steroid injections: I had a steroid injection in my... - PMRGCAuk

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steroid injections

Linny3 profile image
17 Replies

I had a steroid injection in my low back yesterday. This was to help nerve pain I have been having in my thigh. Today, could I use the steroid from this having this shot of steroid from this injection as a way to decrease my daily steroid by 1/2- 1mg.? Will that work?

Hope that makes sense😊

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Linny3 profile image
Linny3
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17 Replies
DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

I wouldn’t -and didn’t when I had GCA and knee arthritis..

The injection is for local use -the oral steroids are used systematically for your PMR .

Just enjoy any extra relief you may get temporarily..

123-go profile image
123-go

Personally, I wouldn’t be using the targeted steroid injection to facilitate tapering the prescribed Prednisolone.

Koalajane profile image
Koalajane

I had a steroid implant in my eye and wouldn’t think of using it to help taper

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

I wouldn't - and I had the same sort of injection last week. The steroid into a joint like that is present for a relatively short time - not like the deep intramuscular injections where you could try using it to cover a taper step as it releases over about a month.

Linny3 profile image
Linny3 in reply toPMRpro

Thank you for the reply. That is what I thought

powerwalk profile image
powerwalk

Unfortunately not. I've had many localised injections. Can I ask, from one of your earlier posts can I ask if you still take algae cal or if you went on the official meds?

Linny3 profile image
Linny3 in reply topowerwalk

I take algae cal with strontium and I take forteo injections. Before starting the injections, my dexa scan showed I went from osteoporosis to osteopenia. I give algae the credit for that.

powerwalk profile image
powerwalk in reply toLinny3

Ah right. Hope your steroid injection helps your back. Thank you.

CLMTQM profile image
CLMTQM

Hi Linny, When I was having thigh pain, I read that is often caused by not eating enough greens, so I increased salads, etc… and the pain completely disappeared.

Also, I was getting epidural steroid injections on a regular basis just below my neck for Cervical Stenosis that is until I learned the steroids end up in the brain increasing odds of dementia. Haven’t had one since. Please look into this. Take care!

Pixix profile image
Pixix in reply toCLMTQM

I haven’t heard of this. I’ve had regular steroid injections for arthritis & bursitis for years. Do you have technical papers to back this up, please, ir a link to the information you have? Would be interesting for a number of us in the sane position, I think. Thanks.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPixix

This applies to epidural injections - into the CSF. NOT to injections in joints and soft tissue.

Pixix profile image
Pixix in reply toPMRpro

Thank you. I didn’t think it applied but as I’m likely to have more of them this year I thought I’d like to know!

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toPixix

That said - oral pred also crosses the blood brain barrier but probably reaches lower levels when equilibrated. However - there is something called steroid-induced dementia which tends to occur with longterm very high doses but is reversible.

In fact, uncontrolled inflammation is also a risk fact for dementia and so pred could be expected to reduce the risk of dementia - and it seems it does:

"Furthermore, most studies of dementia (all-cause) and Alzheimer’s disease, excluding vascular dementia, showed null to negative associations with glucocorticoids, suggesting a potential protective effect. Therefore, glucocorticoid therapy in those with inflammatory disease may impair certain brain structures and specific cognitive functions, but could lead to a significantly reduced risk of dementia."

sciencedirect.com/science/a...

It is important to look at ALL the story - half of one can be quite concerning but only when taken out of context.

Pixix profile image
Pixix in reply toPMRpro

Always two sides to every coin, thanks, that’s interesting, will read the link this evening. Dental abscess giving me issues, & the third dentist has now refused to remove it due to my other medical issues, jaw dislocates sometimes, etc etc. But hospital wait is 6 to 12 months. 7th infection in same tooth. Dentist trying to find somebody who will remove it! S x

Linny3 profile image
Linny3 in reply toCLMTQM

My thigh pain is nerve pain and my back is causing it

Bramble2000 profile image
Bramble2000

I don’t think so. They work quite differently. Do you have Meralgia Paraesthetica ?

CLMTQM profile image
CLMTQM

Interesting, I’m having same issue. Ty

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