Steroid injections in knees

My son had his "cleaned out" and then injections. They lasted about 5 years on his active lifestyle.

They are talking about cartilege replacement

They sound good but I have Dupuytrans in my hand and high cholesterol so not sure if it’s something I should take.

Cardamom

I've recently attended a hospital appointment regarding osteoarthritis in both knees. X rays and MRI scans show that there is no bone on bone friction and so knee replacement is unnecessary and an arthroscopy is apparently no longer an option. The only treatment offered to me was steroid injection into the knees. I've been advised that there's only a 50/50 chance that it would offer any relief and the duration of any pain relief is "subjective; every patient is different".

Has anyone had steroid injections into their knee and, if you have, did you get any significant pain relief from it and for how long?

Try a good hyaluronic acid capsule.

MT62

Bellanonna

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.

Think you are right. I have had ten in each knee, which I think has made my knees worse. I think to my understanding it degrades the tissues.
Really there should have been more communication between MSK clinic, knee specialist & my Gp who also added more injections.

It’s probably worth risking the long term effects if it means you can regain some mobility, exercise more and get fitter. My partners next door neighbour is a doctor and he isn’t keen on steroid injections long term. I have to be very strict with my diet to keep my weight down.

Had it in right knee - didn't work, but if it doesn't work, you are NO worse off, so take a chance. I do know people who it has worked for

Bellanonna

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.

Think you are right. I have had ten in each knee, which I think has made my knees worse. I think to my understanding it degrades the tissues.
Really there should have been more communication between MSK clinic, knee specialist & my Gp who also added more injections.

Koratlady3

Three years on and both knees totally replaced within 5 months of each other. Brilliant. Totally pain free. Go for it but follow ALL advice from Physio.

Yes I’ve found those that don’t do the exercises every day don’t seem to do as well.
My aunt was using the electric recliner to move her leg up & down (to bend it).
I asked at the knee school, nurse said that was Classed as exercise 😳 tbh, she hasn’t faired well & said she won’t be bothering with the replacement on the other knee.

MayBee70

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 was on co- codamol but found it was making me confused.
Now just take paracetamol. If the pain is bad I use a volterol suppository at night. Not good for the kidneys, so use sparingly.
Funny thing is I am on weight loss jabs & the pain hasn’t been too bad lately. Probably two stone weight loss has helped too.

Elrel

MT62
I had a knee replacement 7 years ago, afterwards the surgeon told me he had added a wedge to straighten my leg, it improved it a lot. Before the op I was wearing jeggings and said to him that I looked like a cartoon jockey!. Waiting to have second knee done now, will ask about wedge! It would be good to have 2 straight legs.

Where did they add the wedge? I shall enquire about that. Good to know 😊👍🏻

It's made absolutely no difference for my knee. Torn meniscus.

Three years on and both knees totally replaced within 5 months of each other. Brilliant. Totally pain free. Go for it but follow ALL advice from Physio.

I had bursitis some years back in both thighs got injections worked a treat

MT62
I had a knee replacement 7 years ago, afterwards the surgeon told me he had added a wedge to straighten my leg, it improved it a lot. Before the op I was wearing jeggings and said to him that I looked like a cartoon jockey!. Waiting to have second knee done now, will ask about wedge! It would be good to have 2 straight legs.

Not had them in knee but shoulder a few timed. Yes it's good and anaesthetic is in needle so it's fine. I would go ahead with it.

pamdixon

apologies if I am repeating myself - experiencing wi-fi probs and the internet keeps going down. But I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in one knee getting on for 2 years ago - had steroid jab which was v. successful. When it started to wear off (after about a year) I went back to my consultant who gave me a steroid jab and also a hyuralonic (sp?) jab - neither hurt. He says he gives all his elderly patients (I am nearly 80) the h jab now - it lubricates the knee and means they don't need an op (hopefully). He says that jabs once a year seem to do the trick for a lot of his patients. Hope it works for me..... Have recommended the h jab to all my friends in a similar situation.

I wondered about the other injection. There is also something called Arthrosamid but I’d have to pay to have it done privately ( not cheap) and I don’t know of anyone who has had it. My consultant had never heard of it. It sort of lubricates the joint but you can still have a TKR afterwards if necessary. It seems to me that everyone’s arthritis is different, which is what I’ve read as well. You can have a very arthritic knee but still be able to walk or something that doesn’t look bad on an x ray but stops you walking. Trouble is that’s what makes me think that I’m just a drama queen and I should ignore the pain when I walk given that it doesn’t hurt when I’m not walking.

apologies if I am repeating myself - experiencing wi-fi probs and the internet keeps going down. But I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in one knee getting on for 2 years ago - had steroid jab which was v. successful. When it started to wear off (after about a year) I went back to my consultant who gave me a steroid jab and also a hyuralonic (sp?) jab - neither hurt. He says he gives all his elderly patients (I am nearly 80) the h jab now - it lubricates the knee and means they don't need an op (hopefully). He says that jabs once a year seem to do the trick for a lot of his patients. Hope it works for me..... Have recommended the h jab to all my friends in a similar situation.

I’ve had injections in my knee and the first one lasted many years. Subsequent ones not quite so long but the pain has never been as bad as before the injection. I’ve now had a replacement knee

I had one in my painful right knee when I was much younger. My GP did it. He drew fluid off and the injected the same amount of steroid in. It was very uncomfortable the next day, but after that things were great and I was pain-free for at least 2 years! The osteoarthritis in both my knees is severe now, but I am fortunate in that they do not cause me too much pain. Very lucky.
I do hope that you get some relief.

I only ever needed one in my knee, but was advised to lose weight so have not needed another, however have had one in each thumb and would really like another as the discomfort is now after six months starting to return but have been advised to wait as long as I can bear as too many can becoming increasingly less effective.

@Mollygo I hadn’t heard of shockwave but I’m interested. The problem is that, if I Google it, will my FB page be flooded with adverts about it.
Despite all the anonymity on here, that’s what seems to happen.

It could happen after all it is the Internet.. As I had mentioned there are shockwave machines you could buy but I had been told by my soft tissue chiropractor (which is different from a regular chiropractor), it's not as effective as getting it from a doctor.

NotTheGC It actaully helps grow back some cartilage. I know it doesn't work for every problem because I have a friend who tried it and still had to get the knee replacement but it's worth a look.

Hi, I have had injections in both knees, injections helped but did not last more than 8-10 weeks for me. I am at bone on bone stage, a full replacement is required, due to other health issues I am not able to have operations.
Back to injections, give them ago, they are uncomfortable whilst being done, but no extreme pain good luck.

AnotherBirdLady

I had a steroid injection in my right knee in February this year. It made it worse for about a week then it went back to how it was before. I still have a very thin layer of cartilage, but I am no longer able to go for a proper walk outside, due to the pain from impact. I have made an effort to lose weight, and exercise in the gym to strengthen my legs, which is the only thing that has made any difference. I have now been referred to the hospital to discuss surgical options, and am waiting for my first appointment. The injection itself was a bit painful but this went quickly as the anaesthetic kicked in. Good luck with whatever you decide to do OP.

I can’t walk outside of the house. But I don’t have pain most of the time other than a stabbing pain in the side of my knee when I’ve been walking for a while. No pain at night etc.

I had a steroid injection in my left knee while waiting for a TLKR and it worked well for a few months and then I had the op! Definitely worth a go.

I had steroid injections in both my knees and they really helped. They wore off after six months (as expected). I rang, as I had been instructed, to make an appointment to be re-jabbed, and was told is have to wait 8 months. That was when I said s** it, and had my left knee replaced, and my right one two years later.