steroid injections

[mwelliott65]

I am 45 and was looking having the BHR this past August but decided to wait until early summer of next year as my pain was tolerable and timing with my family (I coach basketball, it is my son's senior year etc) schedule made it difficult to do it now.  I am wondering about steroid injections or cortisone shots as a pre BHR measure to help reduce the constant low grade pain and discomfort.  Can anyone give me feedback on their experience and how effective the injections were especially as it relates to pain reduction and ability to be more active?  My doctor has said that it works in about 90% of patients.  I have also heard some fairly negative things about injections i.e. may increase likelihood of cancer, short lived, may advance the deterioration of the joint.  Thanks for your help.

[Lopsided]

When I was doing competitive sport more than twenty years ago, it was well known then that cortisone injections could only have short term benefits and potentially serious long term problems. I do not know why they are still an option. If you are a sports coach, don't you know this?

If you have physical deterioration of your cartilage or bone, injecting anything will not fix it, especially steroids that weaken the bone, that should need to be strong to be resurfaced.

[hipnhop]

Don;t do it. Please read my post Hip Resurfacing Vs Hip Arthroscopy. I have been unable to walk and in unbearable pain after my cortisone shot. I  missed the Ironman World Championship because of the shot and can't work. It is going on five weeks.
It's not worth it in my opinion. Don't take the risk. I have never felt pain like this before. Plus the medications they give you are toxic and addictive.  Ask any questions you like. Yes, the shots were given by a radiologist under x-ray.

[John C]

I have talked to many hip specialists who feel that cortisone injections into the hip will rapidly increase the deterioration, more than in any other joint.

[dimples]

Mine didn't help at all.  Just made my hip sore for a fews days.

[mwelliott65]

Thanks for the feedback.  I was hoping there had been some medical advancements in the use of injections but it doesn't seem that way.  Again thanks for the feedback and I will persevere until my surgery in the spring/early summer. 


 

[Luann]

Hi mwelliott,
 I had the same experience. They gave me the injection under a radiograph (to insure perfect placement) and it is quite uncomfortable. I did not get a minute of relief from my hip pain. I have been told by horse vets (this is used on horses a lot, too) that is does deteriorate the joint more rapidly in the long run.
 I will never do a cortisione injection again, in any joint in my body. Lu

[hipnhop]

Elliot, I just found out that the shot gave me a bacterial infection.they now want to do a hip aspiration to determine the type of bacteria and surgery to clear it up.  I am at a lost for words.  I poster earlier and got this bad news today.  They tell me I will be on IV for six weeks to clear bacteria.  I am confused and do not know what to do about HR, Artroscope, surgery,, etc.

They are trying to rush me because of the infection. What's funny is that in my previous 5 post cortisone appts to discuss my negative reaction, not one doc said anything of this possibility. All was said was that it was a Flare and it would go away.

I walked out the hospital today because it is all coming at me too fast. I need to speak to some docs. All of this would have been avoided if I did not get the Cortisone shot. think hard and ask tons of questions about nerve damage, infection, tissue degeneration.  All are real and I am proof

[mwelliott65]

Thanks again for the concern and advice.  Ed@ydrf, I wish you well and hope you heal quickly.  Take care.

[sroberts]

Hey Ed,

You definitely do need to rush with taking care of the infection. I was also on IV antibiotics for 6 weeks. You can get through this. I pm'd you as well. Call me.


best,

spencer

[roosevelt heights]

Coach,

Dont waste your time or $$$. Find a good doctor in your area, get his/her opinion, and decide what is best for you. I have had both of my hips resurfaced, and find myself asking, "why did I wait so long ?"

[gazza]

Hi
I understand that using steroid injections does speed up the wear process of cartilage in the joint..
But I have had several over the past 6 years or so. I had on in my right shoulder clavicle (this was preventing me from sleeping the pain was so bad) about 6 years ago, the relief came after a couple of days and shoulder is still ok. I have had both knees done as the pain when walking got quite bad, again after a couple of days knees felt much better and finally I had left hip done approx 10 months before it was replaced (4 injections placed with Xray). This removed pain and gave me almost full range of movement for approx 6 months so was worth it (for me). I was only allowed 1 injection in each joint, but would have gladly had more because of the relief offered. I am now 48 years old, and cycling, and swimming regularly without problems...... Everyone is different and it worked for me. If your surgeon thinks its worth a try then why not!

[hipnhop]

I has an arthroscope done last week. It showed no signs of infection although my levels were high.  It seems that the Cortisone was the culprit. I am trying to get copies of my xrays so I can show the rapid deterioration in my hip joint within the three weeks of the shot. 

Doc wants to wait six weeks to see how I recover and determine if we go to surgery. I am bone on bone now and just want to get it done. I will meet with him on Monday and push for surgery.  The pain is about an 8 every time I stand on my right leg. Can't walk with crutches.

[Doug]

Had cortisone injection in August before major car trip.  Got relief from tightness and other issues within 3 days and unfortunately it only lasted about 2 months.  Doc told me average was about 3 months.  Worked for me although I see from posts not for everyone. 

Quote I like best on cortisone shot for someone needing resurface or THR is "like putting a band aid on a gunshot wound"

[jgenese]

I'm 45 and had a left BHR two weeks ago. I myself put it off for a long time and got two cortisone shots which did absolutely nothing. The first one helped for about three weeks and the second caused more pain. Right now I'm on the road to recovery. You know, when you think about getting the resurfacing, is there really a perfect time to get it done? There was always something going on so I figured I would just get it over with as soon as possible and now I'm glad I did.
Best of luck to you in the spring!

Johnny G

[littleb]

I have a question. When I had a steroid shot for my herniated disk there was something about people with diabetes needing special care and for some it's not an option. Does the steroid shot mess with sugar levels?

[littleb]

Since my back doctor - herniated disk - wants to try another shot to coast me along until my gait improves enough to see if my back problem will disappear (fingers crossed) I asked about the effects on sugar levels. Yes it does raise them, temporarily on those without diabetes, a big problem for those who do have diabetes. I hate doing another shot but at almost 3 months out from my new hip, it's my back that is making me walk like and old woman and I don't want that to cause bad wear on the hip.

[emichel]

I don't know anything about the steroid injections, but I can relate to the back problems related to the hips.  I am having my first hip surgery in mid-January, the second on the 1st of March.  I am confident that in the end I will be rid of my hip pain, but also very much hope that it will help with the lower back pain.  Lately it has gotten out of control, and I'm sure a lot of it is because of stiffening and compensating for my sore hip joints.  I am just really eager to see how much better it's going to get after the hip surgeries.  Hopefully, a lot!!!

[BerkeleyGirl]

I had a generally positive experience with steroid injections. I had them done at California Pacific Medical Center. The first one didn't help much, but I asked my doc if I could try a second one -- and that one really has helped. Before, my back had begun to seize up because the constant bad limp was throwing it out of kilter. The second shot reduced the pain so much that the limp was much less, if at all. It also has enabled me to get a bit more exercise, including using gym machines on leg/hip muscles, which I'm sure will help me recover from my surgery scheduled 12/13. I got the shot a month ago, and only now can I begin to feel it starting to wear off.

If anyone is doing this in the SF area, I *highly* recommend Dr. Mall or Maars, something like that, in the Cal Pacific Med radiology dept. His approach was very different than with my first shot -- much less painful as well as much more effective. He has done thousands of these injections.

[Tin Soldier]

I had one steroid injection in the left hip and it was amazing.  All the pain went away for awhile (couple months), just starting to come back a little.  I agree that you probably don't want to do it too much.  I heard that you could degenrate the joint so badly that RS wouldn't work.  Then I heard from another surgeon that doesn't think cortizone does long term damage.  Who knows.  I guess I would think a couple injections wouldn't be all that bad.  However, you probably aren't gaining much time anyway, so why do it? just go straight to the RS.