Anyone had cortisone shot?

cedarghost

I have rotator cuff problems in both shoulders. Can't get into doctor for a week. He is planning on cortisone shots. Should I still get them even if I feel no pain at the time of the appointment?

daj150

I had gotten them before..they seemed to do more harm than good. I had a side effect called flare, or something like that. But if you read up on it, everyone seems to react differently. So, if your doctor says you should get them, and you aren't 100% on board with what he is saying, get a second opinion. Chances are he didn't prescribe the shots because this was the first time you had issues with your rotator cuffs...or is it?

Scar1964

I have rotator cuff problems in both shoulders. Can't get into doctor for a week. He is planning on cortisone shots. Should I still get them even if I feel no pain at the time of the appointment?

Only if you like pain. Had gout awhile back and got shots, they are not pleasant but it definitely worked.

drmerc

Cortisone shots work
ETA: I probably would no get them if the pain was gone

Sarauk2sf

Never had them, just tagging so it shows up on my feed in case anyone on my FL can give input.

iAMsmiling

I have bursitis in my shoulders. Had a cortisone shot in my left shoulder 2 years ago and I've been pretty much pain free there. The right shoulder has just gotten bad enough that I'm ready to go for a shot there as well. Hoping for the same good results.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

Personally I love cortisone shots, but I don't think I'd get it if you're not having pain. I have my doubts as to whether the doctor would give it to you if you're not in discomfort anyway.

mmddwechanged

I went to see my surgeon last week. He told me the benefits of cortisone.

I decided against the shot for five reasons:
1)The downside is that just like it can lessen inflamation and pain, it can also change the properties of the muscle and weaken or thin the muscle.
2) My other concern is that I have tendonitis and probably a tear or fray and I may not be as careful after the shot which could cause more severe damage.
3) the recommendation is that no one should have more than ( a certain number can't remember but it's somewhere between 2 and 4) cortisone shots a year because of side effects.
4) sometimes it doesn't help. My physiotherapist said the chances of it helping are 50/50
5) I'm pretty emotional, whiney and wimpy these days and I just don't wanna!!!

I opted not to have the shot even though I am in constant pain and the shot could alleviate this for weeks to a month.
I would lean towards not doing it if you have no pain. If you can go in again a week or two later if you change your mind then I would say definately wait.

I have had issues for about four years due to calcific tendonitis. What is your issue? I can talk to you about exercises and other therapies too if you like.

vjohn04

Cortisone shots were the one of the worst things I could have ever done. I got them from the campus physician right after I hurt my back and the feedback I got afterward from all the other doctors was that I probably did more harm than good by getting them.

Athena125

Only get them if you are in too much pain. I got them in my back because I was in A LOT of pain. They messed up my hormones, made me eat like crazy, screwed with my blood sugar and they only helped after I got 3 of them (I think it was one per month for 3 months or something like that). I would do it if I was in a lot of pain, otherwise, forget it!

mmddwechanged

I have to add that there we are all talking about different conditions and the cause of your shoulder problems makes a big difference regarding efficacy of cortisone shots. I have heard of situations where a person with bursitis, for example, said it cured them. I often walk into people wearing my sling and especially on a bad day, and they urge me to go for a cortisone shot because it was the best thing they ever did:). I know that only surgery will cure my condition. Your situation may be different.

chicco57

I got them when I had a frozen shoulder and my movement was limited and painful to try and move to do simple tasks, yes it was painful but not overly painful and shouldn't be if the person injects it into the right spot, it certainly helped for me and I only had one shot, its not an overnight cure as you still have to do the excercises given to you. I hope this helps.

ILiftHeavyAcrylics

I have to add that there we are all talking about different conditions and the cause of your shoulder problems makes a big difference regarding efficacy of cortisone shots. I have heard of situations where a person with bursitis, for example, said it cured them. I often walk into people wearing my sling and especially on a bad day, and they urge me to go for a cortisone shot because it was the best thing they ever did:). I know that only surgery will cure my condition. Your situation may be different.

This is a valid point. I got them for joint inflammation from lupus.

cedarghost

Thanks for all the excellent feedback. The doc says "If your shoulder is hurting this bad again, come in and we will give you a cortisone shot." The problem is, twice now my shoulder has hurt so bad I had to go to the ER, but when I call my doc, he can't get me in for a week, and by then there is no pain.
Looking back at the last two times I have had to go to the ER, they were both my fault for using the arm that was hurting (last time I just HAD to pick up my 35 pound granddaughter, who thought it prudent to immediately lean over onto my bad arm....lol).
Anyway. because of all this feedback, I am not going to get one just yet. I am just going to force myself to not use that arm until most of the pain is gone, then start the flexibility and range of motion exercises the ortho gave me to do.
Thanks again!

mmddwechanged

I am so happy to hear that you have it figured out. Funny you mention your grandchild. Two days ago I was with a baby who was just beginning to walk. His mom was so proud to show me and he was having fun walking back and forth between us. I'm still hurting because he slammed into me a few times!

I can understand why you'd need ER too. The pain I have been experiencing is similar to labour. Sometimes it pulses and I can "hear" it. I am learning my limitations. I wear a sling often. I'm sure too that your doctor has warned you about frozen shoulder. A way to prevent this is with pendulum swings ( my favourite). Also, I have a pulley attached to a door in my house for passive movement, I also have a skipping rope hanging from my shower curtain rod. I pull one end with my left arm to make the right arm move up passively.

Good luck!!! I hope you feel better soon!

cedarghost

Too funny! Yes, if my sling isn’t on, its in my pocket. I am doing pendulum swings and passive exercise using a broom handle (gripping it with the bad side and using the good side to push the broom handle, and thus stretch the bad arm. But yes, they told me not to use to sling all of the time because of frozen shoulder. so if it feels like I don't really need it I can take it off for a while.

PikaKnight

Hmm, around 2008-2009 I had one in my back. I had been at my heaviest and my back got so bad that I ended up needing it. I think this is one of the things that kicked my butt into gear to lose weight because I was not going to go through that again. I am deathly scared of needles and I had to get an epidermal before the actual shot - so double pokes there.

No joke about the needles thing. I went in 45 minutes later than I was supposed to because I was so stressed my blood pressure was through the roof and they had to wait for me to calm down..lol.

MiguelX66

I've got a pinched nerve in my neck, which has been totally debilitating for the past week or so. Numbness and shooting pain in my shoulder and left arm. Can't sleep at all some nights. I'm on a steroid pack and percocet now.

My orthopedist mentioned cortisone shots as something we might need to consider. He did say the cortisone would not fix the underlying problem causing the pinched nerve, but it could alleviate the pain while I work on my spinal problems. Going for an MRI tomorrow; will know more after that. But If the cortisone alleviates the pain, I'm all for it!