my last evaluation. an MRI with a shot in my hip. thats what i did today. its my first shot. im hoping for a few months pain free. any advice? i know its prolonging my BHR but i dont think im that bad. i guess i naturally tweaked most of my daily functions that involve any flexibility on my lower left side. didnt we all? lol, i just want to hear a few stories about these shots. thank you,

                                                                   mike

Hi, I too, wasn't "that bad," so I put a lot of thought into going forward.  Afterall, I could still walk.  But my quality of life was not the best it could be.  I couldn't sleep through the night.  I ached after a long walk,  I slowly got out of chairs and cars.  Things were slowly but surely getting more painful and difficult.
So, I figured if I waited another year at the end of the day, I would still need the operation so I decided to have the operation as soon as possible so that I could start living pain free as soon as possible.  I didn't want to wait until my ability to function slowly deteroirated because I believe that it would hinder my recovery.   I am now 24 days post op and I am glad I made my decision now.  I can't wait to be able to exercise fully again and get on with my life pain free.   Think about not waiting until your hip becomes so bad that your quality of life will be compromised.  Good Luck!!!  Pam

Cortisone shots, from what I understand, reduce swelling in the injection area, giving temporary relief to inflammed tissue, reducing pain and increasing ROM. So it's a temporary relief that only addresses symptoms.  I have read (somewhere) that a potential side affect is cartilage degeneration - so it could actually make things worse.

What may work better is a synvisc treatment, but that still is a stop gap.

I was offered a shot when I first got diagnosed - in case I was going on a long trip or something where it would be beneficial, knowing it was only temporary. I didn't bother (the surgeon also suggested THR - I've got a BHR now).

Just do it!  You won't regret it.  Schedule the surgery now so that you'll be back to normal by next summer.  Life's too short.

those shots are what gave me bi-lateral Avn.. I had ezcema on my hands in my early 20's and doctors giving me shots to clear it up for 30-45 days,, sad they in less than 8 years both my hips were dead from cortisone,, I really did not think I could have resurface done cause I had used celebrax too,, McMinn had told me years ago before it came to US to watch my use of meds like that and even celebrax as they can cause more lesions in the femoral head ,, Mont told me things were fine and so did Gross when I was being evaled for this,, not sure what all that was about,, but the cortisone is what killed the ateries that fed my hips,,
Steven

thx for all the responses. i see my doctor on 11/11 to go over the MRI. the shot worked. i dont have to struggle as much putting on my left sock but i still limp. after all you're advice i will not get another shot when it wears off. depending on what the doc says next week i will decide the timing of my BHR. i've heard from alot of people, doctors, family members, etc. and they usually say that a THReplacement has been around longer and has a better recovery percentage. they seem to be against the BHR. dont worry, my mind is made up. im totally into the BHR. i love this website too. have any of you heard that stuff too?

                                                                        mike

Good choice on selecting resurfacing. I am against cortisone shots. I got one for my hip and it made things worse not better. I think they destroy whatever cartiledge you have left in the joint.

I had a cortisone shot in my hip this past July. It helped for about 2 weeks. Then it was back to the regular pain. I've had them in my knees and found them effective, but as my (now-replaced knee) got worse, the time the improvement lasted for less and less time. I'm not planning to have another one in my hip. For $1200 (the charge, although I paid far less because of insurance, partly because it had to be done at my local hospital), for 2 weeks feeling better, doesn't seem worth it.