Bursitis of toes & Steroid Injection - Scleroderma & Ray...

Scleroderma & Raynaud's UK (SRUK)

11,050 members5,572 posts

Bursitis of toes & Steroid Injection

sarahsch profile image
11 Replies

I've had pain from between the second & third toe since last May. It hurts to stand & walk especially barefoot or in shoes. I tend to wear trainers when I can as the base is soft & spongy.

I had surgery Oct 22 for severe arthritis in the large toe & at first I feared it had spread. Two trips to GP (July & November 23) & finally preliminary diagnosis of Morton's Neuroma because of a burning nerve pain. Instead ultrasound has shown an inflamed bursa pressing on a nerve.

GP has referred me for steroid injection which I'm not looking forward to, but felt I had little option.

Anyone had steroid injections for bursitis & is it going to be as painful as I think? I declined this for the arthric big toe & rightly so as the surgeon pointed out there was no joint space left into which to inject.

Sarah

Written by
sarahsch profile image
sarahsch
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Read more about...
11 Replies
OldTed60 profile image
OldTed60

yes I had two into same foot in same place before Christmas - plus another likely MN in adjoining space. I think the podiatrist who did it was a bit of a sadist though as he was relying on a 3 year old ultrsound which wasn’t even in front of him. So he went away and found it - decided on two because one was so enormous and the other was a bit unclear ie possibly a calcinosis along with other smaller widely dispersed calcium deposits. So he used pain as his guide for where to go into my dorsal foot and gripped it so hard my foot was very bruised and swollen for a few days after. I have a high pain threshold but that was a bit much even for me.

But it has worked - and I’ve had this Morton’s neuroma growing for 12 years so being able to walk around with no pain for 3-4 months so far has been a revelation! Hopefully your injection won’t be done this way but will be equally effective.

sarahsch profile image
sarahsch in reply toOldTed60

Thanks. At least my ultrasound won't be 3 years old. Unless that is the current NHS waiting time 🤭

I wonder if gripping your foot so hard it hurt was a strategy to try & take your mind off the injection pain.

I think I have to just focus on the outcome & try not to stress about the injection.

Sarah x

OldTed60 profile image
OldTed60 in reply tosarahsch

My usual podiatrist is the rheumatology trained one and she didn’t realise that my ultrasound had been done locally as I live under a different Scottish healthboard to the one my hospital is in. So cross wires on my case 🙄. I thought it was very odd that she relied so much on my rheumatologist’s letters and didn’t seem to know more than that I have Morton’s neuromas. She never even mentioned the multiple calcium deposits that the orthopaedic surgeon had mentioned 3 years ago - guess this was why. However she did tell me that my twisted red little toes weren’t a legacy of RA as my first rheumatologist assumed many years ago - but were actually Tailor’s bunions - a less common hereditary type otherwise known as bunionettes!

Yes I would try to focus on outcome - although I doubt it will be as painful for you. This MSK podiatrist definitely had a sadistic streak! He continued seeing me six times afterwards to “massage” my feet - which even numb with Raynaud’s toes - was pain torture! I’ve seen plenty of nhs and private pods in my time but none quite like this one thankfully! X

Pixix profile image
Pixix

Yes, I had 3 injections on Wednesday…one for trochanteric bursitis in hip & two for problems in my feet (one in each foot). Personally, I think they aren’t bad to have done. I’ve had my thumbs injected for osteoarthritis quite often, too. Everybody always tells you the bad things about it. But it’s like any injection, takes a very short time to do, & I think people get so stressed because of the bad press!! Relax & they aren’t bad at all. Sure, my feet & hip were sore for a day, & one foot bruised, but it’s worth it, & hundreds, if not thousands are carried out daily!! Sadly, for the hip bursitis, the Dr used pain for his guide, to find the worst spot. But that is to ensure it works for the best result! Which would we all like…find the best pain spot & get the best outcome, or not find the key place & it doesn’t work????? PS I have had my big toe injected, too, & two injections in feet for plantar fasciitis.

sarahsch profile image
sarahsch in reply toPixix

Thank you for your reply Pixix.

The fear of the unknown is often worse than the reality. I don't know how long I will have to wait so I'm not stressed yet, but I think I might be in the days leading up to it.

Comforting to hear you didn't think it was so bad. I have to remind myself that it is painful to walk on now, so a little more pain for a pain free future is worth it.

Happy Easter,

Sarah x

Pixix profile image
Pixix in reply tosarahsch

No, it really is fine…& I’m not kidding you! Just like a normal injection, but requires finding an exact site to be more effective!

Pixix profile image
Pixix in reply tosarahsch

Forgot to say Happy Easter back to you…it’s so early & wet!! Our garden flooded again last night with heavy rain & wind! Hope you’re having a nice weekend! S x

Bkart profile image
Bkart in reply toPixix

Hi Pixix, sorry I can’t offer any helpful info for sarahsch but I was very interested in your reply. I have quite severe osteoarthritis in both hands and three years ago I was told I needed all the knuckles on my left hand replaced. Subsequent research revealed that finger joint replacement is not as successful as knee, hip or shoulder replacement so I declined. I was never offered injections and this is the first time I have heard of this treatment, luckily and whether or not the joints have fused the pain is not too intense now, the pain from my Raynauds is far worse. Must admit the injections don’t sound nice but if they work it’s better than the alternative and I will pursue this if needed in the future, so thanks for the info. Also wishing sarah a successful outcome.

Pixix profile image
Pixix in reply toBkart

interesting…my Raynauds is worse right now than it’s ever been. I think it’s due to the cold weather, & hope for improvement when it gets warmer! The injections are fine, I think some people just hate all injections & they get a ‘bad press’, but they are OK. The only problem is that there is a limit to how many you can each year, you can’t just get six of them at once! I’d really like to get my right side done, but now have to wait…oh & my thumbs, they are nasty right now! Hope you get to try one & see how it goes! I’m not sure if you’ve tried Flexiseq, it’s specifically for OA, & helps for a lot. I’m just about to try it for the first time, & if you live in the UK, you don’t need a prescription fo buy & tube & try it!! Good luck with all!

Midgebite21 profile image
Midgebite21

hi I’m a podiatrist and unfortunately any injection into the foot tends to be uncomfortable and into that part of the foot it’s definitely not pleasant. What I tell my patients is ‘that it’s a short term pain for (hopefully) a long term gain’. I would definitely bite the bullet and go for it. If it works, which normally is the case with bursitis it will be well worth it.

Pixix profile image
Pixix in reply toMidgebite21

I had both feet injected this week, & it really wasn’t bad. I think people get stressed beforehand & tense & that can affect the outcome, maybe. My feet have definitely improved, & the pain is less when I walk now!

Not what you're looking for?

You may also like...

Spontaneous bruising (toes)

Does anyone suffer from this? In the last week I’ve had two occasions where one of my toes has just...
SadieMeg profile image

Fingertips, toes

Hello allFor decades I've had Raynaud's, since 17. Got really bad early forties then after being...
Brychni profile image

Painful toes :(

Hi all I'm at my wits end with the pain I've been in all weekend, been told I have more than likely...
jogoody profile image

Metroclopramide for SIBO related Scleroderma

Hello there, I an struggling with gut related problems which have worsened in recent two years....

Amitriptyline - has anyone tried this for pain relief?

My main problem is painful, sore fingers. I can pretty much tolerate and cope with the pain during...
nannysue1950 profile image

Moderation team

AnnabelSRUK profile image
AnnabelSRUKAdministrator
Chicunique27 profile image
Chicunique27Administrator
SRUKadmin profile image
SRUKadminPartner

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.