Has anyone had a Steroid injection whilst on anticoagulants for AF?

[Mrsvemb]

I have had AF for many years and currently taking Rivaroxaban, Nebivolol, Felodipine and Ranitidine. I have been suffering from Plantar Fascitis for several months and just can’t shake it off.

It has now been suggested that I have an ultrasound guided steroid injection into my foot. Obviously, this can’t be done at the current time, but I am not convinced that I can have this with a) AF and b) being on Rivaroxaban.

At the moment, I don’t want to bother my GP, especially as there will be a long delay getting this done anyway.

I just wondered if anyone had safely has this done. My worry is that it may trigger AF if any gets into my bloodstream. Also if there is a contraindication with Rivaroxaban.

Obviously, I would speak to my GP prior to agreeing to this injection, but just curious.

Val

[Patricia1]

I had a steroid injection in my lower back two years ago and I had to stop Warfarin for five days beore the procedure

[fallingtopieces]

Personally I think you’ll be fine. Wait until the coronavirus has gone though. Steroids, even injections, will dampen your immunity and you don’t need that Just now.

I’ve had 2 injections in my hip and they didn’t affect my heart rate.

I have had plantar fasciitis myself(several years ago)and it lasted around a year. I did all I could for it myself including keeping a foot roller by the bed to roll my feet on before attempting to walk, and wearing an orthopaedic insole. It wore off by itself. It’s very painful but common.

Pat

[Mrsvemb in reply to fallingtopieces]

Yes I was told that it will lower immunity, so another reason not to have it now.

I have had Plantar Fasciitis about 4 years ago and managed to clear it in a few weeks with stretching exercises and insoles.

This time, I have had ultrasound, stretching exercises from the physio, podiatrist fitted me with insoles which crippled me, tried 2 lots of gel heel pads. I am using insoles that I bought online which seem to be the best for me. I also have a foot roller and a spiky calf massager.

Thank you for your helpful response.

Val

[Auriculaire in reply to Mrsvemb]

I have had plantar fascitis several times. It has always cleared up without treatment . I believe mine is due to having taken a fluoroquinolone antibiotic Ciprofloxacin. PF is a soft tissue complaint like tendonitis that can be provoked by FQs which attack collagen throughout the body. If there is any possibility that you might have taken an FQ in the past ( they used to be used extensively for UTIs) you should not have steroid injections or take NSAIDs as these can make matters worse and actually lead to further degradation of the soft tissue. Most doctors are totally unaware of this to the extent that FQ antibiotics and steroids have often been prescribed together .

[Finvola in reply to fallingtopieces]

Pat - I’m slightly concerned as my husband had a steroid injection two weeks ago with nothing being said about lowering his immune system. Do you know if this is a short term effect - ie weeks? Or months?

[fallingtopieces in reply to Finvola]

Finvola, I only know this because I was listening to a radio phone in, probably on LBC, a three or four weeks ago. It was for medical advice in the current climate, and the consultant told a woman to only have the injection if she possibly couldn’t manage without it, as it would lower her immunity. Steroids apparently work by calming down an overactive response to inflammation by our bodies, he said, and we need our full responses right now.

Personally I think it could be as long as they say an injection is active for, and that’s 6 weeks. They are made to slow release as far as I know.

The affect an injection has on an individual varies.

When I had my hip injection it had a positive effect on all my general aches and pains so it definitely cannot stay confined to the injected area. I also had the common but temporary facial flushing.

There are people on high daily oral doses who can’t just stop taking them.

This is also why we shouldn’t be taking ibuprofen , as it’s anti-inflammatory.

I think we all know not to take ibuprofen on here anyway.

I would want him to take extra precautions if he was my husband.

Take care.

Pat

[Finvola in reply to fallingtopieces]

Thank you Pat that is very helpful. I did some research last night but could only find general information on how the steroid slows the immune response.

[PICCASO in reply to fallingtopieces]

Rivaroxoban My cardiologist recommended I stop warfarin and go on this and halved my Bisoprolol to 2.5 within a month I had very bad back muscle spasm and ulner nerve problems so went back on warfarin , now all ok rivaroxaban has a side side effect this was mine ?

[meadfoot]

I had the same injection in my epigastric area last September, no bad effects whatsoever and I am on the list for another one when NHS back to normal. I had to stop rivaoxaban for five days beforehand. The excruciating pain was relieved and no ill effects afterwards.

I restarted rivaoxaban the same evening after my early morning procedure. Best wishes.

[Buffafly]

I had a steroid injection in the hip while on Apixaban, no problem. Spinal injections are another matter, as mentioned. I had an ultrasound guided aspiration of a cyst in my breast and they were very careful to avoid blood vessels.

[sleeksheep]

I have had spinal injections over a period of 30 years , been on Rivaroxaban for nearly 10 years now and havent needed to stop for the procedure.

My first was in 1990 and didnt need a follow up till 2013 and have had one since then.

My understanding is that immune suppression is only created by long time use.

Only meant to have two injections within a 24 month period to be regarded as safe.

[sirey]

I had a steroid injection in my knee last year and didn’t have to stop my warfarin.

[jennydog]

I had a steroid injection into my shoulder several years ago. I'm on Pradaxa anticoagulant. No problems.

[Patasquith]

I have had 7 injections into my knees at 4/5 month intervals over last few years. I am in permanent af and take rivaoxaban. I have never stopped it. Was due another on 30th March and consultant rang my to discuss the immunity problem apparently new guidelines were issued last week. I declined in the present climate.

[Kia62]

I had a steroid injection in my right shoulder a fortnight after my ablation. It did wonders, and still is, for the pain I was experiencing. I did ask the doc before he did it if it would have any effect on my ablation and he said no.

He was right as I had No effects at all.

[Peileen in reply to Kia62]

I also had an injection in the shoulder after two and a half years of agony and being sent round all sorts of pain help, physio, mindfulness and lengthy discussions with the pain nurse. All no good. I was in with the pain surgeon for 6 minutes. He administered an injection and it was like magic. That was three years ago and I've still no shoulder pain.

[Peileen]

Hi Mrsvemb I know that spinal injections cant be done while on anticoagulants. I had to stop aspirin for a week before getting epidural steroid injections for arthritis in the spine. However, the places where bleeding can occur while on anticoagulants are stomach, spine and brain. Even on anticoagulants spinal injections can be done. I am now on edoxaban and the GP said I would just have to stop for a week or so. I am sure you will be able to have your steroid injection in the ankle and whether you have to stop anticoagulants for a specified time I don't know but your GP will. Good luck and stay safe!

[Palpman]

Ranitidine also known as Zantac has been discontinued in the USA as from April 01 as it has carcinogens that can cause cancer.

[Mrsvemb in reply to Palpman]

Yes know. Here in the UK Ranitidine can still be prescribed with caution. In my case, I had an endoscopy 3 weeks ago which showed that I have:

1. Drug related erosive gastritis

2. Gastric ulcer

3. Recent bleeding in the stomach

I cannot tolerate Omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole etc but have to have treatment for the above.

My doctor told me that the gastritis WILL lead to stomach cancer if left untreated. The risk from Ranitidine is very small in comparison. So for me it is the lesser of the two evils.

Incidentally, the drug that caused all of the above is Rivaroxaban.

I have to take the Ranitidine for life to protect me from Rivaroxaban. I have also had Apixaban, Dabigatran, and Edoxaban, which originally started my gastric symptoms.

I was strongly advised not to take Warfarin because I don’t tolerate drugs easily and it will likely cause me worse problems.

It does not mean that others will suffer the same problems as I have. I have a long track record in not able to tolerate medication.

Val

[Robinson1]

I'm on Rivaroxaban and have had hip injections 3 times over the past 2 years. I was not required to go off of it prior to the injections. My physician said blood thinners could possibly prevent clots from forming at the injection site. The shots did not trigger my afib and I did not bleed that much either.

[Mrsvemb]

Thank you all for your helpful replies. As I said, I can’t have the injection until the current emergency is over anyway, then I am sure that there will be a backlog.

At least now I can relax and know that there should be no problems when I do have it.

Val

[DawnTX]

I would definitely suggest you speak to your doctor because as I mentioned earlier they are all different. I have had several for my hip and lumbar area. I’ve had no problems with them and actually got them at a time when afib was quiet due to an ablation. It did not trigger a problem. If anything I think it helps because it helps the inflammation and pain in the area that needs the shot. Only your doctor can tell you though because he knows everything you’re on

[Mrsvemb in reply to DawnTX]

You obviously got this in an email 3 years late. I got two emails yesterday, the usual daily one and another where the posts were eleven days old.

Obviously an error on the site, either software or human.

[DawnTX in reply to Mrsvemb]

Yes I discovered after I answered that several of them were very old