I am a 43 Male diabetic with neuropathy for 6 years all over my body and I was thinking of getting the cortisone shots. Does anybody know if they help with just the feet and legs with the possibilty of relief in the hands and arms or just the feet and arms or not at all. I am told it helps with fibro so should it work for neuropathy. Please let me know, thank you.

Cortizone is an anti inflamatory drug. Mostly it is used for joints, to ease the pain. I don't see where it would help with PN, since that is "all over"
Being on Cortizone in high doses is also difficult, as it has a a lot of side effects. I would be interested to hear what others say, as I have not heard about using this drug for PN. I have PN and my Doctor has never said anything about that med. Why would a shot work better that the pills? would be something else I would inquire about. You may want to post to MrsD, who has extensive knowledge about PN and treatments used. There may be more that you can do besides that. Maybe research a bit. Hope you find some help for the PN that works for you. Personally, if I can get away without ever using that drug I would. ginnie

"Cortisone" treatments raise blood sugar. For a diabetic this is not good.

Steroids only work on autoimmune issues and inflammation.
They do not work for DNA damage, or mitochondrial dysfunctions.

Steroids suppress the immune system, and also make you more prone to infections by fungi, bacteria, and viruses.

So research this further, and think about it longer.

dear mrs.d, what about what they call ankle blocks for neuropathy, i think that is cortisone shots and something else

If you don't show arthritis in the ankle in x-rays
or inflammation steroids are not likely
to work. Tendinitis may respond however.

The word "block " typically means a nerve
Block using lidocaine . Ask the doctor
to explain more fully and have him give
you reasons, etc.

Thanks and I can't believe I spelled that drug wrong twice! I knew you would know about that Cortisone medication. I took a lot of it for my auto immune issue during a trial study. Hated that med. for sure! ginnie

Interesting

What about a Baxter's Nerve Entrapment in the heels? Would it help with that?

I have had two injections of a steroid into my left foot over the years.

1)...this first one was into the ball of my foot which was swollen, and Xrays showed a broken sesamoid bone (which is still there BTW)... the steroid worked for the tendon inflammation caused by the broken sesamoid bone moving around. I then rather guarded my foot, and it did not recur...the terrible pain that is.

2) I had a spider bite on that ankle many years later, and after it resolved from the medications a doctor on vacation gave me (antibiotics, Atarax, prednisone), the ankle still hurt. So I went to a different podiatrist and he injected the ankle with a steroid...this DID NOT work and has created pain and some swelling that comes and goes in that ankle where he did the shot.
I am not sure if this is connected, but it seems so. I won't be eager for any future shots should they be offered. My Xrays in July showed lots of spurring on the ankle bones. Right now the ankle is not swelling so much and is mostly quiet. So I am enjoying the lull.

I also find Salonpas patches OTC original formula, do afford some anti-inflammatory relief and I use them pretty frequently on my instep and ankle, when I feel pain in that foot at night. I had the left big toenail removed after a minor accident with that foot in July (stubbed it), and for some reason removing the toenail quieted the swelling I was having in that ankle for YEARS. I wonder if there was a minor fungal infection under that nail? The ankle has been in good shape since the nail was removed. This new development is puzzling for sure!

That sounds pretty painful still after all these years.

I had a cortisone injection in the side of my right heel 10 days ago. I have burning around the bottom outside of both heels. I also have numb, not totally toes. During the hot summer days my calves get ice cold feeling but to touch them they are plenty warm. I have been told small fiber neuropathy but told my heels were not neuropathy and sent to a Podiatrist. He diagnosed me with about 6 different causes. I did stretching/icing 3x a day for 6 weeks with no help. I finally went to a Sports Medicine Dr. who through ultra sound did the injection. He said it as the Baxter nerve entrapment. I'm not sure if that's Neuropathy or not. Seems strange I'd have that in both feet. Anyway, I have not received much improvement and I should've by now. I will talk with him next week to see what if anything he can do next.

BTW the back of my heels burn more and more as the day goes on. Walking doesn't seem to make it worse unless I'm barefoot. Driving is almost impossible as my heel rests on the floor. By evening, even with my feet up on a foot stool they burn terribly. Plantar Fasciitis, Achilles heel, heel spurs etc. have all been ruled out now.

You could explore Lidoderm patches, or one of the compounded mixtures for pain and inflammation that the RSD and some PN people use. These compounded transdermal creams, can had lidocaine added to them, with other ingredients.

You can also try the magnesium lotion. Morton's, and rub it in.
This improves the circulation and also magnesium blocks the NMDA pain receptors to some extent. You can buy Morton's Epsom lotion inexpensively at WalMart. I find it very helpful for my foot when it swells, and/or hurts. It is really quite remarkable and still fairly new.