Cortisone Shot Question

[makbike]

I've had cortisone injections in both my wrist and my foot. The injection in my foot hurt like h*ll to the point I thought I was going to pass out and fall off the table. The injection site in my foot was extremely painful for about 24hours following the dreaded injection but after that my foot felt great.

The three injections I had in my wrist worked equally as well and were given without any pain. However, the relief only lasted about 6 - 8 weeks with each at which time the pain and discomfort returned and seemed to be worse than before the injection. I finally saw a chiropractor who worked on my wrist for about 8 weeks and I've been relatively pain free for over a year.

I hope your knee feels better soon.

[Brandi]

I have had a few in my feet as well. And i agree the foot shots were sooooooooo painful and I could barely walk for at least 5 days. My pain has not totally come back but last week it felt like the shots had completly warn off. But this week I am fine go figure. I am dreading the fact that i might have to surgery. I don't want it! But my feet have felt so good with no pinch nerve thingy going on. I swear my doc told me it could be a cure? Was I wrong?

[ace]

It probably depends exactly what your foot issue is, but in my case, I had plantar fascitis, got custom orthotics and a cortisone shot in my foot (and yeah, it HURT), and have been basically pain free for almost 20 years.

[RoadRaven]

Well... I think I can add to the general confusion...

I had a shot in my shoulder pro'ly about 10-15 years ago (I had toddlers, that I remember too). I couldn't lift my arm higher than my shoulder - I got very skilled at pegging up washing with hand.

After a couple of weeks of "putting up with", my partner hauled me off to the doctor - said I would pro'ly get a cortisone shot and warned me how much they could hurt (he'd had a couple in knees due to rugby injuries).

Had the shot - no pain from that... no pain errupting and after two days was regaining use of my arm without the original pain.

For me, cortisone worked, and worked painlessly...

[MomOnBike]

My experience:

I injured my knee running errands in the car (in-out-in-out-in-OUCH!).

I got a cortosone shot and a brace which made everything all better. The shot was all but painless, excepting for having the doc poke around looking for Just The Right Spot. Evidently, her technique is good, relief was immediate. I only needed one shot - then used the brace 'til I got tired of the thing.

I don't really want more of them, it felt just too darn good to be good for me.

[carolp]

I've had a number of them over the years, the most recent in my right knee. I have very little cartilidge left and I couldn't walk very far. The shot took more than a week to kick in which was longer than they have taken in the past. I am now several months past the shot and it's still keeping the inflammation pretty well at bay. My left knee is titanium, so no more shots in that one!

[LBTC]

My experience:

broken humerus (two places) with 3 pins immobilizing the shoulder and arm for 4 weeks. frozen shoulder (adhesive encapsulitis) kicked in. After the pins were removed, PT 3 times a week for several months, then twice a week for awhile, after about 4 months even with the PT and my own careful exercising daily, my range of motion was not returned. I was stuck at between 10 and 11 oclock for at least a full month without any improvement. Cortisone shot. Surprisingly pain free despite the massive looking needle. I felt like the range of motion was instant, but it was probably the next day....

I really take it seriously when medical professionals suggest that you really ought to have no more than 3 cortisone shots in your lifetime. I hope to never have to use the other two, and I hope, if I ever do, that they will be equally successful!

Range of motion in my shoulder, 8 years later is still good, and stable. Pain is occasional, but pretty non-existant when I keep moving. As my PT Of the time said: move it or lose it.

Good luck with your knees!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~