Cortisone shots for back pain

[arvine]

Well this may not be the right forum to ask about this, but just starting here, I have PMR, but also back issues, osteo, spinal stenosis, slipped disc, and degenerative discs(had for years now), and my rheumy is referring me to pain clinic, so my question is, first of all, is there a particular forum to talk about this issue, and can anyone out there tell me, if they have had these back problems, and if they have had cortisone, has it been helpful, thank you

[Rachmaninov2]

I think the Pain Concern forum may be helpful. 🙂

[PMRpro Ambassador]

There are also a few people on the forum with similar spinal problems

[arvine in reply to PMRpro]

oh ok, thank you, maybe they,ll comment

[nallufl24]

when I got to a low dose of prednisone my slipped vertebrae was so painful. I went to a doctor and had a lumbar steroid injection. The pain didn’t completely go away but I was able to function again

[winfong]

Just starting on the back journey myself. Let me know what you hear.

[arvine in reply to winfong]

oh ok well thank you

[Stifffingers]

Hi. I had chronic Scitica. Had 2 steroid injections 2 months apart. First one never touched the sides. 2/3 weeks after the second one , kicked in and been good since.

[Pixix]

I’ve had some…benign tumour on spine, acute recurring sciatica. What can I tell you? It hurts no more than a normal injection, & the results are better for some people than others! I think you will find some with a good result that lasted a fair time, & some for whom it doesn’t work. I’m sorry if this sounds unhelpful, but this is what I’ve found on other forums. I’m having one in March for my trochanteric bursitis. I can’t think of a good reason not to have one, but the outcome won’t be known in advance!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

I find steroid shots fantastic for trochanteric bursitis and speedy on effect. But the last couple of times it has been a problem they have used extracorporeal shockwave therapy - takes longer but no adverse effects and effective.

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

Sadly, can’t be done until around 10 March, as I had a depo medrone injection about ten days ago. But I’m anticipating it with happiness! My GP does all my steroid injections, he’s excellent at finding the ‘right spot’!! S x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Pixix]

My rheumy is like that - pokes until I squeal loudest but he goes straight for it! And the physio here is the same!

[Pixix in reply to PMRpro]

That’s the way to do it, LOL! S x

[AliDeJ]

Good morning. I had cortisol injections 3 months ago at the Whittington Hospital. It was under sedation and guided by xray. I was unconscious. They injected L4 and L5 vertebrae and the cauda to relieve the leg pain issues. Absolutely marvellous! I have degenerative spondylosis with spondylisthesis. I don't know how long the relief will last but I'm so grateful to be pain free right now. My advice...go for it!

[Amkoffee]

I've suffered from multiple back problems for the last 17 years. I have done pretty much every treatment Under the Sun that is available in the US except surgery. Steroid injections in the spine is a common first treatment plan. The very first injection I had completely eradicated my pain for about 9 months. They are not a permanent solution but I don't believe one exists. Since that time I've had so many steroid injections in my back that I have lost count. Occasionally I've gotten as much as a 50% reduction in pain but most injections did not result in any reduction in pain. I now have severe osteoporosis in my back. (i'm 61 yo) I have had six fractured vertebrae and a fractured sacrum. I don't know if the injections cause this because there were other mitigating circumstances like the fact that I was on Prednisone for years because of PMR and I also have a strong family history of severe osteoporosis. There are so many alternative treatments that may work for you that I suggest you see a pain management doctor who can discuss treatment options available.

[arvine in reply to Amkoffee]

ooh, you have had quite a time sounds like, Ive been on prednisone since Oct 2016 , as well, was down to 4 mgs before Christmas, but then GCA symptons appeared, so back up to 40 mgs, ultrasound for temporal GCA negative, so had MRI, showed subacute stroke! but tapering pred right now, down to 171/2 , going to 15 tomorrow, but I am struggling as to what to do with back problem, have had that for years, worse now with osteo and aging, Im 75, was considering cortisone shots in lower back, spinal stenosis, slipped disc, degenerative etc, so I could at least go walking a bit, strengthen my legs, and carry on with some of my daily routines which is becoming more difficult now, so I will at least have consultation with pain clinic when I get the appt, and try make a decision , see what options they give me,

[Amkoffee in reply to arvine]

You could also benefit from physo. I highly recommend it.

[arvine in reply to Amkoffee]

Actually was doing physio few mos ago, ended up with 2 tears in and around ball joint of hip, severe groin pain, and femoral nerve inflamed, so very hesitant to go back right now

[Amkoffee in reply to arvine]

I don't blame you. That's terrible!

[arvine in reply to Amkoffee]

it was pretty painful, hardly any sleep for over a week, ouch!!

[1951grumpa]

I recently had a bilateral L3 Transforaminal Epidural Steroid injection for back pain. This past July after sitting on bleachers watching a grandson play basketball for 3 days I started getting a sharp periodic pain in my left hip. I went went to an orthopedic hip specialist. He looked at an MRI I had for my pelvic area and after his exam he thought my pain was coming from my back and ordered an MRI. He then referees me to one of his spine specialists who said nothing looked impinged or out of place and the he inflammation could be caused by my autoimmunes, and to try these injections. After about 10 days I noticed a definite improvement. Those x-ray guided injections were not painful, just a couple needle pricks. I’m currently on 5mg prednisone for PMR that started in 2011.

[Spanky2019]

Have had translaminar epidural steroid inj in back with local anesthesia & numerous guided image steroid injections in shoulders have all been very helpful for me. Outcome hasn't been as good without imagery. Cortisone knee inj worked fine w/o imagery. I hesitated for long time about back epidural but it was painless and has lasted several months so far. Think it's worth the try.

[arvine in reply to Spanky2019]

Thank you

[singingloud]

I have all of what you have now. I did receive shots for my spine over several years and they did help. I would give them a try even though you are on steroids for pmr.

Unfortunately I will be having my second back surgery in March since my first surgery failed. Wish I could go back to the shots.

Take care.

[arvine in reply to singingloud]

well thank you, can you tell me if these were imaging shots, that is to say done with ultrasound, so injection gets to proper area, my rheumy says that doesn,t matter, as long as injection gets into general area? he doesn,t, nor does pain clinic use ultrasound to find the exact area, only asurgical clinic does that, so he does not want to refer me to there until after Ive tried the non ultrasound, non imaging injections

[singingloud]

that’s too bad. Mine were all done by ultrasounds. I was under light sedation.