I am schedule to have a cortisone shot in my knee next Wednesday. I am scared to death. The last time I had cortisone shots it didn't help and then a few years later I needed a knee replacement. My husband truly believes you should only get a coulple of those shots in your lifetime. I am really concerned about this shot. Anyone know if Cortisone deteriates your cartiladge? I don't want to get a knee replacement in the next few years. Any suggestions, help, advice is appreciated. I've had at least 4 (sets of) injections in each knee. Man do I LOVE them.. Got my first about 15 years ago, then have had 3 more in the last 4 years..
My dr says the limit is every 3 months..
I felt no pain, and had immediate relief.
I say down with sticking long needles in my knees. But I'm kinda wimpy that way. Hope it helps :)lol linnc, i'm w/ kathy on this.. I lOVE cortisone shots in the knee...
soo much Relief..
I have to say, I haven't had them w/ Ra, but when i had torn ligaments, it was great!!
My feeling is that the meds are worth the risk... shrug..anything to help w/ the pain
and try and relax and not think about it, until it happens....
do something to take your mind off itI had some in my hip for bursitis. Great stuff. 4X annually is the usual max. It's best not to have anymore than is necessary. Sort of like jump starting a car.
[QUOTE=Linncn]I say down with sticking long needles in my knees. But I'm kinda wimpy that way. Hope it helps :)[/QUOTE]
Ditto! I almost passed out last week when I was visiting my dad in the hospital and the "vampire" came to draw blood. There is limit as to how many shots per year. I have always heard 3 or 4 at max. I have had them in the jaw and that dr. won't do more than two a year in that area.
If you are in pain-they can be a lifesaver. I get them in the area where the ribs and collarbones meet the sternum. Only true relief I can find. I have had a cortizone shot in my knee and I was very grateful for the relief it provided. I am getting ready to have one in my hip. My doctor told me 4 per year is the recommended maximum.
I think you are scaring yourself needlessly. Your knee was already damaged prior to the shot, or you wouldn't have needed the shot. To blame a knee replacement several years later on the shot seems an illogical correlation.
Spend some time talking with your doctor and voice all of your fears and concerns with him before you go ahead with any procedure. An open honest dialogue with your doctor is the most important thing in any patient/physician relationship. And it sure beats worrying!
Good luck to you, no matter what you decide to do.
Karen
Yeah, after going through this past year with RA, the truth is that I can imagine a scenario where I would be happy to get a cortizone shot. I mean, who knew their was pain like this, right.i've had them in my shouders, knees and feet. I love them. 3 a year, maximum....no more or it does damage. Fortunately, i don't even need the 3 per year...i take the minimun for relief and move on................good luckI had bursitis in hips and had them once and it was wonderful! I didn't even feel the needle going in cuz the dr numbs the area. I had weeks of relief! I go on May 1st to rheumy and plan on seeing if I can get another shot in hip and ankle.I've had numerous cortisone injections in my knees, hips and shoulders. My current doctor also gives me some kind in my butt that helps all over. Not sure what that's calleed exactly....but I'm hoping to get one of those tomorrow. They really do help. My doctor will only do 4 per year and I rarely max out.
I agree that the cortisone injection wasn't the cause of your knee replacement.
Well my RD said we may just do shots in my knees also. I am certainly considering it. I just do not know what that would do for the rest of my parts. My knees have just been non responsive to treatment so far. The raise in pred is not really doing alot either. Glad you posted this thread as the information is helpful to me also. I believe they would have to do both knees and both ankles for it to be worth the trouble in my case. It would be nice to have my knees back. I would still have to take pain pills to walk as my ankles hurt to much also. If they want to do all four i would do it in a heart beat.I know you all must be in a great deal of pain to welcome those needles....Yikes I hope I'm never in that situation. They would have to knock me out to do it...I've had 3 injections to reduce the pain & swelling in my knee. They shots aren't pleasant but the cortisone has made a huge difference in my mobility. I had swelling and pain in my knee, orthopod took xrays and I was bone on bone in one knee and the other knee not quite as bad. I had a cortisone shot in the bone on bone knee because it was most painful. I was doubtful that it would help but it did. I then had Synvisc injected both knees with great results. I finally had one of my knees replaced this past year but am still getting Synvisc in the other knee. I'm hoping to hold out until the artificial gel in on the market. It may make knee replacements a thing of the past.
I don't think that the cortisone shot caused further damage to your knee. It was just plain wear and tear. Our knees wear at different rates. Don't be afraid. Lindy
wanttobe, hi, I hate needles, but the Cortisone Shots, in my knees, I totally
WELCOMED!!!
I can't remember if they numb the area or not, but I know it wasn't at all painful
and the Relief... bliissssssssss!!
Total blessings, so anyone who has to do this, don't be scared, don't even think about it,
that helps too!! lol
It works..i'm a fan, what can I say?? lol
I've had cortisone injections all over the place and some of them hurt like mad... the one inthe knee didn't hurt at all though... and I was surprised when the doc said it was done.
Wish you luck... Don't feel too scared! Promise yourself a nice pressie afterwards like a big cappuccino or something!
Anna
Thanks everyone for the wonderful Advice, Support, encouragement etc. I'm glad I have others to talk to that understand exactly what I 'm going through. Whew!! it's a great feeling.
Hi yourtosmart,
My mother has RA and had been on Cortisone for a number of years. It was hard to watch her suffering from this condition and the drugs were making her sick and her hair was also thinning and falling out as a side affect. I heard about a all natural product through a friend that had helped her mother. It was called Mums Rub (conveniently named :) I found out that I can order it online from www.mumsrub.com .
She used it for a week and the pain had gone. She is now weaning herself off the Cortisone and has made a miracle recovery. The doctor was amazed and so was I. Just wanted to share this with you and I hope it can help you to. All the best.
Repeated cortisone injections can indeed damage joints. Some Dr's recommend only a few shots per specific area in one's lifetime. RA sufferer's though must make a choice between much needed immediate relief or potential longterm additional damage.Don't be so hard on yourself. If my RD had told me I was coming for an injection, I likely would have canceled!! :)
How long do the good effects from the shot usually last?Glad you got the injection and feel some relief. I had one of those in my wrist a few years ago (2004) after it swelled twice its size and hurt horribly. I didn't know he was going to inject the wrist until I was in the examining room. He numbed the area first with a small gauge needle and I truly did not feel the cortisone shot when he did it. I have never needed another injection in any of my joints since.
Molly Bee
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