Steroid injections in knees

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'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

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

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.

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.

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.

I’m running out of options

Precisely that 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.

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.

Painless

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.

17 days?

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.

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.

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.

Maybee70 I think the steroid inject takes a day or two to work’

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).

I had a steroid injection on my right knee about 5 years ago - starting to wear out now I don’t think I’ll have another, not yet anyway

Yes.
The first worked really well in my knee and lasted about 3 years.
The second was put into the wrong knee (“the steroid will do its work wherever I put it”). I then had to wait a long time before they would put an injection into the proper knee, but that worked and is still working OK.

Maybe I should I put a sad emoji 😔
Must be quite swollen maybee70

MayBee70

My bad knee is an inch bigger than my good knee and there’s no shape to that leg ( mind you not much shape to my good leg either!).

🤣

My bad knee is an inch bigger than my good knee and there’s no shape to that leg ( mind you not much shape to my good leg either!).

I had one on my shoulder several years ago it worked and I'm having one i' my knee next week I'm hoping it is just as successful

Not really funny though is it? Bowing & knee pain 😩

Oh same as mine as slight bowing. Wondering if they can’t straighten it at the same time 🤣