'Back to back' cortisone injections

Hi all...and sorry in advance for the length of the background story!

As some of you might remember, I've been having some pretty bad 'hip pain' lately. We know that I've got gluteal tendinopathy clinically and on u/s - ortho tried treating with a cortisone shot and I had no relief even from the local, never mind the steroid.

Because I've also had a couple of hip subluxations in the past and also getting a lot of groin pain he started to wonder about my hip joint itself, even though besides pain he couldn't find much clinically (that said, though i cooperate best I can, my CRPS does make it hard for anyone to do a proper exam sometimes) and my x-rays were clear. He had me get a whole body bone scan, which showed up a big spot of uptake in that hip - also my right hip, both shoulders and my spine - and decided the best option was a cortisone shot straight into my hip joint.

I had that done probably eight weeks ago now. The injection itself was far from comfortable - I think they scraped a bit of bone along the way as they tried to get it into the joint - but when the local anaesthetic part of the injection was at its peak I had close to 90% relief from both the groin pain and what I was perceiving as joint pain. Cortisone took 3 1/2 weeks or so to take effect but gave maybe 60-70% ... But only lasted a couple of weeks.

I saw my ortho again on Monday and we are going to do another injection on Friday. He suggested that a second injection so soon 'may' boost the effects of the first - giving better and longer lasting relief. When I asked his honest opinion, he said he didn't really know but as the only other option on the table is an exploratory scope (he suspects there may be a labral tear) and surgery really ISN'T an option, I figure it's worth a go.

So to finally get to the point - has anyone else had follow-up cortisone shots done in quick succession? Were they more helpful than the initial shot?

Oh...and he's also given me a referral to a rheumy for a second look when I'm ready to take it up - and though I don't want to tread on my PM's toes, this dr has a general interest in chronic pain too.

Cheers,

Laura

I do not know what medicine is in it but I had three nerve blocks in a row. One a week for three weeks. I got no relief the first week. Moderate relief the second week. Great relief the third week. I know the injections had steroids in them but they were injected into the nerve not the joint.

Hi Laura and sorry to see your having such trouble with your hip.

My Ortho does my knee injection in a series of 2 at 10-14 day intervals. My Neuro does my lumbar series in 3's at 24-28 day intervals and will only do those once a year.

I've noticed if one's better then 2 or 3 since if the first one works or doesn't sets the pace. In other words the 1st one works I get relief and don't notice the 2nd making anymore difference.

If the initial one failed the others don't seem to either and I often wondered why do the others but its possible the ones that work do so longer because of the following injection.

Good luck and I hope you find relief.

Thanks everyone.

I had some relief with the local - but the injection itself was horrendously painful (a real shock because the last one didn't hurt) and it's still so bad I want to cry :-( It's stirred up my CRPS right through my groin and left leg too.

Hoping the the cortisone kicks in asap.