Steroid injection

[Deeroy2015]

Has anybody experience of having steroid injections as opposed to taking the tablets.

Thank you

Dee

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Dee,

I have had steroid injections in two different scenarios.

Firstly when my GP though I had frozen shoulder before diagnosing GCA. They worked on the shoulder for a few weeks only (3 times) and did nothing for the rest of the aches/pains.

Secondly, some four years later for my OA in my knee, I've had two this time round and both have helped the knee although not got rid of pain completely. I am still on a very small dose of Pred, so they can be used together. Of course, the effect of the injections reduce if used too regularly.

Unless there are specific injections for PMR, then the "normal" ones given for reasons I had them, I don't think are likely to work for PMR in general.

PMRpro may have more information, I'm sure she'll reply idc.

[Deeroy2015 in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi Dorset lady

Had a flare so it was suggested that instead of increasing dose,I had a one off injection. Which I have just had,so hope that this sorts me out for a while,it's all trial and hopefully not too much error .

I thought that I would have the injection and not have to take the tablets-wrong-it is as well as. Onward and upward !

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Deeroy2015]

Interesting. Will look forward to hearing if it works..

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Deeroy2015]

The doctor may have been targeting a specific problem that he thinks is an add-on to the PMR such as bursitis which will take far longer to respond to oral pred. I've had that approach though also in combination with other therapies for myofascial pain syndrome (physio for manual mobilisation of trigger spots and Bowen therapy which both helped a lot in their own way) - and ironing out the "add-ons" has allowed me to get a far lower dose of pred than ever before. It isn't unusual for a diagnosis of PMR to be made after someone has an injection like you have just had and realises that other aches and pain disappear too.

One of the research groups is cogitating on this idea - deal with specific things that may not be pure PMR but are often found using steroid injections. I'm all for it I have to say. Any means of reducing the pain load reduces stress on the body - and that may well result in a reduction in the need for oral pred.

There is one lady I know who is on intramuscular depot injections because of horrendous gastric problems when taking oral pred. The depot injections lasted for about 2-3 weeks at the beginning and the hope was to be able to leave longer and longer between new shots. I don't know how she got on long term though.

[polkadotcom]

I've had steroid injections in my hip and my knee, and have had caudal epidural injections for lower back problems. The results were mixed, but they mostly didn't work for me the second time around.

[Livingwithit]

Hi Dee, I joined today with the same question! I have had 3 injections now . I think 140 initially and then 80 since. Had quite good results after a couple of weeks -0 suddenly realise I am not struggling to sit and stand and pain much improved. I left it too long this time nearly 6 months - why? - I don't know thought it might just go away and have been having acupuncture and wanted to see if that helped - nice being cared for and it helps me to sleep better but no significant difference.

How have you got on with it?

Kind regards

Jane