Hi Megan, Ive had a few cortisone shots, for wrist and hip pain mostly. I find it usually kicks in day after I have had it, Cortisone is a very harsh drug, and a lot of use can cause you to pick up weight, also because other RA medication is so strong, I try to avoid taking it as best I can.

I had a shot at my last follow up and felt great for +-3 weeks! Then as it wore off, I woke up with my hips and legs stiff and in pain. Unfortunately cortisone is like a band aid for the pain, and isn't really great for long term treatment.

Hope this helps and maybe someone with more knowledge or experience can add on to this x

i agree with kbaug pretty much.

i have had them in my neck, for years prior to the neck fusion. in my hips. in S1, L5, in the tronchant. bursas, in my wrists, in my knees, in my periformis. this is over a decade. for some i would get a bang for my buck. like the relief that i wanted for a sufficient period of time to warrant the crap that goes along with it. for me site injection pain, systemic reaction as usual to stupid (sorry) pred, insomnia for a day or two (yeah the injectable steroids affect me the same as oral pred), heart racing. that kind of annoying stuff.

I have had these under guided injection and not. with novacaine only. and under anesthesia. this is what they call pain management in my neck of the woods: sticking you with needles full of steroid that may or may not give you relief for a duration worth putting up with the stick. the new doctor flavor of the year - the "interventional pain management guru" wears a lead like surfing suit to protect himself from all that radiation as they take about 5 million x ray shots to figure out where they want to stick.

it's something that some of the practices offer as a something in the action tool kit. i think it makes them feel more efficacious. Sometimes I choose a stick. sometimes I don't. it seems like they are always offering them.

do you have an option of asking a question directly to the master injector on a patient portal?

depot

I've had a number of these over the years. Haven't had a need for them since I went on Humira.

For me the injection kicks in 36 hours post injection. My glucose goes up for a couple days, but comes back down.

One thing I learned the hard way: this injection should only be given by an orth surgeon ....someone who gives this injection day in and day out. It's an extremely painful injection if done by an inexperienced person. [Worst pain I've ever felt in my life.]

They used Kenalog for me and it typically lasts for two months.

You should never get more than two injections per joint in a twelve month period [tendon rupture possibility].

I've had a knee and shoulder done on the same day.

These shots saved me from going nuts before I went on Humira.

Cortisone injections effect everyone differently, and also depend on the doctor giving the injection. I've had good results with injections in my knee prior to having it replaced. I had relief that lasted as long as 2 years.
If you are in increased pain for a couple of says I would call the doctor and see if you can get in sooner.

I just had my right knee done in October, and so far it is holding up quite well., Normally, I get my rheumatologist do it, and he is very good. But my GP did a good job. Maybe knees are easy?

I had a med student do it once, and it was a complete waste of time. Should a med student or resident ever be around, I will insist on an experienced doc.

I wonder how long this will last, as it is going to be a while before I get the knee replaced!

I appreciate all the feedback, guys. 12 days out and still in mind blowing pain. My best guess is that I injured myself while numb from the lidocaine; I went grocery shopping by myself, cleaned the house, and did a round of PT exercises before it wore off. Getting bounced around when I call to ask questions. Radiology tells me to call ortho, ortho tells me to call pcp, pcp tells me to call radiology. Lather, rinse, repeat.

the lidocaine patches work that good for you? wow. we are all so different. I found them ineffective. I am sorry that you are getting the run around. I find the needle sticker aka interventional pain management doc to be a shoulder shrugger. like there are a 1000 people behind me he has to stick this month. if it works, great. if it didn't, so what. I know sounds cavalier but I have never met one that is not like that. they are like the minute clinic of my team. seeing you today. don't care if or when i see you again because there are so many damn others.

feel better

depot

No, no, no. They inject lidocaine with the cortisone. No relief whatsoever from topical use.

Yes, they front load the syringe with lidocaine or other anesthetic. My orth surgeon puts topical lidocaine on the skin, too.

Most importantly, he uses radio guided imagery to ensure the correct direction of the needle.

There are short acting and long acting shots.

WarriorG - the long-acting medication doesn't last more than a few months. So if it seemed like it did, it's because the medication calmed down the inflammation and the inflammation didn't return. [I think that's probably what you meant to say.]

One other thing about these injections: they can have a bad effect on the cortisol level. Mine became virtually non-existent after several years of these injections. But right around then I went on Humira and was able to discontinue the injections. I had my cortisol level checked a few months later and that normalized, too.

Again, the Kenalog injections, for me, were a total godsend. Of course.....it doesn't stop RA.

oh sorry megan. I had a brain fart. I get it now. yeah I don't get any relief with the lidocaine cream or patches, either. hang in there

oh i get it. yeah you were supposed to be quiet, well within reason, i don't know if you have 5 year old triplets... after the injection 24 hours. i remember once i had them in my hips and went immediately to my water therapy class. like the same day. wasted those shots is what I understood, later. don't know if I caused any further damage, it's just I know now that you are not supposed to exercise same day as the injections.

depot

The reason why they don't want you exercising for a couple days after the shot is because you usually feel so good that you tend to overdo it and set yourself up for an accident [since your muscles may not be at their prime].