Cortisone injection advice :

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hi All :

Advice please from those who have had Cortisone injections in the lower facet joint for Osteoarthritis' I have in my L4/5 and L5/S1 Bilateral facet degenerative disease '

MRI SCAN 

Both Dr's have suggest I have the injection, but I have read it works for some and not others, can last a few weeks or days or not at all ? 

And if I am taking 13mg of Preds, what is the difference?

So over the constant chronic pain. Thanks Dea

Comment

 

2

The injection is local and delivers a higher dose just to that bit which is why it works better than the oral pred. I haven't had steroid injections for OA but have had them for other things. They worked for me - but it is important where they inject and sometimes they don't get quite the right place. You can't know without trying.

Have they offered anything else?

3

I have lower back problems everything from bulging discs to arthritis in my facet joints and my SI joints. I've had numerous epidural injections and trigger point injections. On one occasion I had some injections done on my facet joints. I had absolutely no relief from that injection. But that doesn't mean you won't. Obviously it helps some people or they wouldn't keep doing it. As the other commenter mentioned sometimes they don't get the right spot or sometimes it just doesn't help you. It is a gamble but I think it's a gamble worth taking.

4

I have had other things like physio, dry needling , nothing lasts.

I know I would have to have this done by a radiologist and they use ultra sound to guide the needle to exact right place. It is a little scary...

One lady told me she has had it in the exact same place as me, 1st one lasted a year, then she had another this Feb and its still going.

Others have said it lasted just a few weeks etc.

I am seeing a specialist next week and will see what he says...

Thanks Eileen :  Cheers Dea 

5

Many thanks, you know what pain I am talking about....  Sorry it didn't work for you. Fingers crossed for me  

6

I think the injections are definitely worth a try. I have had them in my knees for osteoarthritis several times over the years. When I hurt my back about 5 years ago and had a bulging disc I decided to have them done after suffering about 8 months and they helped me tremendously. Last time my back started hurting I returned to the same orthopedic Dr. No bulging disc, but some narrowing of the spine so I elected to have an injection again. Only felt better for about a week. Little did I know at the time that it was the beginning of my PMR journey!  I still have a few times a year in my hips for bursitis which often accompanies PMR. They do improve my bursitis pain so I get one when I feel the need. It is true cortisone injections don't work well for everyone but I have benefited from them in various ways so always feel it's worth rolling the dice. Could be you are one like me that gets relief from them. I certainly hope that's the case 😊

7

My niece has had them, and she has found great relief from them, lasting quite a while...but not from facet joint injections as another post on here has said..

​Good luck.....