Cortisone Shots

August 20, 1999

Hi!

I just wanted to mention that the cortisone shots didn't hurt at all. You

may feel a bit of a sting at the injection sight but they never really

bothered me. I've had them in my feet (5 shots), hip (1 shot) and in the

knee. Maybe my tolerance is better than most but the relief was wonderful.

Diane

August 22, 1999

I've had a few cortisone shots.

Into tendon sheath of left wrist. Looked wierd, my forearm puffed up

immediately simply from the fluid pumped into the sheath surrounding the

muscle.

Underside left wrist for carpel (sp?) tunnel.

Top of foot, between toes to get at compressed nerve. eek!

3 ampules into each knee joint, after draining excess fluid, of course.

I can tell you now, the only time it hurt more than a little prick (um...

not the best choice of words ;-) ) was the one into the tendon sheath. It

was quite spectacular, but didn't actually hurt much at the time. Often Drs

will include a local in the mix, or give one first. When it did hurt was a

couple of hours after. Felt like a bus had run over my arm.

My advice would be to discuss this with your doctor, but be firm. You're

paying him/her, you're the one taking the gamble, it's your body. If you are

concerned about it hurting then demand a local. Ask for something good for

pain relief later if this could be a problem. Panadiene Forte (panadol and

codiene) is excellent.

By the way. I was apprehensive (to say the least) at having 3 ampules in

each knee. The DR drained the knee, removed the syringe and replaced it with

the one containing the bucketload of cortisone and gave the shot. Did this

to both knees and I was amazed. Didn't hurt. At all.

. ps This list is a godsend!!

August 22, 1999

Diane,

I had the cortisone shot on Friday for my wrist and it wasn't bad at

all. The wrist feels better but the thumb still aches, but not like it

did before. Was your relief immediate or did it take a while. I guess

I thought it would be a miracle shot and the pain would be completely.

No such luck.

Angera

August 24, 1999

In a message dated 08/24/1999 1:54:12 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

Targa99@... writes:

<<

I'm so glad the the cortisone shot wasn't painful! Hurray for you! They've

never bothered me either. I started to feel relief within a few days...good

luck!

Diane

>>

May I ask..is a cortisone shot just intended to zap a certain joint...or do

you receive a systemic benefit from it?

Annette

August 25, 1999

In a message dated 8/25/99 2:12:39 AM, Frog1945@... writes:

<< May I ask..is a cortisone shot just intended to zap a certain joint...or

do

you receive a systemic benefit from it?

>>

Unfortunately, just the joint that injected.....

August 29, 1999

I disagree- although the cortisone to the joint is the main area injected and

effected, there is a spill over into your entire system for a day or two. I

always have a small breather after joint injections.

January 25, 2004

Janice, cortisone shots have been a real gift to me whenever I have been in

the midst of a bad flare or have had swelling in a joint that wouldn't quit.

The shots hurt a bit but it is nothing I can't readily tolerate especially in

exchange for the relief they provide. I hope they work for you if you end up

needing a shot.

Best,

Kathy F.

I would be interested in some feedback about cortisone shots. I have

a doctor's appointment in March. My ring finger does not want to seem

to behave,is somewhat deformed and doc tells me that if still

insists, then he will give me a shot. Would be nice to hear from

anywone who has had one, or any alternatives.

Thanks

Janice

January 25, 2004

My Rheumy claims that cortisone shots in the small joints can be

rather iffy - the capsule around these joints are very small so the

shot is painful, and because the small capsule can't hold much

cortisone (unlike a knee, say), the relief is too brief - not as long

as you should wait between shots like this.

It blows my mind that had them in the nail beds - I'd rather

have " knobby " nails. Brave soul - .

Adam

January 25, 2004

I had my first cortisone shot 3 days ago, into my right(dominant) shoulder

and it did not hurt a bit! I'm still waiting for the relief. anyone have a

ball park idea of how long before the pain lets up? the dr. said it was

severe rotator cuff tendonitis . the oral pred rapid taper did not help.

Mo......physical therapy is next.

(Editor's Note: I've needed cortisone injections (in the shoulder) a few times.

Larger targets, like the shoulder, tend to be much less painful than small ones.

Twice, the injections have been for rotator cuff problems (I have a pertial tear

in my right RC).

Based on my experience, you are way overdue for relief. The first time, I got

the shot at 10:30 AM; good relief by 2:00 PM. It lasted for months. Pretty much

the same time intervals, when I had another shot last year.

Good luck!

D.)

January 26, 2004

Mo, I agree with - the benefits from my cortizone shots are evident

within a few hours. By the next morning, I usually feel darn good! If you

aren't feeling better after 3 days, the shot is probably not helping you. Hope

you

find something that works for you.

Regards,

Kathy F.

I had my first cortisone shot 3 days ago, into my right(dominant) shoulder

and it did not hurt a bit! I'm still waiting for the relief. anyone have a

ball park idea of how long before the pain lets up? the dr. said it was

severe rotator cuff tendonitis . the oral pred rapid taper did not help.

Mo......physical therapy is next.

January 26, 2004

Re: [ ] Cortisone shots

> My Rheumy claims that cortisone shots in the small

> joints can be rather iffy - the capsule around

> these joints are very small so the shot is painful,

> and because the small capsule can't hold much

> cortisone (unlike a knee, say), the relief is too

> brief - not as long as you should wait between

> shots like this.

Well, I'm no rheumatologist, but:

1) When I had some done in my fingers, they weren't

very painful. Just about the same as having

bloodwork drawn, frankly.

2) One of my fingers was so bad that nothing else

touched it (prednisone tapers, etc.), but the

cortisone took the swelling down within 48 hours and

that was four months ago and it's still fine. (Well,

deformed but that's the joint damage, not the

inflammation, obviously.)

January 27, 2004

Hello Tracey,

It was nice to hear some positive feedbackabout the

cortisone. It has be scared to death, but you make it

sound not so bad, as have a couple of others. My joint

on the ring finger is somewhat inflamed, but deformed

as well. My therapist that visits me, says it's

possible it may stay that way...She keeps making me do

exercises to try and straighten it out, but it doesn't

seemto be working, and THAT is why my reumie dr. says

he will give me a cortisone shot...but you say it

doesn't work for the joints only the inflammation. I

am confused.

January 27, 2004

Same as Kathy.

There are a number of brands/types as far as I know.

I was injected with 3mil of Kenalog 3 different sites.

The site turned out to be short term irrelevant for me. All symptoms

(PA)disappeared within 3-6 hours and lasted for 4 weeks. P cleared

up in about a week - or however long it takes the skin to heal.

Longer term the injected sites are doing better than the others.

(Note - 3 sites were left and right hip, right shoulder - we skipped

the left shoulder as a control)

Four months later I had 1cc of Kenalog and not surprising it had

about 1/3 the effect. All PA symptoms lessened. Little change in P.

Glen

January 28, 2004

The cortisone injections that I got from my Rheumatologist into my finger(s)

and thumb joints worked every time. The swelling, pain and redness never

returned in those fingers that were injected and the joints are now fully

mobile.

I only got one finger done at the time when it was really swollen. Yes, the

injection is painful but only for a minute or so. The first finger that I

had done was swollen and painful for at least six months before I realized that

there was something drastically wrong with it. My regular doctor had said I

had gout and was treating me for that. PS I would not hesitate again getting

the cortisone injection(s) but I would not have more than one at a time

because it can raise your blood sugar quite high. Peggy b.

January 28, 2004

At 03:28 AM 1/27/04, you wrote:

>My therapist that visits me, says it's

>possible it may stay that way...She keeps making me do

>exercises to try and straighten it out, but it doesn't

>seemto be working, and THAT is why my reumie dr. says

>he will give me a cortisone shot...but you say it

>doesn't work for the joints only the inflammation. I

>am confused.

Well, it works for the joint in the sense that if the inflammation is

reduced, the joint will improve.

Some deformed-looking joints are only deformed because the inflammation is

pushing the joint in a strange way and making it appear deformed, so when

you have a cortisone injection that reduces the inflammation, the joint may

slowly return to normal.

Some joints are too far gone by the time the injection happens, though. One

of my fingers has a boutonniere deformity that has not been helped at all

by the cortisone injection, in repairing the deformity. But whether a

cortisone injection helps the deformity or not, it's better to get the

inflammation under control to minimize *further* damage, anyway, don't you

think?

January 28, 2004

At 03:44 AM 1/27/04, you wrote:

>Hi,

>

>I'm just off to have one now in the forefinger of my left hand. They

>hurt like hell, especially when the area is very swollen but they do

>offer fantastic relief. i hate having them but really go with them

>if the offer is there.

>

>Anyone who says they are like having blood taken are insane. lol

I said that, and I meant it. My joints were *terribly* inflammed at the

time, but

my rheumy was an absolute dream when he did the injections. They

honestly weren't bad at all. Just a sharp, temporary prick and then it was

fine.

Everyone's experience is different, but so far my experience with them has

been excellent.

January 28, 2004

-

> of my fingers has a boutonniere deformity that has not been helped

at all

> by the cortisone injection, in repairing the deformity.

hi

What is a boutonniere deformity? Are there names for other hand

deformities too? somehow the name sounds pretty. why do i want to

know??? I have no idea....unless i can put it on some form or other

by way of explanation...lol!

Marti

January 29, 2004

[ ] Re: Cortisone shots

> What is a boutonniere deformity? Are there names

> for other hand deformities too?

Hi Marti!

A boutonniere deformity is where the DIP joint is hyperextended and the PIP

joint is flexed.

A swan neck deformity is the opposite, where the PIP joint is hyperextended and

the DIP joint is flexed.

Here's a boutonniere deformity page:

http://www.dynomed.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/hand_and_wrist/Boutonniere_Defo\

rmity.html

This page describes a few more different types of problems, including the swan

neck:

http://www.dynomed.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia/hand_and_wrist/Arthritis_of_the\

_Hand.html

I don't know if there are other names for other types of deformities or not!

Ed. Note Just thought to possibly head off the next questions DIP means distal

interphalangeal= the furthest joint out on the finger or toe PIP means proximal

interphalangeal= middle joint on finger or toe. Orin

February 1, 2004

-Hi ,

Thanks for the info and the websites! They were educational. Can

your bouttoniere deformity be fixed or is it permanent now?

best,

Marti

February 2, 2004

At 08:19 AM 2/1/04, you wrote:

>Thanks for the info and the websites! They were educational. Can

>your bouttoniere deformity be fixed or is it permanent now?

I'm not really sure. I wear ring splints, as seen here:

http://members.shaw.ca/tljohnson/images/arthritis/oct03_rings.jpg

which are supposed to help straighten the finger back out, but I don't

know how much they'll help. They have straightened it a little, but it's a

*very* slow process, so I don't know if it'll ever get back to normal. It's

something I keep meaning to ask my rheumy about when I see him, and

then at my appts. there always seems to be so much else to discuss

that I forget!

(BTW, here's a picture of my actual boutonniere deformity...

http://members.shaw.ca/tljohnson/images/arthritis/oct03_bout.jpg)

February 2, 2004

tljohnson@... writes:

<<(BTW, here's a picture of my actual boutonniere deformity...

http://members.shaw.ca/tljohnson/images/arthritis/oct03_bout.jpg)>>

I'm so sorry that you have that . It looks like it is very painful. I

myself have a bump on the first digit of my left pointer finger. It looks

like a spur and can also be painful at times. Hope your rheumy can help with

your finger.

Janet

April 27, 2005

Charlene,

I've had two cortisone injections in two fingers last fall. Giving

these shots is a good for a short term solution to our problem. Yes, I

got great relief from swelling, redness and inflammation by getting the

cortisone injection. I had a second opinion on my treatment from my

first rheumy. The last rheumy said that it's okay to do the cortisone

shots if I have flares maybe once or twice a year tops. My fingers no

longer close properly since having these injections. I found out losing

mobility in my finger joints wasn't do to the injections, but due to the

PA flare. It does damage to our joints. I have been told PA is a very

unpredictable disease. You may have flares ongoing or in my case I may

not have another flare for 2 or possibly 10 years in the future. The

cortisone injections gave me so much pain after getting the shot. The

injection itself wasn't the problem. The injection wearing off was the

problem. It felt like my bone hurt to the core for 8 to 10 hours after

receiving the injections. I had to take Darvaset for the intense pain.

Hope this helps!

Rhonda

Charlene wrote:

>

> Just curious if anyone does cortisone shots? I was taking Methotrexate

> and it did nothing for me so my Rheumatologist wanted me to take the

> Methotrexate with Arava. Well after reading about Arava I decided

> that I wouldn't take it, far too many side effects that scare the

> bejeezuz out of me. My family doctor gave me a cortisone shot in my

> worse area (thumb on right hand), it was HUGE, so swollen and tender

> and useless, couldn't bend it, pick anything up, it was a mess.

> Anyhow the cortisone shot took the swelling away completely within

> about 4 days, that was about 3 months ago and the swelling still

> hasn't come back. Now about 2 weeks ago I went and had 3 more shots in

> 3 fingers that had bad nails and some swelling in the joints. Already

> I can see the new nail growing in normal. I am SO HAPPY!!!!

>

> So just curious if anyone else has done the cortisone thing and any

> opinions that you might have about them.

>

> Thanks a bunch.

> Charlene )

April 27, 2005

yes, I was having a lot of pain and tingling in my right arm and hand. Turns

out it was carpal tunnel syndrome. One shot of cortizone and it has been great

since. An occassional ache only when overused but that is it. I have

considered asking for cortizone in some other painful areas, especially in my

thumb on my left had which give me a lot of pain. I'm glad it helped you

because maybe I need to ask the doctor to do the same for me.

Charlene <charlenemckenzie@...> wrote:

Just curious if anyone does cortisone shots? I was taking Methotrexate

and it did nothing for me so my Rheumatologist wanted me to take the

Methotrexate with Arava. Well after reading about Arava I decided

that I wouldn't take it, far too many side effects that scare the

bejeezuz out of me. My family doctor gave me a cortisone shot in my

worse area (thumb on right hand), it was HUGE, so swollen and tender

and useless, couldn't bend it, pick anything up, it was a mess.

Anyhow the cortisone shot took the swelling away completely within

about 4 days, that was about 3 months ago and the swelling still

hasn't come back. Now about 2 weeks ago I went and had 3 more shots in

3 fingers that had bad nails and some swelling in the joints. Already

I can see the new nail growing in normal. I am SO HAPPY!!!!

So just curious if anyone else has done the cortisone thing and any

opinions that you might have about them.

Thanks a bunch.

Charlene )

April 27, 2005

Seriously, be very careful about cortisone shots especially in the hands.

The only permanent joint damage I have is in fingers in which I was given

cortisone shots before starting enbrel. I have several frozen joints

because of it. Personally I would try a biologic drug like enbrel for a few

months before ever resorting to cortisone injections. Enbrel could resolve

the flare. I am certain I would not have these frozen joints if I would

have been able to start enbrel immediately which was miraculous. Cortisone

is an old line last ditch treatment that has definite long term

consequences. Old doctors who have not kept up with the state of the art

love to use it.

[ ] Cortisone shots