Steroid injection v pain killers : I would... - PMRGCAuk

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Steroid injection v pain killers

margiebell4 profile image
17 Replies

I would appreciate some advice or opinions on treatment I've been offered. I'm 3 years into PMR and down to 3.5mg prednisolone. I've recently been diagnosed with osteoarthritis of the hips (I'm 58)

I've been taking at least 4 paracetamol and 4 ibuprofen every day, which is enabling me to be fairly comfortable. I also now need to take a PPI to protect my stomach.

I have agreed to have a steroid injection so that I can hopefully have a break from the pain killers, but I'm not sure which is the lesser of the two evils.

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margiebell4
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17 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Hi margiebell4,

In much the same situation.

If the cortisol injections work, and they don’t always seem to be consistent, then I find them better. But of course you can only have them every 4 months, and it’s not recommended to rely on them indefinitely.

I think it’s a case of mix and match to what suits you - injections, painkillers, sports masseur may help, acupuncture et al!

Oh, happy days!

margiebell4 profile image
margiebell4 in reply to DorsetLady

Thank you, will you eventually need a replacement?

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to margiebell4

Hi

Yes - I’m on the list!

piglette profile image
piglette in reply to DorsetLady

One thing Dorset Lady is that you have got to leave quite a time period between having steroid injections and having a replacement hip op, some surgeons like around six months, they are afraid the steroids may introduce bacteria so there is more chance of the new hip becoming infected. My GP would not let me have any steroid injections once I was on the waiting list.

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to piglette

Hi piglette,

Left knee is being operated on - haven’t had injection in that for at least 18 months - no point, nothing to inject into as its bone on bone! So painkillers & gel only!

Have had injection in left hip for bursitis or whatever it was last year before NZ trip. Plus left shoulder and last week in right knee so that I don’t have pain there when I need it to support other one after op!

And I thought GCA was a pain!

piglette profile image
piglette in reply to DorsetLady

They should be happy with that! Good luck.

dinhal profile image
dinhal in reply to margiebell4

Don’t mean to be a downer and I sure hope the injection helps

I can’t tell you how many I have had and how little they helped.

I’ve had them in back and hips

I just kept hoping the next one would be the one

Talk to people who have had them as I have. I have as yet not found anyone who really got help

The drs are making lots of money on these procedures

Good luck in any case

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to dinhal

The money-making is rather less a feature in the UK - but I have had steroid injections that worked for trochanteric bursitis. Needed 2 originally but sometimes 1 works. Depends on the case and the patient.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Is this for the OA?

margiebell4 profile image
margiebell4 in reply to PMRpro

Yes, I've been offered it in my right hip which is the most painful.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to margiebell4

Are they sure it is OA and not trochanteric bursitis? Though steroid shots help that too.

margiebell4 profile image
margiebell4 in reply to PMRpro

Only slight wear and tear showed up on the X-ray which didn't equate to the pain I have so I've had an MRI which didn't show anything else so they're sticking with the OA diagnosis. The orto told me a steroid injection could be diagnostic too, which I don't really understand.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to margiebell4

Trochanteric bursitis wouldn't show on an x-ray or MRI.

margiebell4 profile image
margiebell4 in reply to PMRpro

That's interesting, so it could be that. I guess the injection would need to be in a slightly different area if it was bursitis.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to margiebell4

Mine are given into the area that elicits the biggest squeal when they prod it!!!!! Usually on the outside of the thigh, you know, where you can feel the knob of bone?

Bramble2000 profile image
Bramble2000

in my opinion, the injections are the lesser of the two evils. They should have fewer side effects.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply to Bramble2000

You do also have to consider the context - you wouldn't use oral pred for trochanteric bursitis which is what is being discussed here Though they don't always work in this situation. Deep i.m. injections are a different thing altogether.

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