How long does a steroid injection take to work?

Starburst

Hi,

Please could someone tell me how long a steroid injection takes to work? I had it yesterday and my rheumy said it was a large dose, although he didn't say how much he was giving me or what. Anyway, I don't know if it's coincidence but my hands are slightly less swollen and a lot less red this morning. I s'pose I could be coming out of a flare but I was wondering if the injections can work that quickly?

Thank you in advance.
Sophie

breane

Hi,I had a steroid injection in the shoulder several weeks ago and was told it would be about a week before I noticed any improvement.However the injection didn't work at all. I then had another one done in the buttock and was told the same but that one didn't work either.Some people notice a difference quite quickly and I guess it depends on the dosage they give you.Steroid injections don't seem work for everyone but good luck with yours,hope it will work for you. Breane.x

Starburst

Thank you for your reply. This one was in my buttocks. I've had them into my ankle joints before but it took a few days for them to kick in. This was an intra-muscular jab.

helpline_team

Hi Princess,

I'm not precisely sure of the quickest time recorded for a good reaction to a steroid injection. I doubt whether you'll get a very official answer to this one, but next day sounds entirely possilble - if it was accompanied by a need to eat lots of chocolate biscuits then the steroid jab would sound like the culprit.

all the best
Guy

Starburst

Thank you, Guy. Well, I'm starving today, abnormally so. Trying to fill up on fruit and veg and cereal bars because I'm keeping an eye on my weight. :oops: