getting injections tomorrow.. nervous!

The PM doc pulled through and got me setup for injections tomorrow in both my hands.. Mainly my thumbs. I've never had it done and I'm nervous about what it's like and side effects..

I am due to have a shot in my shoulder. If you get an answer on this, I would really like to know. I am very nervous. Good luck.

I'm not sure which kind of injections you are having, so I'll tell you my experience with several different types:

- Cortizone/steroid injections in my shoulders (pre-Fibro) - the shot itself was uncomfortable, but not too bad. There was a blessed relief from pain for several hours (maybe 8?), then a massive pain flare up for ~ 2 days (doesn't always happen but I was warned it could), then about 3 months of pain relief allowing me to do PT and heal.

- Bursa injections in my hips - This one hurt a bit, but that could just be my now very sensitive Fibro body. It's actually a couple of shots to pinpoint the exact spot with contrast & flouroscopy (sp?), numb the area, and then the actual infection. That one left a pretty bad bruise and hurt in the process and for about 6-12 hrs after, but I haven't had any problems in that area since. I consider it a success.

- Trigger point injections? (Not sure if that's the correct name) in my lower back. I just had my 2nd one this morning. I won't lie - this one sucks in the process. I was in tears and flinching a lot. It's similar to the bursa injection process-wise, with numbing injection, contrast injection to pinpoint correct placement, then the actual active injection. Then multiply that by 6 for 3 vertibrae in my lower back, one set on each side. I asked the PM doc and he said for most people it's not so bad, but due to my Fibro he wasn't surprised how much it hurt me. All that said, the first one did help, and I'm hoping this one does too.

I hope you have a good experience tomorrow and that the injections help you. Like I said, the process wasn't fun, but they all have helped once past that initial reaction.

Have a blessed day!
Mari

Yes it could be the fibro and i was thinking no inflammation meant no arthritis, but not sure.

We will be hoping it helps you...only way to know is to try..as we would likely all respond differently...

Lj

I think I have fairly high pain tolerance for things yet. I know I have mentioned Tens before. I have been using it for the pain in my wrist. It is less than the pain that is there and after a couple of minutes, I find the vibration somewhat soothing. I know this is not for everyone, but it seems to help with my lack of circulation in my hands. I do another set on my shoulder joint and around my elbow (well, the elbow one I don't really like, but do it when the circulation is really bad).

I am not getting a lot of help with the arnica or other over the counter creams for my hands. Lately, it has been heated water, heating pads, etc. I had a lovely topical cream that contained ketamine and some other things that I used very sparingly (2 years for 2 oz). You have to be careful not to touch anyone until it dries in. I miss that cream dearly. LJM - what do you use? If you are getting relief, I would like to try it.

Thanks.

Hey everyone.. Updating you all on my hand injections. I'm going to be honest and tell you guys it was not fun. It was a steriod of some sort and a long lasting numbing agent sort of like lidocaine. They froze the injection site before sticking the needle in but that only helped for the surface pain.. Once he was in my joint, it hurt pretty badly. My hands are a bit sore this morning but morning I can't handle yet. I'm going to try and take it easy on them today at work if my boss allows. The doc said it could take a few days before I notice any improvement from the steroids.

I hope so much that these injections help you. After hearing what you've been put through for just trying to find some pain relief really drives it home for me how lucky I am to have a pcp then a fnp that will help me treat my pain.

I was luckily in the position of having been treated for a little over 3 years by my pcp for a lot of these seemingly unrelated conditions before I got my fibro dx, so he knew I wasn't a drug seeker because I'd never asked for pain meds through those years, just for something to help me sleep.

I hope this works out for you, or if it doesn't that someone will finally understand that you truly do need help.

I am glad to hear that works. I am supposed to get a shoulder injection soon, and really not looking forward to it. They started me off on a steroid pack that was for six days and it while it left me very nervous and hyper, I did feel great for that time in some ways and was able to accomplish so much around the house. It was really nice to have full use of my fingers again.

I had such a bad reaction to the steroids though, I'm not sure if this is a good idea for me. I am worried that I will be stuck feeling like that for days. Did you have any odd reactions to the steroids?