!

 

[ntsammy5]

I've had them in my knee (replaced now), back (broken vertebrae) and foot (plantar fasciitis) and they were sometimes painful, sometimes worked and sometimes did not. Not very much help I know. When they did work, though, it was an amazing transformation.

 

[5 for WDW]

I have had four knee surgeries on my left knee in the past 3 years. I am facing a replacement in the future. I have had a few cortisone shots in the past. As others have said, some worked okay (never great for me) and some did nothing at all.
Getting the actual shot has never been a problem for me. They didn't hurt at all. My surgeon has me stay off my knee for 24 hours after I get them.

I am all for trying non surgical options first so, I would give the shot a try if it was me.

Best of luck to you!

 

[imabrat]

Thank you so much! I'm really worried about the pain, I'm acting like such a wussy. LOL.
I mean, I've had needles in my neck, in my chest, in my arms, but never in my knee. I'm afraid of the pain because there's really nothing there but skin and the metal implant.

I read that the surgeon injects a lidocaine fluid beforehand? How long does it take for the injection? Is there immediate relief?

 

[Master Mason]

I have had them in my knee and elbow, the knee helped and didn't hurt, the elbow hurts terribly for a week, but then goes away with the rest of the pain.

 

[OK!]

I had one in my shoulder once because of severe pain due to arthritis, which I've had since I was about 15 (ah, the joys of swimming). TBH, it didn't help, at least that I noticed. I have an inordinately high pain tolerance, so the shot didn't bother me, but it didn't help either.

 

[Mrs.Milo]

I had one in my knee this summer, the assistant sprayed a freezing spray, (don't know what it was) while the Dr gave the shot, so it wasn't so bad. I would definitely do it again if I needed it. I had hit my knee on the step of the pool while swimming, and when it didn't get better after 6 weeks had an MRI that found arthritis and no cartilege (sp?). It did spike my blood sugar that night to about 300 but that gradually improved over a 2 week period. IT's been about 3 months and no further problems.

 

[Erin1700]

I got them in my wrist when I did gymnastics in college (at a gym, we did not have a team in college). I do not remember them hurting much, and they did work very well. but for a while it took the pigment in my skin away right around the area of the shot, they said that was normal.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Everyone is different.

The shot hurts most people, some a lot, but it isn't horrid. Some folks say it didn't hurt all that much.

The response is usually good at first (once the ouchies wear off), but once in a while, it isn't. Even when it is good, it helps for quite a while for some people and not that long with others.

I know almost nothing about orthopedic stuff, but I know enough to know that you should follow up with your doc when there is any sign of trouble. Not that you wouldn't. I get the vibe that you take your stuff seriously.

Best of luck when you get shot.

 

[imabrat]

I had one in my knee this summer, the assistant sprayed a freezing spray, (don't know what it was) while the Dr gave the shot, so it wasn't so bad. I would definitely do it again if I needed it. I had hit my knee on the step of the pool while swimming, and when it didn't get better after 6 weeks had an MRI that found arthritis and no cartilege (sp?). It did spike my blood sugar that night to about 300 but that gradually improved over a 2 week period. IT's been about 3 months and no further problems.

Really? Uh-oh, I hope they don't give me that. I used it for my port-a-cath going through chemotherapy, and it hurt more because it was so cold. IMO anyway.

I know almost nothing about orthopedic stuff, but I know enough to know that you should follow up with your doc when there is any sign of trouble. Not that you wouldn't. I get the vibe that you take your stuff seriously.

Best of luck when you get shot.

Thank you. You betcha I take my stuff seriously. I've spent so much time in a hospital, at the cancer center, with the home care nurse at home that I like to call myself the 15 year old RN, without the degree.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Really? Uh-oh, I hope they don't give me that. I used it for my port-a-cath going through chemotherapy, and it hurt more because it was so cold. IMO anyway.



Thank you. You betcha I take my stuff seriously. I've spent so much time in a hospital, at the cancer center, with the home care nurse at home that I like to call myself the 15 year old RN, without the degree.

You really are.

And when you go to school, let me know if you need any help. I mean that.

 

[imabrat]

You really are.

And when you go to school, let me know if you need any help. I mean that.

Thank you so much. I really, really appreciate it!

 

[Disney Ontario]

Hi. I also have had them, the first lasted a week then I demanded the other so I could go on a decent holiday with no pain and it lasted a month. Well I go back to the Drs tomorrow and Dh said to get another one My thoughts-easy for you to say but I could get christmas shopping done with no pain.

 

[travelbug]

I had a cortisone shot in my shoulder joint a couple weeks ago. Honestly, it hurt like crazy. But my shoulder was/is full of inflammation and so it's not too surprising that it was painful. Unfortunately, the shot didn't help that much. The dr. said he might try it again in a little different spot, but he's not sure yet. If it helps the inflammation, it will be worth it!

 

[monkey68]

I had one in my knee that didn't hurt so much, but I had 2 in my wrist that were just so painful. Each time, they sprayed with a freezing spray that basically makes you numb, and usually inject with lidocaine at the same time. The relief from the lidocaine is pretty immediate, but lasts only a couple hours. The last cortisone injection I had hurt so much after the lidocaine wore off, I was having such a bad steroid flare reaction. After that wore off, it still didn't do anything, so now I'm having surgery in a few weeks.

So I guess my reaction has been mixed. The knee worked great. The wrist, the first time it worked for about a month, the second time, it didn't work at all.

 

[Jenvenza]

I am kind of in the same boat as you right now - I have to have a cortizone shot done soon in my back and I am a little freaked about it. I just keep thinking it is going to be like the epidural I had when I had my DD, and that didn't feel too great - but if it gives me relief over the holidays from my back pain, it will be worth it. Good luck to you!!

 

[powellrj]

I have had cortisone shots in my feet, knees, shoulder and hip and have also had synvisc injections in my knees. The cortisone were pretty easy and I would do them again. I wouldn't do the synvisc again because I never got any relief from those and they hurt more than the cortisone.