Steroid injections in knees

Several weeks on from the injection and I’m still not sure if it has helped. Because you don’t remember pain once it’s gone. What has happened is that my good knee has starting hurting more than my bad knee. I think it takes longer for my bad knee to get sore when I’ve been on my feet for a certain amount of time so I notice what used to be a mild pain in my good knee more. I’ve always said if I put my twenty year old body straight into my body now I wouldn’t think that I could live with it because you get used to the pain to a certain extent. I assume that, if the injection has helped I’ll soon realise it had when the effect wears off ?

Cardamom

Whaaaat? The wrong knee MollyGo? FFS he had a 50/50 chance of getting it in just one knee and screwed it up? Beggars belief.

It was a she. I did object, but you can’t make too much of a fuss or you end up being labelled argumentative, abusive and then you have to find a new doctor.

I read that the injection needs to be directed to the right part of the knee but my injection was in the knee opposite to where the pain is. The consultant told me to get it done at my doctors. I sometimes wish I could sit down and talk with someone that can tell me exactly what is happening inside my knee. The consultant I saw was very good but I wish I could go back and ask his questions I didn’t think about at the time. Can’t help but feel that I would be treated differently if I was paying privately.

Whaaaat? The wrong knee MollyGo? FFS he had a 50/50 chance of getting it in just one knee and screwed it up? Beggars belief.

Cardamom

I know that every NHS Trust is different but the consultant at my hospital said that, if I decided to proceed with the steroid injections to my knee, it couldn't be done at my GP practice; it had to be done by him because he has the x rays and MRI scans and is able to see precisely where the injections should be made. I wonder if that might be something worth pursuing MayBee70?

The most effective one I had was carried out as you describe Cardamom.
The consultant told me to come back to him if I had any further problems.
He had no idea how difficult that would be.
I posted earlier about the doctor who put it in the wrong knee, assuring me that the cortisone would get to where it was needed.

I know that every NHS Trust is different but the consultant at my hospital said that, if I decided to proceed with the steroid injections to my knee, it couldn't be done at my GP practice; it had to be done by him because he has the x rays and MRI scans and is able to see precisely where the injections should be made. I wonder if that might be something worth pursuing MayBee70?

My surgery can’t even get people’s prescriptions ready on time so I don’t have much faith in them orchestrating something as complicated as that. I’ll give it a go though….

MayBe70 I remember thinking the same thing. I think it’s to do with the Data Protection Act. But well worth obtaining a copy. Good Luck.
I actually went abroad to have my knee replaced and it was the best decision I have ever made.

Thanks. I was surprised that my GP didn’t have a picture of the x ray just had the written report which made no sense to me or my physio.

MayBe70 You can request a copy of your X-ray. There is a form you complete and I obtained mine from my GP surgery initially and then it was forwarded to the hospital.

The consultant showed me the x rays and I’m annoyed with myself for not asking if I could photograph them to show my physio.

Just an x ray. And the x ray on my bad knee read exactly the same as the x ray on my good knee.

Have you had an MRI scan MayBee70? The x rays I had only confirmed that there was no bone on bone friction so that ruled out any need for a TKR but my consultant decided that an MRI would show more of what was going on inside the knee. Could you possibly ask for that?

I still don’t really understand exactly what’s going on inside my knee as the x ray results make no sense to me and I don’t think my doctor (well the one that I saw as I never see the same doctor twice these days) understands them either.

Nor me MayBee70 and I did ask my consultant for the reason. He muttered something about patients with osteoarthritis no longer being suitable candidates for arthroscopies because they don't think it's any more beneficial than physiotherapy. Having had both, I'd strongly disagree but, as I don't have enough money to go privately, I'll just have to suck it up.

I don't understand why I can't have an arthroscopy given that the pain is only in one part of my knee and I'm sure it was partly due to my dog running into my leg.

How do they replace cartilage

Yes I'd be interested to know that too. I've had 3 arthroscopies but they've flatly refused to do another even though, for me, they gave me total pain relief for 7 or 8 years between each op. If they can now replace cartilage, I'd ask for that as an alternative.

How do they replace cartilage?

Nearly three weeks after the injection and I think my knee might be feeling a bit better. Then again the weather has warmed up and that always helps. Going to do some gardening tomorrow so it will be interesting to see if it hurts after I've been on my feet for a while.

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.