Shoulder pain - has an injection helped your Shoulder pain ?

I have a lot of arthritis in my shoulders and had an op on the left one about 4 years ago when they cleaned out the joint and tidied it up inside. It helped a lot for the first few years and also gave me back full movement but now the pain is 24/7 again. I was thinking of asking my GP if I could have a steroid injection in it but wondered if any of you have had that and found it helpful. I know if it helped it would be temporary but any relieve would be wonderful. Thanks

[Caza]

Hi, I had terrible pain with my shoulder & restricted movement. Was finding it really difficult to drive or sleep. I had a steroid injection that did work but also had physio that was so helpful. Just a young lad, so good. He gave me a list of daily exercises to do. When after having seen him for six weeks, I asked him how long would I need to do the exercises for, he said forever “use it or lose it”. A year latter having done my exercise daily no pain & full use. Not saying it’ll work for everyone but it certainly did for me.

[Hidden in reply to Caza]

Your right about the exercise I do my shoulder exercises and although it hasnt helped the pain and in fact it sounds awful but I am sure its the exercise that is keeping the movement free. I also have neck issues due to some spinal scrunching and the only way to manage that is with exercise. It can be so easy to say I'm not doing that because it hurts to do it when in fact it can help. The difficult thing can be to assess when it's not appropriate to do it so always best to get professional advice first.

[Lolabridge]

Is it osteoarthritis you have in your shoulders? If it is then I have to say I don’t know the answer to your question.

But if it’s RA then you may find steroid injections into the shoulders very helpful as I did.

What has your doctor suggested?

[nomoreheels]

Hiya zippyzap, welcome to us here at NRAS. I've not had an op but my left shoulder does give me trouble. I've had two steroid injections on separate occasions to help ease pain & free up movement, one given from the back & one from the front (different med prof's preference) both Kenalog & both equally effective. As can happen with corticosteroids we each respond slightly differently but I’d not hesitate to have one again, in fact my shoulder is stiffening up despite still continuing with my exercises. I had a course of physiotherapy from a Rheumatology trained Physio which helped quite a lot, given personalised exercises to do with resistance bands. It might be worth asking if you would benefit from something similar?

It was a Snr Registrar & Rheumy who gave me mine, not sure I’d be happy having my GP do it. I hope if you are given one it helps you too.

[polymy]

I had steroid injections in both shoulders and it was wonderful for about 3 months. Pain free and able to drive again. I have a feeling it may depend on how good your practitioner is. Mine was a senior physio and proved to be ACE.

[jojom912]

Shots help but only temporary and can weaken the tendons, but what a relief. Exercise helps if the tendons are not tore. If there are bone spurs then surgery is the best treatment before the tendons tear. Only a MRI can show. I have had 8 rotator cuff surgeries over the last 15 years and speak from experience. All the Injuries were caused by my auto immune that attacks the tendons but the bones were actually pretty decent. The first surgeon did not repair them right and they had to be redone I really good orthopedic surgeon. Then years later they were bad again

[beeckey]

I have had a few in my shoulder and they worked really well.They always work for me when given into the joint but not when given into the hip.I had a knee replacement not long ago and having a lot of pain in the other one but wont inject into because that will interfere if they will operate sooner rather than later so next knee replacement could be delayed.Hope you get a bit of relief soon.

[amatrx]

I don't know about steroid shots but I do know about Lazarus Natural CBD oil, tincture, high potency. I was in excruciating pain in my shoulders, elbows, wrist for several days. My pain meds didn't touch it. I took a dropper full and within 1 and half hours I was completely pain free. I felt like a new person. In fact I felt so well I got out and worked on my horse stall all day and the pain hit again. I took another dropper full and the pain completely left me. This is a miracle pain med.

[bellawalsh67]

I have never had a steroid injection, and if I were to ever consider doing so, I wouldn't want to put that in my body until I have exhausted all other options. Steroids are very strong and usually come with a ton of side effects, including irritability and weight gain, both of which are objectively negative. I personally try natural cures for my pain, like yoga, before putting any medicine in my body. Yoga has been a great tool for me not only for weight loss and mental clarity, but for pain relief as well. I found some basic yoga moves that you should try to relieve your shoulder pain before getting any injections: openfit.com/9-yoga-poses-to...

[Hidden]

I don't really want to go down the steroid route unless there is no alternative. Seeing GP tomorrow for other stuff and will talk to them but since starting this thread the elbow joint on that shoulder side has swollen is red and very hot and whole arm shoulder and neck that side is sore. I am beginning to wonder if the extra soreness in the shoulder and now elbow could be some type of infection. I feel coldy but no cold if that makes sense. Glad I have managed to get appointment tomorrow as glands now up that side. Will look again at the CBD Oil just wish you could get it with a tiny bit of THC as I have read it improves the pain relieve side.

[amatrx in reply to Hidden]

They can't remove all the THC. There is a certain percentage in all the oils. I would definitely try it, but it's not legal in my state. I'm hoping that will change.