The rheumatologist suggested yesterday that if my hands got too bad we could consider steroid injections into the joint areas. Ouch! Has anyone ever gone this route? My hands have to be my most tender spot. I can't imagine doing this. As I am on the only oral med, I can take-if my inflammatory markers go up, I think injections and/or IV treatment is next. I know those are life savers for alot of us. I'm just not sure I'm ready to go there yet. I wonder while undiagnosed what insurance will do if we do go there. Again, I appreciate any opinions. This was just a routine visit. Not an acute flare. And I put labs off until I recover from this cold. I gotta have some white cells left to fight--ha ha! Karla
I had a cortizone shot in the shoulder after an accident once. After experiencing that, there is no way I would let them do that in my hand. I don't know if its the same thing, but I would not be willing to find out. Ok, just reading your post took me back to that, and it was 20 years ago. They go right into the joint with the injection. I agree with you, my hands are very tender and I have a lot of wrist pain. It would have to hurt a lot more than the injection I remember before I would go there. Maybe it has changed since I had that, maybe I'm just a big baby but I'm kind of protective of what hurts now, and going thru more. I've had carpel tunnel surgery on both my hands and it wasn't so bad. But my left wrist didn't go back to 'normal', my new normal is a sharp pain when I lift something awkward or heavier than I should. Sometimes just picking up a coffee cup or a glass will do it.
You can always request an estimate from your insurance before you proceed with anything so there are no surprises.
Trisha
I have had several injections in my shoulder- absolutely no discomfort at all Just had an injection in my hip last week- again discomfort was pretty close to non-existent Haven't tried in my hands- have you tried anti-inflammatories? Also warm soaks can help or paraffin wax baths
Hopefully the cortizone is different from what you guys are discussing? And it was many years ago for me.
The steroids are pretty much the same as always--cortisone, kenalog, etc. I've had parafin dips since the beginning and it's very short relief for me. Granted as a nurse I do alot of work with my hands--patient care and documenting. I had an ortho offer to inject my ankle once and declined as it weakens tendons--I had tears in both Achilles tendons with surgery on one side. Any time I have someone try to draw blood or put an IV in my hands it hurts like hell. And I know alot of them use topical xylocaine for numbing--but still. Well, I think I would have to have alot of pain I think to be that desparate but I didn't discount it outright with the Dr. It's kind of a short term fix too. It's not curative and when the steroids dissipate I could be back to where we began. The needle size--bore/diameter is generally on the larger size too. Goofy nurse--I know too much and too little--dangerous!
Karla
I have been to the point where I could not pick up a cup of coffee or even brush my teeth or hair because of pain in my wrists and hands. I have had the injections and it worked real well for me. Yes it hurts, just like any other injection to a joint, but you have to outway the risks for the benefits. A little pain for a short time and then in a week or so you can use your hands again without pain. My hands and wrist pain comes and goes but it has never been that bad again. I was a paralegal and used my hands all the time. I have osteo arthritis in both of my wrists and hands.
Good lucky with your decision!
Deenie
Hello Karla,
I know this is'nt the same as having an injection but it hurt me...when i was administered into hospital years back a needle was put in my wrist and went fully down till it touched the bone and apparentley that was to test my arteries of the art but they needed the blood from by the bone and i've had shots in my right shoulder which was'nt pleasant for a bad trapped nerve.
You may not like the thought of it as a good many of us feel that way but if it's helping your body in the way you need it...will maybe worth having and grinning and baring with it also.
Best of luck mate and thinking of you dearly.
Hugs Terri xxx
Karla,
I do a lot of work with my hands as well. I get cuts from the cardboard that don't heal right away. If I have an IV, I always try to get them to do it in my arm and not my hand, its always hurt that bad for me. The last time the nurse drew blood, she was really gentle as I explained to her about the previous time. Another nurse had to draw quite a bit, and it started to hurt and she released the vacuum. It left quite a bruise. I never realized how dehydrated I used to get, and I know this adds to it as well.
One question I have - are these injections like a band-aid? Do they help heal, or just mask the pain?
Karla said:
The steroids are pretty much the same as always--cortisone, kenalog, etc. I've had parafin dips since the beginning and it's very short relief for me. Granted as a nurse I do alot of work with my hands--patient care and documenting. I had an ortho offer to inject my ankle once and declined as it weakens tendons--I had tears in both Achilles tendons with surgery on one side. Any time I have someone try to draw blood or put an IV in my hands it hurts like hell. And I know alot of them use topical xylocaine for numbing--but still. Well, I think I would have to have alot of pain I think to be that desparate but I didn't discount it outright with the Dr. It's kind of a short term fix too. It's not curative and when the steroids dissipate I could be back to where we began. The needle size--bore/diameter is generally on the larger size too. Goofy nurse--I know too much and too little--dangerous!
Trisha,
I'd say being a steriod shot..it most likely be masking the pain, like member's having prednisone shots and when they're off it the lot comes back.
There's no cure for the symptoms so everything we have only masks the pain, unless it's operations and issues like that to correct things.
Where I live (East Coast Australia) Corticosteroid Injections into the joint are given via Ultrasound Guidence. If correctly 'placed' it should not be a tremendously painful procedure. I had one into the (l) hip Bursea around 3 years ago & was one of the lucky ones whom it worked for. Only just starting to get deep aches in that area again now. Best Wishes & good Luck with whatever options you go for. Kaz
sunrisetrisha said:
I had a cortizone shot in the shoulder after an accident once. After experiencing that, there is no way I would let them do that in my hand. I don't know if its the same thing, but I would not be willing to find out. Ok, just reading your post took me back to that, and it was 20 years ago. They go right into the joint with the injection. I agree with you, my hands are very tender and I have a lot of wrist pain. It would have to hurt a lot more than the injection I remember before I would go there. Maybe it has changed since I had that, maybe I'm just a big baby but I'm kind of protective of what hurts now, and going thru more. I've had carpel tunnel surgery on both my hands and it wasn't so bad. But my left wrist didn't go back to 'normal', my new normal is a sharp pain when I lift something awkward or heavier than I should. Sometimes just picking up a coffee cup or a glass will do it.
You can always request an estimate from your insurance before you proceed with anything so there are no surprises.
Trisha
Ann, you GO Girl!
That is awesome my friend
Trisha
Hello Ann,
I'll say this about you...no one can never knock you in your 60s because your one of those ladies in life who never gives up and full admiration to you.
If your not studying, then it's swimming and now the treadmill and you've gone through a fare bit over the years to which i've read but that good determination which you carry...should show all members no matter what symptoms you have...just keep FIGHTING.
Terri :)
Thank you all of my brilliant, brave friends! I have had alot of testing and injections over the years and have always had alot of pain with needles. I think if I were desparate enough I would allow it. As my options dwindle orally, I probably will have to relax a little about needles. My hands are just so tender and they are stinking small to start with. Like the kind of small that bracelets fall off. So, a needle in the joint space... The worst I have had was a lung biopsy under video fluoroscopy, where they passed the needle thru my back as I lay on the table for the needle biopsy on my stomach. I was, of course, awake, in pain, began coughing up blood--out my mouth and nose(in my nasal canula). I couldn't breathe and it hurt like hell. They made 3 passes with the needle and the pressure was horrible. The pain and breathing issues lasted a long time. But as I've always been a hard stick, needles and I aren't best friends. When having labs as a youngster, I passed out and broke the needle off in my arm. That poor nurse flipped out for my mum and went out in the hall at the hospital yelling for a Dr. When I came to, they had me in a chair facing the blood bank fridge with glass doors and all those bags of blood. Genius! My family never thought I'd be a nurse as I hated blood and needles. I don't mind terribly if it's not mine. Bad girl. My son, asked me once if I enjoyed giving shots. I told him no but it's a necessary evil. I probably need an attitude adjustment--like usual. Karla
Ann,
It sounds like fun to me. Other than work, I usually only walk my old (10/70yrs.), fat dog. It's nice but hardly exercise. He definitely misses it when we don't. He got in trouble with Daddy the other day for tearing up his dog pillow. I told him he needed walked he was bored. Everybody was gone and he didn't get a walk. I should check out the Y for something like this. It's always nice and warm--80 degrees plus in the water. It's just a matter of doing it.
Oh bless you baby:)
I just think it's brilliant ladies in their 70s and 80s doing it and your right on that score it does add some years to our age, it's just so weird how it can alter you in 2yrs alone, as i've noticed a great deal with it.
That's nice though having a rehab hospital. xxx
Ann A. said:
Terri,
Most of the ladies in my water aerobics class are in their 70s. The ladies in the next class are in their 80s. They call me "the baby." I tell them lupus adds some years to our chrono age - but this is a pool at a physical rehab hospital. Everybody is dealing with something.
Ann,
That's lovely how you know them so well and after 20yrs that's lovely when your still doing it all together and i hope you all keep going for many years to come.
Terri :)
Ann A. said:
I have been taking water aerobics with some of these women for more than 20 years. So the ones that are currently in their 70s were only in their 50s when we first met and I was a young thing in my 40s.