Steroid injection for OA in shoulder

[Marymon]

I experienced severe pain in shoulder at 8mg of Pred, and increasing dose had no affect. An X-ray showed bone on bone OA.

I continued with taper now on 7mg. and shoulder pain has virtually gone. I think it flared up with too much use on recent holiday, and existing conditions do tend to assert themselves on lower Pred.

Doctor yesterday said at sometime I would need a shoulder replacement, great.

When I lived in France I had hyaluronic acid injections into shoulder and it was amazing, course of three lasted 18 months. My present records show this, and I asked if I could have injections again, and have an appointment on May 17th. This morning logging into Patient Access, I see it shows it is for a steroid injection.

My question is,will this corticosteroid be just increasing the Pred I already have in my system ?

I am seeing consultant next week for hip replacement in next couple of months,so don’t want to mess it up with more steroids as have been trying hard to decrease before op. as well as reducing my weight.

Reading NHS on line, they do not seem to consider hyaluronic acid is affective. Well it certainly worked for me, and as it helps to lubricate the joints.

I had injections of synthetic synovial fluid, in my knee in France again pain free for several years, both knees since replaced.

This is straying from topic, but should I be taking on more steroids? interfering with PMR Pred taper.

I can put up with the pain in shoulder at present, using creams and paracetamol.

Any advice please?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

I had steroid injections in knee and shoulder whilst still on oral Pred for GCA....and yes it is all steroids but the injection is localised to the affected joint, and doesn’t get into the system as the tablets do.

I never found it interfered with tapering.

The injection is probably Depo-Medrone 40mg/1ml suspension for injection vials - or similar.

By all means discuss with surgeon, but I doubt he’ll have a problem with injections.

By the way, this post has two entries, so you might want to delete previous, unless it has responses.

[Marymon in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for your reply, I am not worried about surgeon/injections in shoulder as op will be for hip. More that I didn’t want more Pred, but you have cleared that up as it will be a different steroid, very ignorant about meds. As the pain is negligible now, will keep the injection on the back burner for a rainy day.

Don’t know how it was posted twice. But replies from PMRpro and another 6 in all listed. Heron had asked me to contact you to paste yours to the first post, or me delete it.!!! Sorry pasting is beyond me or I would have to delete one of them

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Marymon]

Hi

Have copied my reply to other post- but obviously can’t copy your reply.

Glad you’ve got things sorted now.