Pain management

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Hello, has anyone received injections to the joints for pain management/ a type of steroid.

Did the medicine cause weigh gain?

Did this make a difference with pain level or help with fatigue?

I can no longer take asprin, ibuprofen nor Tylenol. Primary doctor referred me to pain management specialist.

2

Hi blue 16 

I had a depo medro injection in my shoulder about 1 month ago for pain and limited movement...relief was almost instant !

However I have felt so puffed up since in my face and what feels like fluid retention around upper arms, breasts and tummy area ! Yuk ! I have not put on a single actual ounce on the scale have actually lost !

At the same time RT prescribed predisinone 10mg by mouth I stopped after 3 days it did not agree with me & should be out of my system by now so most likely the steroid injection that has caused it ! If I had known I don't think I would of had it ! I feel miserable enough at the moment as it is !! 

Hope this feedback helps ! What a horrible journey we are all on ! Good luck ! 

Leah 

3

Hi Blue,

​I have had steroid injections into the joints which has relieved those specific joints and generalised IM injections for all round relief which don't help me at all. I love the relief I get from oral prednisolone, I feel I could jump over the rooftops! Maybe because I feel so good then I get an enormous appetite, so yes some weight gain unfortunately. Also, I am well aware of the significant side effects of steroids so not a long term solution. I'm currently on a reducing dose of prednisolone.  Hope this helps. As you can see with just 2 replies we are all different. A recurrent phrase on this forum! Good luck with getting some effective pain relief. It is rubbish isn't it? Carol x

4

Thank you Missleah I hope the same for you. I was on prednisone before and stopped as I gained too much weight.

5

Thank you Carol. It's like when medicine help the pain there's always a rubish side effect that can make things worse. Feel better soon.

6

I'm currently on Prednilsone. I agree steroids are bad to stay on, but after researching all the RA meds, Prednilsone seems to have less side effects. RA meds cause liver damage, hair loss, suppressed immune system. The Bioligics can cause heart failure, cancerous tumors and,sudden death. With this disease there are nor a lot of options for treatment that is safe. Its sad.

7

This is soo true.

8

"Between a rock and a hard place." More research  / funds needed. Look at the progress heart disease and cancer treatment has made. But they're much higher profile and affect many more people. RA is not up there and too often regarded as a disease of old people.  In the meantime we're stuck with a range of very toxic, hit and miss drugs. I suppose we (the 'Royal' we!) should stop moaning and do something. Blimey, where did all that come from!?

9

You can minimise weight gain/fluid retention when on corticosteroids by cutting carbs drastically and avoiding salt in your diet. I and a lot of people on my home forum polymyalgia rheumatica have either not gain or lost pred-associated weight by doing that. No calories to count, no complicated rules for what's not allowed. 

10

PS - should have said - we are all on pred long term. I have had injections like you describe as well as having been on pred for the last 8 years. My weight is the same as it was before that.

11

Hi Blue16, 

 I was diagnosed 12 yrs ago with RA. I've been on several meds in the past and I'm now on Humira.  I recently had terrible relapse and my dr gave me a cortisone (steroid) injection and yes it has been known to cause weight gain, and if taken often it can also cause moon face. I've noticed a lot of irritability, insomnia and night sweats. But, with all of that said, it has done wonders for my pain. I'm actually lifting weights again and it's only been 2 weeks since my injection.