Does anyone have experience with cortisone shots?

Hi Chelsea I have had many steroid injections into my spine and also my hip, I see the orthopedic PA this Tuesday, and am suppose to get a steroid injection into my right knee, I have been going to Physical Therapy for the past month, for my right knee, and was told after the therapy they would recheck it and probably start the steroid injections in it. (Therapy didn't do much for my knee, and looks like it just might have irritated more and made it worse) Nothing new for me as I have had problems with it for a very very long time, used to have them stick a needle into it and drain the blood out of it every now and then to take the pressure off of it, then ended up having surgery done on it once in the early nineties! But the last ten or eleven months it has been acting up again, I am trying to avoid more surgery, but don't know if that is possible!

I can definitely empathize with you Chelsea! Bad knees are no fun at all, and can be down right painful!

If I get the injection before you do I will let you know how it is!

Good Luck to YOU!

White Beard

Hey Chelsea.

My right knee is a mess.Scoped twice.Bone on bone.Arthritis.

I've had one Cortezone(sp) shot.It helped for a couple of months.

I've also had "Rooster Comb" Gel injected below my kneecap twice,3 years apart.3 injections each round.

At least one of the injections stung so bad I uttered some words I'm not real proud of.

edit:I don't have much cartilage if any left,so the Rooster Comb injections did help.

Rick

Was it the orthopedist who suggested this?

Two and a half years ago I was having knee joint replacement surgery. The other knee was also quite bad. My surgeon did the replacement and while still in surgery he put a cortisone dirivitive shot in the other knee. It still fills great. The dr said I can come back for another one when I need it and that the first one often helps for a long time like mine has.

I wonder if it would also be diagnostic for you--to see if it helps, then that would help define what is wrong.

Best wishes for this to resolve your issue if you decide to do it.

I've had many cortisone shots in the knees over the years. Usually without warning on routine office visits. They numb the area where they will be injecting and then you hold super still while they do it. There is moderate pressure and discomfort, but it's over quickly. Quick relief, just not really long-lasting, at least for me.

The doctor thought a cortisone shot could decrease the inflammation and that I could have "permanent" relief (it's still unclear what is wrong with my knee). Is this possible?

Has anyone every had an adverse reaction to the shot? I am nervous the shot could make things worse (especially because we don't know what's wrong), but I am thinking about going through with the shot to see if this pain can go away

about the PT comment above- I also believes PT made my knee worse and irritated it! I only went one session, and I was too nervous to go back.

Chelsea,your symptoms kind of sound like a meniscus tear.Pain,burning.

I knew both times I tore mine.My knee quit working and swelled.

I hope you get it dx'd.You should be able to rehab it back if they figure out what's wrong.

Take care,

Rick

Hey again Chelsea...I didn't want my post to frighten you, but the Synvisc One shots are excruciating, even with the numbing med.  It's because the ortho is injecting the HA deep into the "joint".  The substance provides a "cushioning" where mine has deteriorated, causing bone on bone grinding pain. You will be asked if you have any known allergies to poultry. Having said that, the injection pain subsides and I feel a difference within a couple of weeks.  Synvisc One has been a miracle for me, personally. I will continue to have them as long as they allow me to walk.

If the source of your knee pain is yet to be determined, I can't see where Synvisc would be right for you.  As others have said, the cortisone injection is a simple fairly painless procedure.  It will be very helpful for inflammation and perhaps relief short term.

I am not aware of ANY injection in the knee or otherwise that provides "permanent relief".  I would question any doctor who made that statement.

I hope you find some answers, and some relief.

~~Dixie 

Quincy, this poster is very confused about her care & treatment. There is a huge difference going from a cortisone shot to talking Synvisc. That is like trying to compare apples to oranges & my concern is her getting even more confused talking about the two completely different situations.

Steroid injections are allot like pain medications the effectiveness and duration of it can vary from person to person and also location it was given in that person! Everyone is so different in the way their body reacts to different medications it is really difficult to tell if the injection will help you and if it does how much help it will be and long it will last. The only way to find out is to have it done! Most people do get at least some relief from the injections and for most it is just a question as to how long the relief will last! A few days? Weeks? Months? Or longer? And that can vary greatly depending on the individual! In medicine there are no absolutes or guarantee's!

White Beard

Quincy why the intensity of pain from the injection? I've had a boatload of them between both knees, shoulder and back as well as seen 100s done and never heard or experienced intense pain with them unless of course they're not being done correctly, using to large guage needle, eliminating numbing agent, getting to close to bone or nerve, etc. The actual drawing the meds up steroids first, numbing agent second so that it enters the numbing Med first with steroids following the path is important to prevent much pain from occuring.

I actually get way more pain from a flu shot versus my knee injections so please understand that Quincy's intense pain with steroid injection is not the norm. Hands are also way harder to do simply because of anatomical structure and such a condensed amount of nerve cell's to aid in touch.

Also its pretty common for therapy to increase pain for a few days or sessions as the inflammation becomes more irritated before it starts to dissipate. You may have given up on a treatment that could have brought you some long-term relief and dont be surprised if the same things happens after the injection. Many people report an increase in pain before the pain starts to wane.

Good luck!

The injections of the gel hurt because it's not a liquid they're injecting.Also the 1st shot she gave me she stuck the needle into my knee on the inside all the way to the other side.

My last round he moved the needle around like he was trying to fill the little gaps.It was a sickening feeling.

The last shot I got,it was like my knee rejected it or there wasn't room for any more.A blob just appeared on the side of my knee.

Like Susie said,those shots are just buying me time before a knee replacement is needed.

quincy,after I had it done the 1st time it took about all the arthritic pain from my knee for 1-2 years.

Hope y'all are having good days.

Rick

Chelsea, I told you my own experience with a cortisone injection in my knee-pain free 2 1/2 years and still going. Then I thought of my friend who also had one and was ok for 6 years. I'm hopeful that you just need relief so your knee can heal. I would certainly be willing to do that.