I have fibro and had an mri of my l spine and right hip because of right thigh pain and my rheumy came up with the conclusion that I have referred pain from slightly herniated and compressed disks....he said steroid injections would help. Well the first round of pain went away but now its back, esp at night when I sit or drive or lie down to sleep. Nothing really helps the pain. I have ultracet and have even tried a vicodin, my migraine rescue med, it does not really do much. I was just wondering if anyone had these shots and how long do they last, the pain relief, etc.....he said it was arthritis. I am going to see him next week.

Hello - Greetings from Alaska....

Where is your doctor going to give you the shot? At the lower back or at your hip?

I have had cortisone shots in my lower back, left hip (SI joint) and in my shoulder.

From my experience - when I was getting the combo shot (cortisone and longer lasting steriod and lindocaine) at my lower back - the lindocaine worked for the immediate and for about 3 hours afterwards. I was told that it will take a week or so for the cortisone to start working in that area (needs to be absorbed) but I did not notice any marked improvement with my pain. (L5-L3 herniation, L-5 osteophytes, L-5/S1 stenosis, Neural foramal stenosis).

Now I have had them injected into the hip and that did offer some relief and after about a week - I noticed improvement in my walking for about 3 months. Improvement but no total pain relief.

I noticed that the longer I had the shots - over 2 years in my shoulder the shots would lose their effectiveness....before I had my shoulder surgery I was barely getting one month of relief from the shots. They could only be given in 3 month intervals.

Let me know whether this helped or not.

Take care
Kim

Hi from Maryland!

I am not sure where the injection would be done...he said he would refer me out to someone else who does it...I have made an appt. and will see how it goes....of course as soon as I made the appt. the pain eases up! Thats what happened after I spooned out 25$ for a PT session....I didn't even have pain when I went. So who knows. I am frustrated but your reply was very helpful to me. He said something about pinched nerves and it would come and go....maybe I'll just see if he can offer something for pain relief until it gets really bad like the first time.

What you are dealing with is normal. A bit of anxiety or worry about pains or proceedures clear up when I make appointments - our minds way of saying okay now you are going to deal with this......and we relax.

If I were you I would still talk to the doctor about the pain, how it affected you and get the referral - if he is sure it would help you.

Use the referral if and when the pain flares again.

There are numerous strategies I utilize for pain relief. I will bring up the principals of PRICE again, because following the steps really do help me in a flare. P=prevention (Stop whatever I am doing - causing the pain - if it is walking then rest, if it is sitting - change position, if it is resting then move) R=rest - do not overdo anything, take life slow. I= Ice packs (I use the big blue plastic ones that are used in ice chests - icing is good for nerve pain as well as inflammation....C=Compression=wrap the area - if it is your arm a ace bandage is good, I have this belt I put around my lower back - keeps it stable. E=Elevate - just raise the body part that is hurting - problematic at the back but just raising my legs so they are above my body helps. Sometimes I lay on the floor and rest my legs on my couch.

If your doctor gives you something for pain relief, those help some people, me I stay with small doses. I like going natural - as much as possible.

Massage, isometric exercises, tens unit and plenty of water (keep well hydrated) are all good and help with the extreme pain. So do hot baths.

All the best to you....

Kim

Those were some very good ideas. I usually get the pain worst when I sit, I did notice one night I sort of jammed my leg straight and tight up against the wall while at computer and it seemed better....now its hardly hurting.....go figure...I am trying for disability right now due to a host of problems so I guess I will keep the appt....to add more to my miserable medical file. Sometimes I feel like I am almost normal....but I know I can't work right now.Thanks again for the good ideas...I appreciate your time!

I have thigh pain but it is on the outside of my thigh and hurts to walk. Also have lumbar issues, scaroliac is bugging me real bad again. do you have pain when you walk on the outside of your thighs? Am I the only one in the world that has this strange problem? Froggie

I have had the injections and they didnt help me, but I have 3 lumbar disks that are gone and getting ready for fusion

I had pain in back of hip that added thigh, knee and front of shin area to it. I tried inj. in back that helped with leg pain but not hip. Pain was worst when sitting or laying down. Am about to try physcial therapy and spinal decompression. Has anyone tried that yet? I have bad spots in L4 and sacral area.

Inversion chair is awesome. Accupunture and deep tissue trigger message. Had both epideral and facet injection and use a pain creme. All really good therapies, just now going into aquatic exercise.

Both my Mom and I have Fibromyalgia. We found we were both have agony sleeping on our sides because of extreme pain in our hips. Turns out we both have bursitis in both our hips, an inflammation of the bursa, it is a type of arthritis, which she also has in her hands now. I get trigger point injections of a long term acting anesthesia and I think a steroid I'm not even sure, and it lasts for about 3 months. Covered by CDPHP and MVP usually. We think the arthritis my be creeping into her back but I'm stalking her about going to her appointments. she's 62 and I"m 34. Physical therapy Mom did for a year with no success. I did accupuncture and chiropractor with no success. I recommmend massage and a good orthopedic surgeon. Take it easy and take vitamins, I can recommend a few. Use heat and ice as whatever works for you and try tiger balm. It goes on warm and it feels awesome. And go soak in a hot tub at the Y. I just had thoracic fusion and 2 rods and 2 screws and I refuse to ever do a chiropractor ever again. No PT, they even said so, the surgeon, and my rheumatologist, said the same thing. If anyone has fibro, SAvella, the new drug comes out on the shelves in March. I already have my appointment. HOpe this helps. Crystal