What to expect with a cortisone shot?

Khisalandra

I have problems with sometimes-extreme pain in my right hip and lower back. I've already had one MRI and some x-rays that have indicated a labral tear and a bony protrusion on my femur, However the doctor wants to take another MRI with contrast of the hip and my lower back to be sure what's causing the pain since he says some of my symptoms are more indicative of sciatica caused by a lower back problem. He's having me get a cortisone shot in the hip itself to stop that pain and if there's still pain afterward, then something may be wrong with the back. Diagnostics are good.

However, I've never had a shot before, and I don't know what to expect. How bad is the initial pain of the shot? Does it have any side effects while it takes effect? How soon afterward will I feel relief? How soon afterward can I exercise? I did a search of the forums, but couldn't find answers to those particular questions.

Thanks!

OriginalKatie

I've had a couple of cortisone injections into my ankle. They first injected some local anaesthetic, which helped ease the sharp sting of the actual injection. It was painful, but you do get relief very soon afterwards. You actually have some relief for several hours immediately, just from the local anaesthetic. Not sure about the exercise, but I was told to rest for that day. For me, the relief lasted only a couple of weeks, but it might be different for you.

PaulaKro

Last November they gave me cortisone for my knees, which are bone-on-bone (osteoarthritis destroyed the cartilage). There was only a prick for the anesthesia shot, and no pain from the cortisone shot.

The doctor said people have different results. Mine were within a couple days and miraculous. There was NO pain anymore. Could walk without cringing every step. They lasted a few months the first couple times,.

Then it started wearing off after only a couple months the third time. Since the doctor didn't want to give them to me that often, I lived with the pain for a month. So my miracle lasted less than a year. The doctor said they last longer in some people - it varies.

By the way, after I lost weight [40 pounds pre-op and another 30 (so far) after bariatric surgery], I could walk again. But it is not pain free; and I can't go up and down stairs without a crutch (if I do, the pain amps up badly).