Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Cortisone Injection Side Effects

Hi there,

Has anyone had any problems/side effects after having cortisone injections? I am wondering if this may be beneficial for my husband. Since starting No Starch Diet most of his problems have gone except one knee, both ankles and both heels. The heels are the worst thing. If it wasn't for this he would be able to walk (and work) pretty much normally. Has anyone had this done in their heels before and with what results?

Thanks
Chelsea

Hi Chelsea,

I'm wondering where he's having heel pain ? I've had cortisone injections in my heel for plantar fasciitis but not for achilles tendon problems. With the injections that I had, they hurt for a few hours afterward. They brought almost immediate relief with the effects lasting for several months. Think I had that done twice.

Sorry to hear Jon's still having problems even tho' he's on the nsd. Talk to you again soon,
Cat xo

Hi there Cat, how U doin?

It's the plantar fasciitis that's giving him the worst trouble altho he does get it a bit in the Achilles as well. So maybe the shots will help him then. We are not due to see the Rhuemy till beginning of October tho. I might see if we can shift that forward - too long to wait!

Thanks for the chit chat the other night, too. How are you feeling this week - how goes the Mtx treatment? Still feel toxic?
Chelsea xx

OH YEAH... But I don't know of anyone else who has had the reaction I get. First, and minor, because I don't react to local anesthetics (it's a weird Ehlers-Danlos syndrome thing, not AS) it's extremely painful. Within 2 or 3 hours my "shot" joints start to swell and hurt like *extremely bad words*. When I had my knees done I went back to school and couldn't stand up my the end of the day, much less walk home. That lasts a week or so before it (very) gradually starts resolving, and by then the bruising has set in. Massive bruising, lots of pretty colors... it lasts months. It was about 4 months before the bruises on my knees faded. After all that, if the cortisone helped I really wouldn't have known it. I've had them in my jaw, hand, and knees, never heels. But, like I said, I haven't heard of this happening to anyone else.
'Erie (-:

Hi,

Not had them in my feet, but hydroC in the knees and wrists, never did much good. I'm told this maybe the type of steroid used.

Well done of the diet, and good luck with getting hubby truly mobile again!

david

Hi Chelsea

I have had the hydroC in my hip but it did nothing for me at all. I have never had them in the Heels so I could not help you with that. I really hope you find what works for your Hubby.

John

Hmmmm, well I guess I'll have to do my research on which type of steroid works best.

Thanks David

Hi Erie - youch! That sounds terrible. I have heard that for some people the cortisone chrystalizes where it is injected and that can be quite painful for a couple of days. But what you had sounds awful.

Chelsea

Hi,

I would and chat to the Dr doing it before hand.

The importatnt hing is you do keep off the affected area for a while and keep the steroid in it's location so that it works. I've just read some stuff on this and it's contrary to what I've been told. Next back at work!

Good Luck, I hope it works!

David

Chelsea,

I've had problems with my feet for years, but were more or less solved with a good pair of orthotics/insoles. Unfortunately it came back with a vengeance five months ago, also in my arches and achilles, which finally led to me being diagnosed with probable SpA. Like you're husband I'm pretty much immobile at the moment... I think we've corresponded before about this.

The website www.heelspurs.com is a mindfield of information about plantar faciitis and heel spurs. Basically there's no one cure all remedy. Most people who suffer from PF/heel pain have it due to bio-mechanical reasons, this obviously isn't the same for SpA and AS sufferers. Exercises are often recommended to strenghten muscles, but in my experience they've made things worse and I've done more damage to the ligaments and tendons i.e. because the cause of my PF is not biomechanical. Night-splints (things that strap to your legs at night to maintain calf muscle flexibility) in my experience don't work with SpA sufferers for the same reasons. Steroids apparently help short term, but are inadvisable as the pain often returns a few months later, and overall they deplete the strength of the soft tissues - podiatrists advice no more than three injections ever in one foot. But I can't speak from experience on steroids and ultimately this is a personal choice, for some people it works well.

The most help I found were custom built insoles, which certainly helped me for about five years - they take a plaster cast mould of your foot and build insoles in it's shape - this can be expensive, but if it can make enable you to walk it's well worth the money. Other things I've found helpful include hot/cold compressions, massage with oil or NSAID cream, and magnets. Rest is recommended as the main "cure" for heel pain/PF, but of course this contradicts the AS motto to keep exercising - hence swimming is an advisable activity.

I have huge sympathy with your hubby as, however debilitating back-pain is, when you can't walk you really are house-bound! I'm about to start the NSD so will let you know how I get on. Please do let me know how things go with your husband, send him my best wishes.

Martin