Steroid jab in the knee

[Bowser1966]

So I had my jab last Friday, the pain seemed to go away straight away, the next day I did a bit or walking and it was fine, the next few days I had the so called 'Flare' but the knee still isn't as good as it was on the first couple of days! I can walk a lot better but it's still seems a bit stiff and very mild discomfort. I wondered can it take more than a few days sometimes for it to 'settle down ' ? I'm a bit concerned that this is going to be the best it can be? I had to go private for it because of the NHS waiting list, and it wasn't cheap! Anyone else have similar issues with the steroid jab to the knee, which by the way was almost painless, no problems at all!

[DorsetLady]

Did you rest it on the day afterwards and for the next couple of days? That was the advice I was always given…and some do work better than others - very often depends on who’s on the other end of the syringe.

[Bowser1966 in reply to DorsetLady]

hmmm I didn't really rest it to be honest! the Consultant didn't tell me to....when I asked him what can I do now, he said do as much as you can

[DorsetLady in reply to Bowser1966]

Ahh... yes I guess you'll have to see how it goes... hopefully it will settle...

Surgeon who gave shoulder injection and GP who gave knee ones told me to be a bit careful for 24-48 hours... so you'll know in future.

[Tonynatella in reply to Bowser1966]

78 male have had multiple knee and spine steroid injections7. The rule is 7 days for the steroid to fully work.

My own experience is you kind of know in the first 2 days; give it a chance and don't overdue the things you know agrivate it.

Maybe stationary bike the first week and slowly introduce walking shorter distances.

My last knee injection has lasted 11 years.

Good luck

Use ice after activity it's the thing angry knees love best, it's a miracle drug, 20 min on and off in front of the tv, elevated.

Works miracles!

Tony

a broken and battered but functioning old man!

Keep fighting

[Runrig01]

Sounfs like you’ve done too much too soon. As dorsetlady says they normally recommend to rest as much as possible for 24-48hrs, so that the medication stays in the joint, to maximise benefit. If you can take nsaids, it might be worth taking regularly for a few days, to reduce swelling and stiffness. Unfortunately private care isn’t necessarily better than nhs, especially when the nhs do so many of these injections. Applying ice may also help

[Trinity7]

Hi Dorset lady# i had one through NHS back in April. I was not told to rest. For me it took nearly a week to motice the difference. Thankfully i will be having a total knee replacement in 8 weeks time.

[DorsetLady in reply to Trinity7]

Perhaps opinions have changed then over time, my last one was in 2019… before shoulder replacement. Good luck with knee. Have a a look at this [posted on another forum] but you can still read it- -you may already know most -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk....

[Bcol]

Going back a few years, but I'm sure I remember that some of the injections I had were not as successful as others. I guess the closer you get to bone on bone then the less successful they are going to be. TKN solved all the problems.

[Bowser1966 in reply to Bcol]

Whats TKN?

[DorsetLady in reply to Bowser1966]

Think Bcol meant TKR -total knee replacement -probably predictive text -happens to us all..

[Bowser1966 in reply to DorsetLady]

ah thanks for clearing that up, folks on here like to us an acronym of 2

[Bcol in reply to DorsetLady]

Ta. 👍👍

[deejames]

my u derstanding is that rest for a few days after the injection improves the effectiveness by allowing the steroid to spread.

[Bowser1966]

I fear I might of ruined it then. it's been a week now, it was great for a couple days, then I might of over-done it! it's feels stiff and there mild discomfort

[ShonaGreen]

Hi, I had steroid injection in knee yesterday, has been more swollen and painful since then but starting to calm down now. Also had it done privately, consultant said can go back to normal straight away but have tried to rest it as really need it to work! Have moderate patellofemural OA with meniscus tear, oedema and cyst around kneecap, hard to walk for past few months and I used to be a runner! Seems surgery not possible either due to location. Hopefully injections will start so work for us soon.

[Bowser1966 in reply to ShonaGreen]

I fear I might have ruined this jab because I didn't rest it, I am now looking into Stem Cell treatment, apparently it has an 85% success rate, they take cells and inject the into your knee joint to regenerate the meniscus.

[ShonaGreen in reply to Bowser1966]

Bowser1966 I was hopeful with rest that it would help, but honestly my knee feels worse than it did to start with, lot more painful and even harder to walk few days later. Least before I could still go swimming but not possible at the moment. Father in law said to give it 10 days so keeping everything crossed! Yes stem cell treatment is good option to consider next

[Macblank]

I had it twice under NHS and neither time could I say I felt any difference.

My Mrs had the same stuff injected to her hip area, and it made a huge difference..

Horses n courses mate

Some people benefit a lot more than others.

My system is terrible at accepting drugs, and even once it does accept a drug, it doesn't take my body long to find it useless, and no longer doing it's job.

If you're getting some relief, I'd accept that.

Plus, if youre getting some relief you might find as you use it more, it begins to ease anyways.

I didn't actually get what is wrong with your knee.

For me it's the old osteoarthritis, but the Mrs was RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (an autoimmune disorder, not wearing n tear). So two different reasons, but wanting same result ... Less pain when under load.

I know they (Dr's) seem to hate them, but have you considered investing in a brace... They say it makes you lazy, yet all who wear them seem to use it more, as now being supported.

Anyways, I hope whatever is wrong gets sorted.

[Bowser1966 in reply to Macblank]

hi I've got the old OA in the right knee, years of playing footy when I should of stopped, had a meniscus tear fixed in 2011, even then the Dr said I should quit, but I didn't. Got an a consultation on Friday with a stem cell guy, Don't really want a knee replacement if I can help it!

[Macblank in reply to Bowser1966]

Ah, OA is a funny bugger, cos they don't know why but the amount of damage doesn't always equate to the amount of pain.

Yeah, I got one of those wonky tendons in both knees. ... Proba ly too many times of falling on it from a road racing bicycle. Plus kick about until 30s, but it was my back that stopped that.

Football is terrible on the knees. I suspect its the pressure as you run and turn.

Have you tried heat pads?

[Bowser1966 in reply to Macblank]

Heat, ice and a knee brace, it's a decent one, it doesn't get sweaty. Played 5 a side up to late 50's

[Macblank]

You can pick up a multi pack in Poundland dirt cheap to try.

The Mrs used them on her back, and no she didn't get sweaty.

Just be careful not to have on too long, or you can burn slightly.