Steroid injections

[Arlescote]

has anyone had a steroid injection of 120 mg. I had one five weeks ago, wasn’t told of the strength of it until today, I have felt much better since, joints are not aching although I feel drugged - I am concerned that this was such a high dose - it has not been suggested that I have any follow up consultation. This injection was given by a clinical specialist nurse with no reference to my consultant. I am taking 5mg steroids daily, weekly injections of methotrexate, weekly injections of erelzi biologics and Hydroxychloroquine. This to me seems a very potent cocktail .

[vonniesims]

Yes I have had that dose.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to vonniesims]

me too x

[pauluk60 in reply to vonniesims]

hi didn't know there was different size jabs is that the largest don know what they gave me but didn't work

[Langers2]

Yes I have, and it made such a difference. I'm actually hoping for another in my knee but you have a wait a certain period of time before another injection. X

[barbieg]

That’s what I had a few weeks ago and it’s worked like magic for my RA. I’ve just looked up the dose and I’m now wondering if I was given a smaller dose in the early days of my RA journey as it didn’t help my pain at all.

[Runrig01]

You really need to know which steroid was administered to know if it was a high dose. Often hydrocortisone is used in intra-articular injections. In which case 120mg HC is equivalent to 30mg Prednisolone, or 4.8mg of dexamethasone. They have very different potencies. Health professionals undertake risk assessments score proceeding with treatment, so they would not have offered it, if it was deemed unsafe. Hopefully it has done the job of settling things down for you.

[LinaM]

yes…. I’ve had it twice and felt amazing afterwards for months. I lost weight as I had more energy to exercise and I felt like my old self again. The hospital I go to only allows nurses to give up to 60ml injections, which never work for me … for 120 the rheumatologist had to prescribe it .

[Haz58]

Yes give times so far. Xx

[Barrister]

That is the usual dose for a steroid injection for inflammation.

[dwsurquhart]

I have had that dose or higher many times, and none have really done anything.

[wakeham]

Hi Arlescote, sorry to hear that you are really worried about your medication that has been given to you! I also had steroid injection which helped with the pain for approximately six weeks. Then the consultant put me on Hydroxychloroquine twice a day and have been on this medication for six years with six monthly blood tests. I have had problems with my eyes and I did try to take myself off of Hydroxychloroquine but after a few weeks my joints were much worse. I hope that this helps make your decision.

Regards wakeham

[Angels54]

Hi that’s normal, I had 3 in 3 wks , 1st one did nothing , recently had another 3 wks ago also on 7 mg , if it’s helped you pain you should do what you can while your pain is more controlled 👍

[nomoreheels]

It's understandable to question it if it's the first time you've had a steroid injection, either general or targeted & it's not been explained to you. They are commonly used if flaring (general or systemic) or to ease inflammation of a specific joint (targeted or intra-articular). It's not unusual to have a steroid injection if already taking oral steroids for the reasons already given, I'm on a reducing dose of 5mg prednisolone which I've taken at various doses for 9 years (actually deflazacort for a couple of years then pred). I've had quite a few 120mg Depo-Medrone injections though for some reason general ones don't help me whereas targeted ones do, although I’ve usually had Kenalog (triamcinolone) which I historically respond better to. This explains about the use of steroids in RD nras.org.uk/resource/steroids/

I would think given the dose it might have been a general, & possibly Depo-Medrone (methylprednisolone). This is the NICE indications & dosage bnf.nice.org.uk/drugs/methy... You'll see that the dose you were administered may be repeated should it be necessary, even at 120mg.

Hopefully the replies have put your mind at rest a bit. Whilst 120mg is the higher dose it must have been considered the correct dose to bring down the inflammation, which it appears to have done. It might seem very high compared to your oral dose but it is quite commonly the appropriate dose for a general steroid injection. I hope it continues to help for a while yet. Try not to overdo things though, it's easy to do when you feel a marked improvement! 🥹

[Raynes]

I had been taking the Hydroxychloroquine for two years before covid hit along with a 80mg steroid shot every 3 months. It was the better medicine I had been on, this one only made my heart fludder a little every now and then. But the first time I went to refill my scrip of the hydroxychloroquine I was told no and the pharmacys would not fill my meds I was also not going to be getting anymore steroids shots do to needing to keep everything for people who had covid in the hospitals. I have been on nothing since then. However if I get to choose when I finally get in to RA Dr again, injection is best I do not want pills they are worse on me than the RA. Hope this helps you. Stay well