cortizone

trisher

I have had a phone call from the Rheumy Dept this afternoon.

I was on max dose of Sulfasalazine, but was having really bad mirgrains. They were that bad I could not lift my head off the pillow.

I could not get to my appointment with Rheumy. They rang back and told me to stop taking the Sulfa straight away.

I have not had any treatment for my RA/OA plus PA. since then.

That has been a couple of months now as my liver tests came back really high as well.

They have told me over the phone that they are planning to start Cortizone, as I cannot have Mext, nor a lot of them.

Has anyone been having this? If yes does it work well.? Did you get side affects?

They said they will send a leaflet to me, read it through and tell them what I think when I go on the 21st December.

I value your opions more, as a leaflet cannot tell me what you know.

Luv Trish xxx

skezier

Hi Trish,

Do you mean as an injection into the joints or as a tablet? i have had a ton of the injections and though not had it as pain relief a lot of my employers have and for them it was so good I want some It is of the steroid family ad can be used when things like preds are not right for you. Either way at least they are trying to find something that will help you, and that to me is long overdue.

Love and a ((( )))

Cris xx

elnafinn

Hello Trish

I have just done some googling and it is quite interesting. I have only heard of injections but there are tablets to combat widespread inflammation as opposed to just at one site - where an injection would be performed. Unfortunately, as usual, there are side effects from the pill form. :roll: :roll:

Hope you are coping ok.

Love
Elna x

trisher

Hi Cris

Thank you. They only mentioned the name, not how I was going to have them.

I had a funny feeling, why send me a leaflet to read and tell them at my appointment on the 21st, what I feel about it.

I did tell him about my op and how the surgeon found that the arthritis was worse than it showed on the x rays?

Trish xxx

skezier

Hi Trish,

Which ever it is a good drug for pain and inflamation I promise you. My old sheep had hers injected sub cut and inside 5 hours she was so much better. Sadly for her it only gave her 3 years (though she was def very old I guess?) but we are so much different and our joints are bigger and we don't have so much weight on most to say nothing of the angles and usage eh? Sorry I really veering off here :oops:

The AC info may have some info about it? They do the injections they might the other ways as well?

I am back to play in a tree now

Love and a ((( )))

Cris xx

Hi Elna,

That explains why they work so well for the employers and makes me more sure I should like some Thanks for the info, I really shall talk to the rumo about it next time I see him. Cris ((( ))) x

salamander

hi Trisher, I think cortisone is just another steroid and, when I looked it up in my drug book, it referred me to prednisilone for the side effects. Though please remember I'm not a doctor! Don't know if it makes a difference having injections rather than tablets but guess that is a question to ask them.

I've been taking steroids for about 5 months now and I've put on about a stone in weight. I have a fatty liver which is another side effect, though it doesn't seem to be that serious according to the medics. They do make my mood quite variable, but I've suffered a bereavement during that time (my mum) so hard to say what is the drug and what is grief. For me, there wasn't another option, I wouldn't be walking around if I wasn't on them. Though I am starting on Mtx soon.

Good luck with your appt and let us know how you get on. It does seem odd that they are sending you a leaflet first but maybe they thought if you read it at your leisure you could ask your questions at the consultation rather than going away and not being able to get them answered later (I always forget vital questions during consultations!)
S

elnafinn

Hi Trisher

As I mentioned previously, there are side effects and amongst those listed were fluid retention, weight gain, insomnia and depression........

Love
Elna x

salamander

elnafinn wrote:

Hi Trisher

As I mentioned previously, there are side effects and amongst those listed were fluid retention, weight gain, insomnia and depression........

Love
Elna x

Yeah, but you may not get all of them. I don't have insomnia or depression. But I admit the fluid retention and weight gain is enough to make one temporarily depressed. I do know someone on steroids who has kept her weight down but you've really got to watch it - I haven't, hence the extra stone!

elnafinn

Totally agree, Sally, it would be great not to get any of the side effects, wouldn't it? That is what puts me off starting some of the meds offered to me especially those that you cannot just suddenly stop taking should you wish :roll:
Luv
Elna x

annie_mial

I've been taking cortisol (Prednisolone) for 8 years now, Trish. They're given for inflammation and at the time I was diagnosed there was nothing else available for Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Temporal Arteritis.
What side effects you get depend on the starting dose you are given and how long you need to maintain that dose. Amongst the side effects are moon face, weight gain, steroid euphoria (that was funny according to hubby - I was bouncing off the walls for about two weeks) sleeplessness, thinned skin, hair and nail probs, there is actually quite a long list. In my experience, though nobody gets all of them. That's the tabs which are given for general inflammation.
That's the downside; the upside is that they work! I took my first one on a Friday morning when I couldn't walk across the kitchen unaided, on Sunday morning I was down on my hands and knees scrubbing that same floor! It felt like a miracle to me at the time.
Although I now have lots of problems connected with taking them for too long a time, they gave me my life back for some years and most of the side effects can be dealt with.
If you'd like more info, just PM me...........

Love
Annie

salamander

elnafinn wrote:

Totally agree, Sally, it would be great not to get any of the side effects, wouldn't it? That is what puts me off starting some of the meds offered to me especially those that you cannot just suddenly stop taking should you wish :roll:
Luv
Elna x

Yep, one is caught between a rock and a hard place. Everyone has to make their own decision about their treatment but forum's like this make it a damn sight easier!
Sally x

dachshund

Hi Trisher.
i had cortisone injection in my ancle bone
when i hurt it the nurse's had to hold my leg still.
it did not help at all.
that was over 20 years a go.
so dont take any notice of me i would not want to put you off.
i expect its done better now.
joan xx

trisher

Thanks to all of you

Elna,

Does that mean that the injections are a bit better than the tablets?

I don't mind giving myself an injection every day. If that is better for you.

Do any of you think it odd, they ring and tell me........about sending a leaflet to read?

Gosh that is all I need to have a moon face, put on a weight I cannot put on weight. It will mean that my INR levels will change.

Thank you Elna,

Trisher xx

elnafinn

Hi Trisher

As I understand it you can only have three injections administered a year as maximum by someone experienced in this sort of thing.

Why not wait until you have the leaflet - perhaps that would be easier. It probably says on the leaflet what I have read this afternoon on the internet about it.

Love
Elna x

trisher

Elna

I will wait until I get the leaflet, I just wanted to know a bit of personal experiences.

Thank you everyone.

Trisher xxx

skezier

Hi Trish,

There are 2(I think only 2?) different cortisone treatments. The injections (in humans ) go into a joint. These are meant to calm it ll down and help or decrease the inflamation.

The other treatment are orally like you do preds. I can't cope with preds but I can cortisone. They are all steroid but they are slightly different though are used for the same reasons.

Its meant to dampen down your immune system if taken orally and as Elna says there are side effects but when they work they can do an amazing job.

If you ask the nurses at the Hospice I am sure they can explain it all to you. I personally think they mean the oral ones but hopefully you will soon get the leaflet and it will help you to know what they are/do.

Love and a ((( )))

Cris xx

carol71

I had a cortisone injection 2 weeks ago tomorrow.
I was sent a leaflet through the post and then I had to go for a consultation to see if the injection would be of benefit to me. I have OA in my neck and get a lot of peoblems in my shoulders and arms. My right arm is worse than my left but my left hand side of my neck is worse than my right. I'd already had a course of physio and 2 lots of ultrasound treatment but my physio put me forward for the injection.
I was given some excersises to do while they checked out what was causing me pain.
I was then told I qualified for the injection and was given it there and then.
I had it in my right hand shoulder muscle. It did hurt a little bit when the needle was going in. I don't do needles at the best of times, but I can say it was well worth it. Two days later I got 3/4's of my mobility back in my right arm. I'm not in nearly half as much pain as I was and the bit of pain I now have is bareable.
I have no idea how long the relief will last but I'm enjoying it while I can.
I am waiting for another physio appointment to come through now as a follow up

Carol xxx