Cortisone injection

My missus had a similar problem to yours and being a more advanced age than yours she opted for the injection. This was a year or so ago and she has had no trouble since. Cortisone can only help you. I have been taking the stuff for years periodically, for a medical condition and I am still here....but am I sane????hahahahaha

Cheers

I have had them for Spider bites in the past , I didnt realise there was problem problem problem problem problem

I have used cortisone sparingly in the past for various football injuries as a last resort with no problems, A good friend had a chronic condition where cortisone was beneficial, however the doc said if used regularly it wil build up in the body and cannot be purged. I guess like anything in moderation no worries ( exept for beer) the more the healthier

Cheeeeeeers

Hurts like bloody hell but works a dream is speeding up recovery.

I have had one in my elbow, worked a treat, however, I too have heard conflicting reports pertaining to the shoulder.

You may only need one, or many, although 3 in a short period is deemed as enough.

Perhaps a second MEDICAL opinion could be worthwhile, only going to cost you $20.00.

Best of luck either way

works a treat to speed up the healing process but be warned it must be followed up with the appropriate physio otherwise the tissue repairs with a lot of scar tissue that can cause problems and is harder to eliminate afterwards. I speak from experience as I had it years ago before physio was seen as beneficial and I swore that i would never have thatbleepagain however I believe from my doctor that these days with the physio it is nothing like what it used to be so I would be guided by your doctor and if your not sure seek a second opinion.

Cortisone is safe in non-weight bearing joints if used sparingly. It works by suppressing the inflammation associated with tissue damage. The inflammation delays scarring and healing. Some shoulder injuries involve damage to the capsule of the joint or associated tendons (like supraspinatus) that won't just heal spontaneously. The cortisone will settle down the inflammation but you will still have a structural problem. The ways to determine this are by diagnostic ultrasound, CT artrogram, MRI, arthroscopy. The MRI will cost you about $250 (no rebate) and is probably worth it.

I'd talk to a shoulder specialist if you haven't already done so. Complicated joint that one.
I've heard nasty stories of atheletes being knocked out of their sports for life because of injections gone wrong.
I'm also gun shy because of a cortisone injection I had for a dislocated shoulder 30 years ago. In agony for days after.
In a recent trip to a specialist for an unrelated shoulder problem, he suggested cortisone if I didn't get any improvement and when I raised my concern his response was "that was 30 years ago and he would not prescribe it for dislocated shoulder any way" "Perfectly safe now"
Nature took its course for me and at the moment I'm fine. I am told that my particular problem will come and go. NO, I'm not passed the use-by date.

Pauly,

Had one in the knee and concurr with the "Hurts like bloody hell" message.

Cortisone is a steroid that minimises the inflamatory response to injury amongst other things (the reason your ankle swells up when you sprain it). It doesnt actually "build up" as such, but your body becomes less sensitive to it so that increasing doses are required to achieve the same benifit. The adverse effects seem to run a more "linear" line which means the dosages can become unbearable.

Occasional use like your once off therapy is generally quite safe. Not many people have adverse reactions to it as it has the effect of reducing the effect of the inflammatory response. As it is a local injection into the joint capsule it should remain there for some period of time and allowing the joint to settle down a bit, but it does slow down the actual internal repair a degree. (but does lead to better healing of the tissue.........) All the activity in and around the damaged tissue is sort of put into "slow motion", it doesn't quickly swell up and it doesn't quickly heal. To sides of the same coin, really...

You will get a quicker healing without it (although not by much due to swelling), but a better healing in the longer term with it.

It is a banned drug in sporting events (ability to mask injury).

[begin legal jargon]
This is general information. As always, consult your doctor about your particular case for further explanation.
[end legal jargon]

Gary Campbell, Registered Nurse.

Pauly,

Mate I agree with most of what has been said so far. Take my advice in the context it is meant though, I am 40 yo and am still playing rugby week in week aout, although it is in America so the quality is much less than at home. (Rugby Union) Needless to say I did play with work (army) once a week until I left Oz two years ago. Don't worry I'm not a defector, just over here for work. Will be home in January. To get to the point; I have had several cortisone injections for pain over the years and from a recipients point of view I concur with what Garry had to say: Yes it hurts going in, a little, but not enough to make it unbearable for further treatment. Your immediate recovery improves, great if you are on a $100, 000 contract and need to get through to the end of the season, long term recovery seems to be delayed. I guess what that means to you is:
Do I need to go back surfing tomorrow, looks, image, chicks, because I want to; or
Do I want to be repaired before I go back.
Me, I chose for the play rugby with my mates and put up with the prolongred pain. If I had the opportunity again...................................................................I'd do the same thing, I'm was sure I could live with the discomfort better down the track than knowing I never tried. I think I was right. Mate my opinion only, sorry you have to put up with it. I assume from your post that you are as keen about surfing as I am keen about xrugby,( and others are about aussie rules and soccer and hockey etc) I assume that you are a keen sportsman, like me, weigh it up, look at the odds..............and surf, wHO KNOWS WHEN YOU WONT BE ABLE TO.

Cheers

Jools

I had a similar problem... mine was done with an ulrasound to "guide the Hypodermic into the exact spot" painwise it wasnt as bad as I thought it was going to be and within 24 hours I was as good as new. I still regularly exercise in a heated pool with other Vietnam vets with similar problems.. I think the modern versions of cortisone are heaps more user friendly than those of say 5 years ago.

Thanks for all the responses have helped out heaps, to let you know i got a second opinion from another doctor and he said that in my situation i have nothing to worry about because my injury is minor and has nothing to do with any structual ligaments he said i'd be stupid if i dont get it done he did explain it too me but i cant pronounce nor spell half the words he told me.
Again thanks for all the responces

cheers paul

The reason for the hurt Paul, is because the shot is normally put INTO the joint space. I have had a few in my many years and it ain't that bad, and I'm a bloke (that comment was for all the women out there who think blokes are sooks)

Pauly. I've had it once in both ankles because of swelling and intense pain from Rheumatiod Arthritis and it's worked really well. Had it twice in right elbow but not so successful.
Also have to take it in tablet form when the disease really flares up and it's very good at settling it down again.
Long term effects if used constantly can be changes to the face, it becomes moonshaped (!!!!) and can make you irrational and suffer from delusions such as feelings of persecution.
Needless to say I take it sparingly as the cook won't love me or cook the grub if I have a moon shaped face, although on second thoughts that might not be a bad thing sometimes!