Cortizone wrist injections

[tristin]

Wondering if anybody has experience with cortizone wrist injections. I am 8 months into RA (MTX 20mg/w , prednizone 4mg/day, Plaquenil 200mg/day). Wrists, arms, shoulders became painful - sleep disturbance, general movement and tasks impeded.

Most pain gone after a few hours of injection (not sure of dose), very minor residual twinges after resting much of day. Rheumy says 2 to 6 weeks to get full benefit. Says I can do my horticulture work tomorrow. Overall my work ability is down 80% from pre RA last year. But the exercise when possible and not too strenuous seems to have some benefits physically and mentally. Overdone and it is very bad news.

Any body had wrist injection experience?

[Ruth12345]

Ive had elbow x3, knees x2 and wrist x1 injections all of which helped, but im aware everone benifits to different degrees . Sorry to hear you need them.

[tristin in reply to Ruth12345]

Thanks Ruth, Sorry you have had to do these things as well.. One day in the future I hope nobody will have to or only once.. How long did the benefits of injection last for you? I am concerned that cortizone masks the pain and if harm can be done by over doing it but not feeling any pain if that makes sense

[Ruth12345 in reply to tristin]

Well it took between 24 and 48 hrs to start to feel the benifit. The elbow took the longest and other than wrist was told to be careful and not over do things for first few days then just get back to normal but dont do more than normal as thats what joints are used to. To be honest even with injection elbow does not go straight or become pain free, wrist showed most benifit, but all were improved.....sorry if thats too much info. All the best. Let us know how you get on.

[tristin in reply to Ruth12345]

Thank you Ruth for the great information.

My wrists and shoulders feel great. I am amazed how good the result has been.

Hope they can get your should working properly and pain free.

[Stormpetrel]

Hi Tristin

I have had injections many times in my elbows and feet. From personal experience relief has been fairly quick over a period of days or up to a couple of weeks max rather than weeks on end. Really hope this injection works but you must give it time, especially if it was very inflamed. hopefully they have hit the right spot. If it doesn’t work next time ask for it to be done under ultrasound guidance so they can seek the most inflamed spot. My elbows were never done with guidance and I can remember going straight back to work on the farm and it worked. However I think the instructions now are to rest it? When I have had my feet done recently I was ordered to be off them for a minimum of two days. First 3 injections over about 3 years worked brilliantly unfortunately the one I had in June has failed although it might be complicated by tearing a ligament in the bottom of my foot!

After 6 months of being on MXT my physical abilities were almost on par, although I was hampered by fatigue. It really can get better physically so hang on in there. I fully sympathise as I have always been reliant on my physical capabilities.

😉 Good Luck

[tristin in reply to Stormpetrel]

Thanks Stormpetrol

Thanks for great info on ultrasound procedures.

The injection has got rid of all pain and brought back free movement of joints.

Great to hear experiences from somebody that is involved with physical work and that things can get back to working strength.

The 65 age number is a fatigue factor and ups and downs of medicated life. Many thanks for sharing.

[Leviset]

What they don’t tell you is that too many steroid injections directly into a joint space will eventually cause more damage than the actual RA. I lost my left ankle because of this - it was also given using the “stab & hope injection method before the era of X-Ray guided injections! You haven’t lived until you experience the end of the injection needle miss the joint and scrape across bone - they should turn it into a ride at Alton Towers or lethal injection in the US (they could trial it on Trump)!

[Maggsie in reply to Leviset]

Ooh, that scaping is the worst , it always seems to happen in the smaller joints, although I've had it a couple of times in a knee joint it doesn't seem so bad as in the wrist or thumb.

[tristin in reply to Leviset]

Thanks for the information. Shocked and horrified by loss of ankle. Very sorry

[Hidden]

HiTristin, I've had wrist injections and found them very painful and also helpful! Finding a happy balance between work and rest seems to be the answer.

[tristin in reply to Hidden]

Thanks AngelMar - totally agree.

[tristin]

Some results are in 3 weeks out from wrist injections. Right arm feels 25 again but left arm far from happy. People saying it is because I went back to work too early or did something else blah, blah blah. I am truly thrilled that so many non RA people have so much knowledge, experience and wisdom regarding the complexity of RA (and everything else)! Trying osteopathy as a supplementary non harmful, non drug healing and written about it in another post. Best wishes to all RA travellers

[Darciedoodles]

Hi Tristin

I’ve just had the the Injections in both hands last week. It has made a huge difference

I am on Leflunomide ( prev methotrexate)

But only my hands snd wrists suffer but the are really bad

I have tendinitis in left wrist and carpal tunnel in right hand plus trigger finger in thumb on top of the RA

I need another injection in right hand but have to wait 2 weeks . My left hand feels great at the min but my right one still has tingling and swelling but still a marked improvement

It’s so debilitating when you can’t open cans squeeze the toothpaste etc. brushing teeth painful but I’m remaining hopeful it will settle down

I hope yours continues to be better but I wouldn’t push too much. Just do what you can comfortably.