Starting steroid injections in spine/lower back. What should I know.

[5W33TP00P3R]

I'm still riding this shot out. My body is still getting used to it. I'm in a mess.. My body feels weird.'as long as it works.

Consider that you just got a local injection of a glucocorticoid hormone. Normally the outer portion(cortex) of your two adrenal glands atop your kidneys would be releasing much less of the stuff, at a significantly slower rate and into your bloodstream; opposed to directly to the target organ [bones/connective tissue].

It's gonna feel weird. It's not natural. Though the purpose is the same whether your body or the doctor does it: reduce inflammation and hope that it relieves pain/slows or stops inflammatory changes in your vertebrae and surrounding soft tissues.

I'm sure you heard it from your doctor, but the shot is a temporary solution. It should give you a window of opportunity to mobilize yourself without pain and hopefully strengthen your muscles to the point where the pain is lessened. Keep at it!

There are some medical considerations for steroids but they typically only apply to people who use them long-term, high-dose or have type-1 diabetes mellitus. They are relatively benign medications even if you fall into one of those three groups.

Good luck to you, keep us updated!

 

[Speed King]

I'm starting to feel normal today. Five days after the shot. Pain is going away. Things are feeling better m. Still wish I could get my hands on some Toradol. That's good shit also.

 

[DDog5588]

Yesterday the doctor game me a shot in my left hip with something?? He sent me home with steroid packet. I have osteoporosis in my hip from having a unbalanced gate. It hurts like hell but show no broken bones. I have to almost scream at dr's telling them it hurts like crazy without a bone being broke. What do you think I should do????

 

[DixiChik]

DDog...I can empathize with the osteo pain in your hip! I have it in both hips and both knees. It's indeed a bitch! The steroids should give you some relief, both the injection and the (dose pak?) Prednisone? Take as directed and you should feel better for a while.

I endure the Synvisc One injections in my knees every 6 months to delay TKR. They are "vomit in the trashcan" painful, but less so than surgery.

Decadron helps my joint issues, but should not be used as a maintenance because of the "catch 22" of steroids affecting bone density. I have no density due to Lupron treatments for stage 4 disease.

I wish you well, my friend.

 

[CFC]

I endure the Synvisc One injections in my knees every 6 months to delay TKR. They are "vomit in the trashcan" painful, but less so than surgery.

I'm surprised your injections hurt. I've had those injections multiple times, and can't even feel the needle piercing the skin.

Do they apply a topical or transdermal anaesthetic before injecting? Do they use ultrasound to guide the needle?

 

[DixiChik]

Hey [MENTION=281731]CFC[/MENTION]...Yes, my ortho administers the injections in both my knees. She sprays the skin with Lidocaine. The HA gel is very thick and the needle is large. Both knees are SHOT, with no cartilage whatsoever left, BOB pain. I would swear I feel the needle grinding between the bones. I don't always vomit in the trashcan...Sometimes it's on the nurse!

I've suffered with Plantar Fasciatis (sic) as well, requiring injections. Those were less painful than the "chicken gel" going into my knees!

I have an extremely high threshold for pain. Childhood beatings "trained" me to take the pain with no tears...beaten til I bled, then beaten for bleeding, literally. I digress.

I've had many spinal injections, both cervical and lumbar with fluoroscopy. I've driven myself home afterwards, even though I pretended to have a driver. (No, I didn't drive impaired) I lay in my vehicle for an hour or so after the procedures. The spinal injections were more like bee stings IME.

OT... Can you explain to me how to quote just a sentence or two from another post? I've not mastered the quote feature, even though I've been here for a year. Yes, I'm goofy.

 

[CFC]

OT... Can you explain to me how to quote just a sentence or two from another post? I've not mastered the quote feature, even though I've been here for a year. Yes, I'm goofy.

Press the QUOTE button on the bottom right of any post you want to quote, delete the text that's not relevant, and type your own reply after. Don't delete the start or end brackets with 'quote' inside.

 

[DixiChik]

THANKS! I'll try it, though my previous failures make me feel like a DOOB!

 

[DixiChik]

Press the QUOTE button on the bottom right of any post you want to quote, and type your own reply after. Don't delete the start or end brackets with 'quote' inside.

Testing...Hope this works!