Cortizone Shots

[Rascal]

I was suffering from bad tennis elbow and decided to go to the doctor and get some heavy duty anti-inflammatories. He said I needed to have a cortizone shot and that would heal everything and I could go back to playing tennis an hour after. Well, for about 20 minutes after the shot, I was in heaven. Kept saying to myself over and over again, "Wow! Why didn't I do this sooner. This is great!" Now I have this terribly sharp pain that seems to be spreading down my arm, and the arm has less mobility and more pain than it did before. Is this normal? Is this just residual pain from having a needle jabbed into my elbow?

[dutch]

Rascal,

I only can give you my personal experience.

7 years ago I suffered from a so called "frozen shoulder"

One day it was more painful than the other.However one day I could not bare the pain anymore and I went to the doctor.

Only quick solution (with NO quarantee) was a cortesone shot in my shoulder.Injection must be done by orthopedic specialist and not by normal house docter(rule in Holland).

Within 2(two) days my pain was gone,I could move my arm again and the pain never returned till now.

One of my neighbours suffered from frozen shoulder left and rightside.One cured ,the other one not.

Cortisone injections will be given maximal 2 or 3 shots as they (can) distroy the tendon tissue.

This is all I can tell you

Be careful and good luck.

[rod_kalashnikov]

 

[paulfr]

I do not know if such additional pain occurs sometimes and

is normal, but I would get another doctor's opinion.

As for tennis elbow, I have a long history of experience

with it. It is not something to fool around with as a bad

case can take a full year to heal and sometimes never

goes away.

But I did successfully beat it.

The key was loosening my string tension to 45-48 pounds.

I hated this at first because the ball comes off the racquet

much slower and it takes time to learn to adjust your timing.

But the tennis elbow never reappeared, even if I play for

4 hours straight.

Also .... Do NOT use a widebody (stiff) racquet. It transfers all

the energy to your arm. You want a flexible frame

like the Wilson Hyper ProStaff 6.1 or the Classic

ProStaff 6.0. There are several others at

www.racquetresearch.com

Hope this helps

[megashox]

I have some indirect experience with Cortisone shots taken by a close family member and I would like to share some information with you.

Cortisone is actually a type of steroid produced naturally in your body by the adrenal gland and is released into the system when you are under (physical) stress. It gives short term relief, thus avoiding serious effect on your body from the physical exertion.

Injectible Cortisone is a synthetic clone derivative of the natural product and it is capable of only relieving inflammation - thus reducing pain caused by internal or external inflammatioin of joints / muscles. That is to say, it only treats the symptoms. It has few short-term side effects like infection (due to improper injection in the joints) and drying up of surrounding skin. The most feared (and not a impossible result) long term effect is weakening of tendons and cartiliges. Although this is caused only by chronic exposure, the result could even be crippling in severe cases.

As RK cautioned, Cortisone is a steroid and synthetic shots must be taken only under extreme and otherwise untreatable ailments. Even then it must always be administered by a qualified orthopaedic specialist.

Take care,

MS

[Rascal]

Gentlemen, thanks for all your responses. I have this feeling that the doctor may have been a bit hasty and needle happy in recommending the shot, not to mention the fact that I was quite eager to get it because his exact words were, "With one shot, everything will be fixed and you can go back to playing tennis one hour later". Ha! Should know better by now than to believe someone who says stuff like that. Thanks again.

[KevinN]

Rascal,

I only can give you my personal experience.

7 years ago I suffered from a so called "frozen shoulder"

One day it was more painful than the other.However one day I could not bare the pain anymore and I went to the doctor.

Only quick solution (with NO quarantee) was a cortesone shot in my shoulder.Injection must be done by orthopedic specialist and not by normal house docter(rule in Holland).

Within 2(two) days my pain was gone,I could move my arm again and the pain never returned till now.

One of my neighbours suffered from frozen shoulder left and rightside.One cured ,the other one not.

Cortisone injections will be given maximal 2 or 3 shots as they (can) distroy the tendon tissue.

This is all I can tell you

Be careful and good luck.

I have now frozen shoulder,and has been on going for almost a year, My ortho doc reccomends again cortazone shots and says with therapy it will get better but is not a short term deal and can take up to 48 months to heal.

goggle for "frozen shoulder" and read what it says by world experts,then make a decision.

[dutch]

KevinN,

I can see your docter's point of view.

My pain period lasted for about 3 years(ups and downs).

One morning I absolutely could not move my arm anymore.I will not even mention the pain!

At that moment I was sent to specialist (the next morning)by my house docter and I got the said cortesone shot.

Unfortunately I lso had to share the experience of my neighbour (2 frozen shoulders ((not at the same time)).)

After my good luck experience I hated the time I spent with all kind of therapy and (sometimes) pain killers.

Hope you will belong to the good luck group!

[KevinN]

DUTCH; I had a cortizone shot in the same shoulder 40 years ago,and with the pain and aftereffects,I swore,never again, but now I am getting on daily and still have some restricted movement with pain it extreme range movements,but it is better each day.

[rod_kalashnikov]

 

[Rascal]

Wow! They had cortizone 40 years ago??????? That's a looonnnnggg time ago .... Just kidding, Kevin N.

Feeling a bit better today, but not much. I've found that worse pain after a cortizone shot is NOT normal. Went back to the doc today and he admitted that he 'may have' hit a nerve. Duh! In more ways than one, I say! Thanks for all the input, guys.

[Pepe']

Wow! They had cortizone 40 years ago??????? That's a looonnnnggg time ago .... Just kidding, Kevin N.

Feeling a bit better today, but not much. I've found that worse pain after a cortizone shot is NOT normal. Went back to the doc today and he admitted that he 'may have' hit a nerve. Duh! In more ways than one, I say! Thanks for all the input, guys.

First bad advice was that you could go back to playing in an hour. You need to rest it. I think steriods benefit patients with conservative administration.

Yes you have an injection site neuropathy. He hit "something" nerve, periostium

of the bone or something else.

You don't need injections by a specialist. Just a good doctor that remembers basic antomy and can give a sht carefully.

Rest and epsom salt soak 30 minutes 2 times per day and call me in the morning.

If your stomach can handle it some short tern NSAID therapy would be good

ibuprofin or tylenol...

[Rascal]

Thank you, Dr. Pepe. Appreciate your time and advice.