cortisone shot while on prednisone

[Spartans1]

Now slow tapering from 3.5 to 3 of prednisone and my left hip is starting to have discomfort. (Actually a noted issue for me over the last 5years) X-rays show some minor arthritis and orthopedic doctor suggests guided cortisone shot. He said it shouldn’t impact my prednisone tapering since it’s very localized. Should I be fine going ahead with it. I suspect that my higher prednisone dosages were helpful in masking the hip issues. Thank you all for great advice

[piglette]

I wanted a guided cortisone shot but felt it was rather expensive. In the end I had a new hip which was even more expensive!!

[sylla123 in reply to piglette]

Piglette , when the Cortisone subject came on , it reminded me to get on and give you my Cortisone update , with your previous answer you jogged my memory that I had a dexa scan July 2022 and I had never seen the results. Well to start off with I was in hospital in January for 3 days as I had a black out ! I don't remember a thing about it and came round on the floor , I only remember feeling a bit dizzy, but I only finished up with an egg shape lump on the side of my head, and I finished at the hospital with a blood pressure tablet ...

I still have the fatigue which I really believe is because the PMR has left my muscles and tendons so weak a 10 minute job is all I can manage and I am now with a physio and seem to be doing well and the rotator cuff is almost healed which she diagnosed ... I still cant get through all the exercises yet though ...

I started thinking about my cortisol levels and I had atlast the long awaited appointment with my GP .. I had contacted the Dexa CT clinic and they sent my results to my surgery . I had already learn't from the good people on HealthUnlocked what was low and what was OK .. Addenbrooks Hospital send your results by email to you Named " MY CHART" ,, and most of the time I don't have a clue what they mean ... but I looked at my blood test results for while I was in hospital and they had done a cortisol test ,two! on the23/01/24 at 06.52 result 431... and 23/01/24 16.31 result 265 and I had tapered down to nil pred on Jan1st 2024.. So seems my Adrendals are working fine .. The Dexa result was numbers which mean't nothing to me but my Doctor explained it was neither good or bad Meduim , which would do me fine for another 10 years ~~~ crikes! I said, that will do me fine I'm 87 now ! but they will gradually weaken ..

So I have decided not to take the 6 monthly injection of Denosumab ..I am now once again tapering the two Preds I am now taking as it seems what I thought was a flare up and starting with 2 Preds must be my weakened muscles and tendons damage and the way is now Physiotherapy ...

[piglette in reply to sylla123]

My gosh, hospital for three days. I have blacked out a couple of time recently, both times in shops at lunchtime. I have noticed I have a dent near the front of my head which seems to have appeared. I suppose on the other hand my brain may be imploding!!

[sylla123 in reply to piglette]

Oh ! Piglette not good, bit worrying ! Have you seen a doctor ?

[piglette in reply to sylla123]

Yes I have been through a load of tests. They have come to the conclusion that I am a ‘fainter’.

[sylla123 in reply to piglette]

Oh Dear piglette That sounds a bit strange " A Fainter". At least while I was in hospital I had so many tests done and nothing serious came up. I had the heart test all wired up with the stickers all over my body and although I have always had high blood pressure there didn't seem to be much concern , just I came away with a blood pressure tablet Bisoprolol 2.5mg one in morning ... but I have now started itching and wondering if it is that !

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sylla123]

Please check with your doctor - NOT the receptionist - asap as that is one of the symptoms that can appear if you are having an allergic reaction and the PIL tells you to report it immediately. If a rash appears - GO to the surgery so they can't argue or the ED.

[sylla123 in reply to PMRpro]

I have had the same problem before with BP tablets .. Enalapril being the worst , the most awful cough you could ever imagine, it would come on without warning and it was as if I was choking, plus itching, there is never a rash . The doctors seemed to have lost patience with me , so I stopped it and within a day or so my cough was completely gone the rash took longer to go . I seem to get better advice from the Pharmacist ! I Tried stopping today and took my blood pressure that was ok, I am not itching now ! The first time for days and I didn't take an itching tablet which had not made hardly any difference to the itching.

[sylla123 in reply to sylla123]

Sorry I didn't mean to write "rash to go !" there is never a rash nothing to see at all totally clear skin ...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sylla123]

I was initially put on an ACE inhibitor and within 48 hours had the most itchy rash I haave ever had. I was still in hospital and told every member of staff I saw - not even a wriggle out of them. Antihistamines did nothing and the final offer of a cold wet washcloth was just laughable. Then it was Saturday and the ward round was an unknown (to me) consultant. I told him - and the ACE inhibitor was stopped there and then. Now there is a large red notice on my notes "allergic to ACE inhibitors". I was lucky - wasn't a full-blown episode but it was getting there.

[sylla123 in reply to PMRpro]

Wow ! PMRpro that is horrific .. I understand your warning to me for sure ! and rest assured I am taking notice and in control ... I know I should have stopped the Enalapril much sooner , but I just felt a nuisance. It was two years until I saw a Rheumatologist and he was great and ordered a CT full body scan immediately .. Most things were just OK old age really .. but he discovered a severe wedge compressive fracture at T12 and asked if I might have an idea how I did it ? I'm sure it was the cough that did it ! Can I ask was the Hospital in the UK ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sylla123]

No - here in northern Italy.

[piglette in reply to sylla123]

I had tests done over six months or more. ECG, electrocardiogram, tilt test, 48 hour haulter test, checks by cardiologist, etc etc. Everything looked fine! So diagnosis a Fainter!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Did you faint while the Holter was on? My dizzy spells were due to sudden massive drops in BP. Which were caused by bradycardic episodes with long pauses. But they only lasted a short time and they never caught them on a recording. Until I was taken to the ED after one and they gave me i.v. diazepam as I was agitated. That triggered atrial fibrillation - and brady/tachy episodes which they couldn't miss!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

No I was fine with the Holter. I think my problem is a drop in BP too. They did catch low blood pressure in hospital at 54/45. I have also had a tilt test, plus the consultant pressing my carotid artery and they finally forced a faint with glyceryl trinitrate.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to piglette]

Sounds very like me - I TOLD them there was something wrong but they couldn't find anything on any of their tests. They were horrified when they found it mind!

But that doesn't mean your heart isn't taking some time out and sending your BP into its boots briefly and if you happen to be standing at the time - you end up on the floor. Which is fine as long as there is a floor rather than the stairs or you are driving!

[piglette in reply to PMRpro]

I have been fainting since I was five years old. I think I inherited something from my father!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sylla123]

You haven't started taking the denosumab have you?

[sylla123 in reply to PMRpro]

No ! PMRpro .... and I understand once started it is important not to stop .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sylla123]

That's all I was concerned about!!!!

[sylla123 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much for being concerned PMRpro, so reassuring that this forum has so many helpful posters , with all our concerns and at times being so confused by it all and not being able to talk to our GPs it is such a weight off our minds ...

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sylla123]

Why we're here ...

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Go for it… no point in being in more pain than it’s absolutely essential .. and your doctor is correct is stating it won’t impact the oral Pred.

Many have been in similar situation, and yes higher doses of Pred can mask OA pain - can testify to that!

[powerwalk]

Yes, i've had many!! Hope it helps.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I had a guided cortisone injection in my right sacroiliac joint - miracle!!! And it seems to have helped the taper to 6mg I've been trying for months! You do need to be wary while tapering immediately after the shot - because as it wears off you MIGHT discover how much it contributed. But other than that - shouldn't be a problem.

[Grammy80]

I have had injections in my left hip and there were no problems at all. Definitely have it, I got relief from an that lasted over a year and a half and I'm still going. No interference at all with my prednisone. I had had a hip replacement on my left hip and a revision some years later and it still helped a lot. Good luck to you.💕

[Belfastman]

I agree with the other posts. The prednisone often disguises the problem and pain. I had an injection in my shoulder and it was like a miracle . It’s best to get the injection as soon as possible. I also would hold off on further tapering for a while .

[Papa267]

Go for it I had shoulder Bursitis 2 years ago took the shot life improved. Keep on your taper I’m down to 1.5 - 1mg after being at 20mg 2.5 years ago