Steroid injections in knees

I can't praise the injection enough I had them in my foot knee and hand. Two weeks ago another in my right thumb. Go for it without hesitation is my advice.

Thanks for the feedback, it's given me some food for thought. Next question: how painful is the injection? I've heard stories of the needle being very big and very, very painful.

Our neighbour has them and they make a huge difference but he says they only last for about 17 days, it probably varies from person to person though.

17 days?

My GP did it and it was painless. I also thought that it would be sore for a few days but it wasn’t. It hasn’t helped, though, I’m afraid. When I first had problems with the knee an osteopath really helped me but I saw him last year and it didn’t help at all this time. I do use a tens machine quite a lot. And use walking poles so I can take the pressure off my knee when I walk. My next plan is to start going to the gym again to build up the muscle although I do exercises given to me by my physio every day.

Painless

Yes, I use a tens machine too MayBee70 and whilst that does help with the pain on a daily basis, I was hoping to find something more long term. I have buprenorphine patches too but even they're not always enough. Think I'll have to give the cortisone injections a try.

I put off having the injection for ages. I had one booked last year but was going away on holiday and didn’t want any problems with it so cancelled. When I tried to book another appointment there was a long waiting list. I find that I can hardly walk when I’ve been in the car for several hours but the other week put the tens machine on my knee and was able to walk straight away. I alternate between tens and massage. I tried taking codeine but that didn’t help. I’m running out of options.

I’m running out of options

Precisely that MayBee70

I’ve had three cortisone injections in my knee, the maximum allowed I believe. The third one was 6 years ago and has been very successful. Now I just get occasional twinges whereas before, the pain was crippling.

MayBee70

Well, I did the walk that I used to do every night and I can’t say the steroid injection has helped at all. I walk painfully slow these days and the knee feels sore when I walk outside of the house ( it doesn’t hurt usually when I walk inside the house and this is what I don’t understand; I’ve asked an osteopath and a physiotherapist why that is but they can’t tell me; it makes me question my sanity).

Could it be what you wear on your feet inside and also that you are probably walking on a softer surface i.e. carpet?
I find that good supportive shoes make such a difference when walking outside.

No. I wear Nike trainers with soft insoles outside which are probably better than the Crocs I wear inside. What I have tried to do for a few days is walk more slowly when outside ie mimicking the pace I walk at inside the house as I realised I tried to stride out more when I go outside. That has helped but it’s really strange walking so slowly and it takes me forever to get anywhere. I can still stride out more on damp compressed sand when the tide is out. I’ve tried leg braces and patella straps but they put pressure on the inside of my knee where the pain is. I’ve just remembered that my daughter has bought a walking machine so I might try it out before I risk using it at the gym.

Yes I have had them.
The hospital ones worked best. Lasted over a year.

I've had Steroid injections into my hips and both thumbs - it can make it worse before it gets better and eventually they stop working if repeated a lot (had at least 7 in each thumb) - Had a hip replacement in January and now awaiting replacing of a thumb joint on my left hand as injection is only giving a week or 2 of pain relief - good luck hope it works for you

Sadly the injections do not always work . The last knee one I had lasted 3 weeks only! Not the same for everyone.
I have now had 2 arthroscopies on the same knee, one in 2022 which seemed to go well and the second one last year made little difference but showed how badly the knee was deteriorating.
I have found it impossible to get help on the NHS (even NHS physio here is a ludicrous 6 month wait)and in less than 2 weeks am having a private total knee replacement as I am pain every day with painkillers, and can do less and less.
There is an alternative injection to steroids only available currently privately but I was already too far gone.
The surgeon said pain was the decider even though there was still a small gap between the bones.
Warning : the private operation is very expensive . But I was told I would be lucky to even see an NHS consultant this year and by next year I don't think I would be able to walk.
Good luck xx

I been having them for years used to work but only last short time not much 😒 hope fir replacement as now got heart problems. I think should have done it fir me years ago but kept saying try physio joke that started off heart ❤️ problems. Do feel let down as can hardly walk and pain awful 😖

I had steroid injections in my knees about eight months ago. Unfortunately, they did not make any difference. I now have yet another appointment to see the consultant this month.

I had steroid injections in both my knees, administered by my GP. They gave me relief for months but then the relief time became shorter. Injection in left knee then three months later injection in right knee. The relief gradually reduced and I had a total knee replacement surgery

Yes - in my hands. Was a painful injection but helped my frozen hand. Doesn’t last forever in most people and you can only have so many of them before surgery is advised.

yes I had lots of them while waiting for my knee replacements in both knees. I found they worked immediately, just sort of numbed the pain but only lasted 3-4 wks for me. I could not see the point so I said it is ok just masking the pain but let's get these fixed instead. I was bone on bone in both knees with osteoarthritis. Now since both knees replaced no pain at all in both knees, felt I just wasted time with the injections, but as you do not need surgery I hope they give you some relief.

There seems to be lots of positive reports on steroid injections here.

That has cheered me up as a recent scan of a toe I broke 8 years ago has shown something called Morton's neuroma. It seems to mean a "knot" in the nerve in that toe.

The surgeon said a steroid injection would be the first port of call and if that fails he will take the nerves in that toe out altogether.

I do hope you get sorted out and live pain free.

Maybee70- please dont question your sanety,it was same for me- however i'm surprised the 'medicals' with all their 'wisdom' havent worked it out- the difference i think is the shock absorbing- inside the floors arent as hard as outside on pavements are they? & certainly if indoors is mostly or all carpeted- or soft vinyl- So what i got was a couple of shock absorbing rubber stick tips, from the company that sells sticks,crutches etc called 'Cool Crutches' about £12-13 for i think a pack of two.I have noticed the difference immeasurably.(i think they also fit on ends of crutches but if not it will say and show the crutches size?) I really noticed a difference when i used an old 'spare' walking stick that we keep in car boot when i forgot my newer one- i had such awful backache & worsened knee pain for days.!

Cardomom- i had the knee injections at first every 6 mths,then every 3 months, in end it was decided that the risks (as i'm also on warfarin) outweighed the benefits as it was lasting less & less for me.But you might be better on it, so do at least try.

I had been waiting for a double knee replacement, which sadly was 'taken off the table' as an option due to other major health problems as a risk.Now i just put up with pain as i am allergic to morphine and codamol and can really only take paracetamol on the warfarin.😐🫤

Cardamom

Thanks for the feedback, it's given me some food for thought. Next question: how painful is the injection? I've heard stories of the needle being very big and very, very painful.

They combine it with a numbing agent.
Make sure you rest the area for 48 hrs where it’s going to keep the steroid around that area.