Advise please my gurus! I have developed a very painful arthritic shoulder.
It is not PMR as I tried sick day rules and it made very little difference to the pain and bone clicking.
My GP wants to give me a steroid injection into the joint but not with ultrasound —— just experience!! Has anyone had this, is it safe for people on Prednisolone
Pros and cons please!
I am on 4 mg daily at present.
Advice please? Xxxxxxxx
I had them in my arthritic knee whilst still on lower doses of Pred -not an issue. Replacement surgery 2018 -2years after GCA in remission.
Thank you DL xxx
When I worked in a GP surgery, a GP did these injections routinely without U/S.
I’ve had my right shoulder done by a Consultasnt at the hospital (the left being my long term problem) It was absolutely fine. It generally doesn’t hurt as they put an anaesthetic in with it, mine recovered well 🙏🏼
Have they at least had an x-ray done?
I've had them in the past when I had bursitis on top of PMR, using guided US to target it. Helped a bit I think but wasn't an instant success like the injections into my feet were for plantar fasciitis, which my GP did. They were initially reluctant to do injections in the shoulder as I was already on Pred. A neighbour with arthritis said it helped her, worth a try as can't do any harm!
Doctors don't seem to understand steroids, they have a knee-jerk reaction against them, they've been brought up to believe they're really bad for us.
Thanks so much TC! My doc said probably a week to ten days after the jab before any improvement. I can’t have it for two weeks anyway as the Doc that does it in my practise is on hols! Xxx
I had one for rotator cuff. Didn't feel a thing. Very successful after 2 weeks. Pred not an issue.
Brilliant! Thank you so much! Xxx
I have had plantar fasciitis for nearly a year, and the feeling of my feet being heavily bruised on the top of my feet my rheumatologist said to me there’s no way it can be PMR I didn’t know you to get steroid injections did this help long term please
I fear your rheumy is wrong - many of us have foot problems and Leeds did a study that agreed with us!
Thank you for this reply, I don’t suppose you have a link for this study, I would like to read it and show my rheumatologist when I see him soon? Do you have foot pain? my feet and hands feel bruised stiff & tender. I feel like someone hit the top of my feet with a hard object. He said to me it’s neuropathy because I’m diabetic put my diabetic nurse says I haven’t got that at all as my diabetic tests are perfect, my Circulation is strong.
It feels like one pain calms down in one area of my body then another area flares up somewhere else.
Do others experience this?
Over the years there have been many posts about hand and foot pain - all describing quite similar sensations. I felt as if my feet were crammed into shoes 2 sizes too small and with insoles that were a mix of pebbles, broken glass and sharp gravel. It improved after starting pred but took some months to fade and has never returned, I am not diabetic, wasn't then and am not now - and it wasn't due to pred as I wasn't on it for the first 5 years.
I don't have a link for the study - it may have been part of another piece of work or not published at all, often work may be presented as part of a meeting but not actually as a publication.Unfortunately, if a symptom doesn't fit with a doctor's personal image of PMR they tend to ignore it - like the age at which PMR can develop. If they don't acknowledge something can be due to PMR then they block it out and so compound the felony and things never change.
I agree about the feeling of your feet in shoes to small it’s uncomfortable for sure. Thank you for your reply
Yep, my feet felt like I was treading on marbles or lego bricks, was dx as plantar fasciitis but I wonder if it was linked to PMR as started the same time
Yes they worked brilliantly and very quickly. One foot didn't work as well as the other and had to be redone few months later but that wasn't a problem. Hurt like hell the injection going in to the heel, but it was momentary and worth it
I had one in my right shoulder done by a rheumatologist with no ultra sound. In my case it did not make a blind bit of difference, but I think it works for some people.
Thanks Piglette! Well I’ll have a go and hope for the best! Xxxx
My husband had one by a GP at our doctors practice, without U/S, and he reported it didn’t hurt. This was after x-ray, ultrasound and MRI of both shoulders. He is not on steroids. Unfortunately it did not provide much relief either.
I’ve had 4 Medrol injections in my right knee (pain due to OA), while I was on 10mg of pred. No problem at all and they actually provided me with about 9-10 weeks of pain relief.
All the best to you.
I have had numerous sterile injections. The pain relief far outways anything else. I would highly recommend them. Not like taking steroid tablets.
Great, thank you so much xxx
You should not have a problem at all & it should hopefully give you some fairly speedy relief . In the past twelve months I have had two steroid 2 steroid injections into left hip re bursitis and 2 more into right ankle re severe osteoarthritis ( waiting to have ankle replaced ) and I was on between 9mgs - 12mgs when I had these administered by consultants . The relief is immense - go for it .
My GP injected both my shoulders a week ago as I have other medical issues as well as PMR, including Inflammatory arthritis. It has made a difference I can lift my arms up now and have less pain. But its unknown how long it will last. I’m currently on 10mg pred and many other meds but obviously my doctor knows that and all fine! I guess you don’t trust your GP though, as you ask if it’s safe!! My injection was cortisone.
The rheumatologist nurse specialist offered me these steroid injections into both shoulders at my last appointment in May a few weeks ago, but I declined and said I'd try some exercises first. I haven't had them xrayed or scanned. He's saying I have OA more than PMR now.
Sorry to hear that—- it’s all a bugger isn’t it! I would guess I’m the same! Xxxxx
And exactly HOW does he know? I've heard so many doctors say that!
I know! He says he can hear my joints creak and crackle as I move them and noticed my knobbly finger joints (which I've had for god knows how long way before PMR) so is making that connection I reckon....I'm not overly impressed with him if I'm honest. But at least he hasn't phoned me since bloods taken to say I need to go back on low dose steroids, because he's then going to be suggesting I take MTX too, so every cloud.....
Oh perleazzzze ...
Crepitus CAN be due to OA but it can also be due to other things. And since most of us don't manage to see through skin and bone - maybe a bit of investigation is called for get a proper assessment.
Ask for xrays to start with?
Well, at least a proper physical exam and an x-ray might show if it is really OA.
Thanks PMRpro, I'm seeing him again in August so I'll ask.
Agree…I had a 45 minutes long ‘top to toe’ examination before my shoulders were injected, and I’ve had urgent x-rays within 3 days carried out, too. The facilities are there, available, in the UK, in the NHS, guess I’m so lucky to have a great GP! Also, with my OA I was referred to hand specialist & foot specialist by my rheumatologist. Grrrrrrrgh!
I've developed a painful shoulder and finally had an ultrasound on it last week, which showed rotator cuff tendinopathy. Consultant has told me to get exercises off the internet (astonishing - patients usually have to pretend they've never heard of the internet!)and the cortisone injection will follow if the exercises don't work. I'm just wondering how anyone knows it's not your RC?
Me too, I'm going to ask for an xray if no better in August when I next see the rheumatologist nurse.
I've had several, knees, backside, near collar bone. All giving fantastic relief from pain.
Smokygirl have you got any fluid in your shoulder? I bet you have. If so I could highly recommend trying out some OSMO patches, they are brilliant!
Thank you —- how interesting. I’ll do some research! Xxx
What are OSMO patches?
Call me sceptical - but one of the pages on the UK site claims steroid injections are expensive! I wouldn't call OSMO patches exactly cheap - given a steroid jab in the UK won't cost!
The OSMO patches are small pouches filled with natural ingredients and are designed to gently alleviate joint and muscle pain associated with swelling and inflammation. They are simple to use, no steroids or NSAIDs, drug free, non invasive and work while you sleep. Apply patch directly over sore or swollen muscles and joints. In the morning when you take it off you can see and feel yourself how well it works. Just google it and you should find a stockist near you. Btw, I’m not a salesman blowing my own trumpet but they work for me. I wish I had discovered them earlier and I bet I wouldn’t be in the situation I’m in now with RA.
I've had steroid injections in both feet, separately. One foot more successful for pain relief than the other, but problems slightly different. The relief can last about 3 months. Not a cure, although it helps for a while. My feet are so badly affected by oa as well as other things that I am scheduled to have surgery in a few weeks for mid foot bone fusion in the right one.
I've also had a shoulder injection and some years ago in my wrists before resorting to the longer term surgical solution!
My rheumatologist gave me a cortisone injection in my right shoulder just last week. I have an old rotator cuff injury and knew the pain wasn’t PMR. He did an ultrasound to see where the problem was first and was able to show me the tear.The result has been really good, amazing relief. Not sure I’d be happy with a GP just going on experience though.
Hope you get it sorted.
I expect it depends on the drs experience but I had a horrible time after a shoulder injection at the GP’s and a hip bursa injection didn’t work at all. But all my injections under ultrasound or X-ray at the pain clinic have been very effective. Unfortunately, it’s always a long waiting list. It’s important to rest for a few days after because the injection irritates the surrounding tissues. Hope you can get relief soon.
I have had steroid injections for trochanteric bursitis - when my rheumy here does them they have always worked but he does them as soft tissue injections at the point that elicits the greatest scream! No need for u/s and getting into the joint,
I’m sure you are right. Thank you for your insight and experience! Xxxx
Thank you so much for the info! Xxxx
I had to have a steroid injection into my heel for plantar fasciitis a couple of months ago. I, too, was on a low dose - don’t remember what, but it was at the end of my taper. I checked with my rheumatologist before the visit and he OK’d the injection. I am happy to say that I am now pain-free from the heel! I also had several shoulder injections prior to my GCA diagnosis and none of them was under any kind of guidance. I also got great relief from the shoulder pain and it has been permanent.
Thank you for asking the question, I am scheduled in for injections in my hips and was going to ask the question!
I have had them for several reasons, shoulder, knee, hands. Only had one doctor use ultrasound. Usually gives relief, but as your doctor said., it takes time.
After having a ultrasound scan on both shoulders I was offered both my shoulders to be injected. I had one shoulder injected by a rheumatology physio therapist and one carried out by ultrasound specialist. Both are fine, they crunch and grind but I have no pain. I was on 6mg of pred at the time.
Wonderful! Thank you so much! Xxxx
My Orthopedic Surgeon gave me a choice of a shoulder replacement surgery or steroid injections. I picked injections.
It didn't hurt at all and my shoulder felt better within days. I could barely move it an inch from my body before the injection.
Trouble is you can only get the injection 3 times or it wears down the joint further. I had 3 injections a month or 2 apart and I felt better for 2 years. I am now having a lot of pain again but don't want replacement.
Good luck, I'd say to give it a go, I don't see any down side.
Thank you! I am going to have a go! Xxxx
I know if people who have had that injection and all was ok
Good! Xxxx
Have had it done twice in both shoulders and hips. Am down to 4.5 mg of Pred.
Works well for my partner
Great! Thank you!
I had a shot in my right shoulder that had a rotator tear in late 2016 without US and just before PMR diagnosis. It worked but I had to be careful how high I reached for a while to prevent another tear. The same ortho surgeon has given me shots in my hip and knees thru the years, without US.
I had a steroid injection given by my GP yesterday so really interested to read the replies here. It ached a bit afterwards so just took painkillers, too soon to see if it’s helped but won’t be doing the ironing for a while until I see whether it’s worked. Currently on 1mg Pred as my rheumatologist doesn’t think I have PMR.
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