Hi - I have back, hip, knee, feet pain. My pain doc has suggested a steroid injection in my spine. My current insurance doesn't cover the cost.
I've read that for some it does nothing and for some it can help for six months. The side effects though rare - are terrible. I tend to be the 1 percent that always has the bad stuff happen.
Anyone had one and did it help? Does it help with hip pain at all?
Thanks in advance!
If you mean a steroid epidural then I had two many years ago - around 198 6 maybe . I had a herniated disc amount other nasties, my vertebra overlap in my lumbar area.
The first one acted straight away then I had another one about three years later which didn’t seem to work so quickly but then I realised it had worked. The effect of that lasted until recently when I flew through the air backwards and fractured my sacrum.
I had dreadful sciatica and nerve pain back when I had the epidurals but I didn’t have actual backache - the consultant I saw didn’t want to operate because I didn’t have back pain and he said if he operated I could well end up with backache. Fast forward to now, I have osteoporosis, mild osteoarthritis in both hips, inflammatory arthritis and bursitis in my right hip.
I’m not sure whether or not it would work for hips and like you I now know that the injection can work really well and both of mine did or be a disaster so im not sure if I would have another one. Have you had steroid injections into the areas that hurt? I think a lot of people on here have had that. I think that works for a while then the effect wears off until they have another one but never having had that I don’t know for sure. I’m sure someone will come along and tell you though.
I used to work as a nurse on a trauma and orthopaedic ward. We undertook many of these injections. It is very rare to get side effects from them. They do tend to help the leg pain, more than the back pain, and can give relief for 6 months or more.
I’ve personally not had them, because my slipped discs don’t cause radiating nerve pain. I’ve had steroid injections into my knees and shoulders with good result. If your hip pain is nerve type pain, it may help, but otherwise it’s unlikely to help. If it’s bursitis or damage to the hip, then a local steroid injection in the hip may be better. It’s impossible to know who will suffer side effects or not. I took part in a study years ago, looking at the side effects of steroids, and whether you could preempt who would suffer what, sadly you couldn’t. I have diabetes and adrenal insufficiency from long term steroids, as well as the usual thin skin, and fat collecting round my middle. Hope whatever you decide, helps
I couldn't figure out where these posts were - sorry for the delayed response - thanks!
Hi. I had 3 steroid injections, (aka a medial branch block) into the base of my spine on Tuesday of this week, at the local Hospital, via the Pain Management Clinic. The Consultant said it would take from 2 days to 2 weeks to take effect; I'm waiting to see if it helps. No side effects, (so far!).
I've had several.they help me. I also had an ablation in Feb.I am feeling like I need anotherThis summer I found some gentle stretches I do everyday to help my ack.
Three years ago I had a spinal injection because of impingment of the disc on the sciatic nerve. I was surprised how much it affected my ability to walk for several days afterwards , but when that wore off, the pain relief was considerable. The pain returned after about twelve months but is now variable depending on what I do, rather than constantly present. I too was warned about the possibility of paralysis but it's quite low risk, whereas spinal surgery carries a much bigger risk.
I would contest the insurance on coverage. It’s affecting your daily living. I’m a nurse and have had these injections (epidural and facet joint) (Plus a spinal fusion). I’m assuming they’ve done a CAT scan or MRI to diagnose you, but the spinal steroid shot can bring relief. The nerves in the lower back have many small branches and can cause side hip pain, buttock pain, anterior thigh pain and knee pain. As well as it radiating to the foot. I wish you the best. Hope your insurance changes their mind!
Sincerely, Susie
on a much smaller scale …. I had a steroid injection in my foot due to RA pain in the big ball joint. That was in October and it’s reduced the pain by about 80% and increased the mobility of the toe joint by about 10%
Not quite tye same thing but I had one into my sacroiliac joint. It was an absolute god send.
I’ve had quite a few and ended up with spinal surgery in the end as I had bilateral fractures T5/S1 with disc herniation and other things, my spine has been hit worse with RA so it’s up to you I suppose and how much pain you’re in. I’m just starting this journey having now realised I’ve had it most of my life .
Take care
Wendy xx
Thank you all for replying. Any info helps!
I’m based in uk and had a lumbar spine nerve block (targeted injection) as I’ve been suffering from the most debilitating painful sciatica for the last few months because of a herniated disc in my L5 S1. So bad I was unable to walk and was bed bound for a good month. I have the injection and it took about a week to fully kick in but definitely did help, although didn’t take all my pain away. However after 3weeks after the pain came back just as excruciating as before although in slightly different areas. It’s now in my hip, buttocks and back and top of thigh mostly whereas before it was all in my leg and had a numb foot and nothing really in my back. I’m hoping this is actually a good sign as the more centralised the pain gets apparently the better. I’m not sure what to do now, I guess another injection but am fearful of it wearing off again and being back in this awful pain. At the moment its calmed down enough that I can get out of bed and move about, but certainly no exercises yet. It’s really important to remember that it’s only really helping with your pain levels but not actually fixing the problem so you need to work with a physio to actually address the real issue. This is what I did, after injection I was able to do a few exercises and walk a lot, so although the pain has come back terribly I do not have a numb foot anymore and the leg is much stronger then is was. I feel if I hadn’t done the rehab stuff I would be in a much worse situation right now. So my advice is get the injection, they risk of getting bad side effects is so minimal in comparison to the need to have quality of life back. I wish you the very best of luck!
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