Experiences With Cortisone Shots

[debbila]

I'm going to have a cortisone shot for my bulging disk and lumbar stenosis. Have any of our members had this procedure? I'd like to hear about your experience, what it's like, the recovery, how much pain relief it gave you, etc.
Any information or tips would be appreciated.

 

[cheshirecat]

I have had them in my knee and wrist. Both times there was no pain after the shot. Actually I had more pain from the shot to numb my knee. Not sure if shots in the back are any worse. Good luck!

 

[Mia6]

I have had many steroid injections, Kenalog, because i am allergic to cortisone. in my shoulder

 

[neely]

I had a cortisone shot in my wrists many years ago for carpal tunnel syndrome. I barely felt anything and it helped a lot. Thankfully I never needed another one there. But I have had cortisone shots several times in my feet/ankle area from a combination of running and being on my feet for my job. Same experience, i.e. hardly any pain and it helped immensely.

 

[MonaLyssa33]

I had one in my hand for carpal tunnel and it hurt the first day but then got a lot better. It was a weird feeling too because my hand got puffy because the cortisone didn't have a place to go until it was absorbed (or whatever happens with cortisone when injected).

ETA: I asked my friend who had cortisone in her back how it felt for her and she said it was a sharp pain at first but then felt a lot better soon after that. She had the option to be numbed up, but chose not to because she didn't want to be numb for hours when the pain of the injection was short lived.

 

[fionasmom]

I had it in my right hand for an injury to a tendon and it helped a great deal. I don't recall excessive pain from the injection.

 

[lizzie]

My husband has had a couple of them as he has issues with his neck.They used a spray to numb the injection sites and he never felt a thing but very cold,so he didn't realize they were done til he saw the bandaids come out.He honestly never had a complaint at all.They told him the pain would go away in a couple of days, it sure did,and hasn't come back.It's been over 6 months,too.The one thing the gal who gave them said was to really relax as much as possible,and I guess he did.No side effects.He's been very pleased.So far so good!

 

[susanm9006]

I had a cortisone shot in my shoulder. I was prepared for it to be aweful but not much more painful that a regular injection. Unfortunately it didn’t help at all.

 

[di and bob]

They help a lot for some, not at all for others. I guess you have to have one to see. my husband had several for shoulder pain, didn't help, and then they found out it was pain that originated in his spine! Once they gave him injections along his neck it was much better!

 

[Margret]

They help a lot for some, not at all for others. I guess you have to have one to see. my husband had several for shoulder pain, didn't help, and then they found out it was pain that originated in his spine! Once they gave him injections along his neck it was much better!

That makes a lot of sense; having a correct diagnosis is always the best starting spot.

 

[susanm9006]

They help a lot for some, not at all for others. I guess you have to have one to see. my husband had several for shoulder pain, didn't help, and then they found out it was pain that originated in his spine! Once they gave him injections along his neck it was much better!

Yes. After months of physical therapy, which made my shoulder worse, and cortisone, that did nothing, I finally got an MRI where the doctor saw sort of boney overgrowth that was tweaking my rotator cuff when I moved my arm. surgery was schedule shortly thereafter and have had a pain free shoulder ever since,

 

[Meowmee]

I'm going to have a cortisone shot for my bulging disk and lumbar stenosis. Have any of our members had this procedure? I'd like to hear about your experience, what it's like, the recovery, how much pain relief it gave you, etc.
Any information or tips would be appreciated.

I had that once for a frozen shoulder, but not for a bulging disc. It had a dramatic effect and they did it while looking at the area with an ultrasound. Right after, within two minutes, I could lift my arm again. However, I still had pain and I needed to have three months of physical therapy for it to heal.

I also had a lot of trigger point injections in my neck and face after my first car accident. Those helped because at the time I had not just neck injuries but a jaw injury. I could barely open my mouth. I think I did it for too long and the doctor did not tell me that it was a steroid. I thought it was only the painkiller. I think that might’ve had a bad effect on me long-term.
The first time I had a trigger point injection in my neck the doctor didn’t do it the right way and I felt like I was gonna pass out and started gagging, and I had to lay in the office for 45 minutes. I never did it again until I found a specialist. I was nervous again. The doctor did not aspirate the needle and injected it into my carotid artery, and it went into my brain. He said it’s not serious you wouldn’t die, but you’re gonna feel sick for a while and have the symptoms I had.

Lately for my disc pain in my mid back, which are close to the lungs they told me it’s too dangerous to do because they can pierce your lungs.