to have Steroid jab or not?

[Geminigirl]

Hi all,

I have just been diagnosed with Bursitis and Bicipital Tendonitis in my right shoulder. It has been causing considerable pain and at last I have been offered a Steroid jab following a scan.

My GP is trying to work out whether I have Fibromyalgia, Polymalgia, or another inflammatory disease because of my constant body pain and tenderness all over, also dreadful fatigue. He had Previously hit on the Fibro label and as my foot was swollen and painful last week sent me for blood tests to check my Thyroxine is correct dose and also to check my ESR and for Gout!

The Gout test was neg thank goodness & the Thyroxine is correct but the ESR showed "a slight increase" in inflammation. I was told (nothing to worry about!!!)

The nurse has confused me because she stated if I have Fibro I will have to be on Steroids for life & in her words "you will pile on weight and yr BG will hit the ruddy roof" however, another nurse told me Fibro is NOT an inflammatory disease and therefore Steroids would be useless. She said if I have inflammation it points more to the other conditions. Anyway, I am due this jab on Tues for my shoulder & I asked the nurse about my BP which has been rising lately, she said it doesn't mean I can't have the jab.......BUT the first nurse told me it's dangerous because it shoots yr BP up anyway so you mustn't have high BP prior to the jab!

I am totally confused and wondering if I should avoid the jab anyway!? I def wouldn't want to be on long term Steroids either as since starting Jardiance three months ago my BG is really vastly better and I have managed to lose. A stone in weight, need to lose another two.

Has anyone else had Steroid jabs? & what do you think about the advice so far?

Thanks a lot, Chris. X

 

[Rachox]

I had a steroid shot into one foot whilst under anaesthetic having an op on my other foot just before Xmas. I was warned that my blood sugars might go up for a few days, but they didn’t mention blood pressure. My blood sugars were raised for about a week. I suppose you need to weigh it up that without the shot you may suffer pain in your shoulder and pain alone can increase both blood sugar and blood pressure.

 

[dogslife]

Hi all,

I have just been diagnosed with Bursitis and Bicipital Tendonitis in my right shoulder. It has been causing considerable pain and at last I have been offered a Steroid jab following a scan.

My GP is trying to work out whether I have Fibromyalgia, Polymalgia, or another inflammatory disease because of my constant body pain and tenderness all over, also dreadful fatigue. He had Previously hit on the Fibro label and as my foot was swollen and painful last week sent me for blood tests to check my Thyroxine is correct dose and also to check my ESR and for Gout!

The Gout test was neg thank goodness & the Thyroxine is correct but the ESR showed "a slight increase" in inflammation. I was told (nothing to worry about!!!)

The nurse has confused me because she stated if I have Fibro I will have to be on Steroids for life & in her words "you will pile on weight and yr BG will hit the ruddy roof" however, another nurse told me Fibro is NOT an inflammatory disease and therefore Steroids would be useless. She said if I have inflammation it points more to the other conditions. Anyway, I am due this jab on Tues for my shoulder & I asked the nurse about my BP which has been rising lately, she said it doesn't mean I can't have the jab.......BUT the first nurse told me it's dangerous because it shoots yr BP up anyway so you mustn't have high BP prior to the jab!

I am totally confused and wondering if I should avoid the jab anyway!? I def wouldn't want to be on long term Steroids either as since starting Jardiance three months ago my BG is really vastly better and I have managed to lose. A stone in weight, need to lose another two.

Has anyone else had Steroid jabs? & what do you think about the advice so far?

Thanks a lot, Chris. X

Hello Chris. Could you ring your GP practice and ask the receptionist to leave a note requesting advice from a doctor before your jab? I am waiting for my first steroid injection into my spine next week and like Rachox have been told that my blood sugar levels may be affected short term but no-one has mentioned blood pressure. Best wishes.

 

[Geminigirl]

I had a steroid shot into one foot whilst under anaesthetic having an op on my other foot just before Xmas. I was warned that my blood sugars might go up for a few days, but they didn’t mention blood pressure. My blood sugars were raised for about a week. I suppose you need to weigh it up that without the shot you may suffer pain in your shoulder and pain alone can increase both blood sugar and blood pressure.

Thank you. I didn't think about the pain actually putting my BP up! I think I will have the injection for my shoulder but am not too keen if they want me to take long term oral cortisone for the other probs.

 

[Geminigirl]

Hello Chris. Could you ring your GP practice and ask the receptionist to leave a note requesting advice from a doctor before your jab? I am waiting for my first steroid injection into my spine next week and like Rachox have been told that my blood sugar levels may be affected short term but no-one has mentioned blood pressure. Best wishes.

Hi, I have a 20 min with the doc + a nurse and am taking hubby with me so I am going to go into it all. I am keen to rid my shoulder of this pain. I suppose I am "all at sea" because my general body pain is yet to have a firm diagnosis and I am not keen to have long term oral steroids. Have been taking my BP this last few days and it is not that brilliant. Will try calling first thing but we don't have very cooperative receptionists lol I think I have overused "Dr Google" on side effects of the jab and as I have anxiety am prob blowing it out of proportion. Will let you know how I get on. Xx

 

[Geminigirl]

I got cured of bursitus with accupuncture and moxybustion.

One injection of steroid in foot cause 3 years numbness. So I guess you know which one I would pick

Oh heck, I can see what you mean!

 

[Robbity]

There've been a number of other threads on this topic, which you may also find useful/informative.

For me one corticosteroid jab plus a few days of higher glucose levels was well worth it to fix a very painful, "jammed" trigger finger. I appeared to have an immediate rise after having the injection.

You need to consider the pros and cons but personally I'd tend to be more concerned about a course of injections rather than a one off.

Robbity

 

[Geminigirl]

Thank you for all your help.
I am feeling a bit let down actually. I had two jabs, one in the shoulder joint and one in the ligament. Went okay and were nicely numb all day but sore the nxt day.
Three days on I was pain free and felt so positive but the last two days (within 6 days of jabs) and the pain seems to have come back with a bang.
I def have not been overdoing it so am soooo disappointed.
Could it be it is still getting into my system? Am wondering if "splitting" the dose like that is not not a good thing!
GP said first time works up to 75% of time, second up to 90% but the original GP had advised me I would be "pain free" so I feel upset now. I honestly don't feel I can do anymore than before.
In addition my BG's have been truly horrible ever since! Had my HBA1C done today! First one since starting Jardiance three months ago.