Joint Injection - Help!

donnas

I agreed to a joint injection in my big toe this morning. The procedure was fairly painless but I'm now in agony. They didn't tell me about this. Is there something wrong? Anyone know how this should progress?

donnas

I have had to grab my old crutch (from a foot injury two years ago) to get up to get my painkillers. This isn't good.

cebeem

Donnas
applying ice usually helps calm things down....they usually advise this at the time!

Hope it settles soon....can often be upto 3 days for me be benefits are then good!

dreamdaisy

I presume this was a steroid injection, so I think they will have put in a local anaesthetic as well. This is probably wearing off, hence the soreness. Rest your foot to give the steroid a chance to really get into the joint - 24 hours minimum is recommended. Take the painkillers, they will help. DD

frogmorton

Hi Donna

poor you - I agree with DD an CB likley the local has worn off - ice might help and of course your painkillers.

Be nice to yourself and rest - distract yourself if you can TV or book.

Let's hope it goes off soon and you get some benefit

love

Toni xx

donnas

Ah, so it's meant to be agony? I was worrying that there was something wrong. The pain's spreading right up my foot now and I'm wondering how I'm going to make lunch!

Thank you.

dreamdaisy

Steady, steady, There is nothing wrong, this is usual. It will go off. Stop walking around, put your feet up, watch telly or read a book. As my lovely and learned friend frogmorton has said, distract yourself. DD

donnas

I suppose if I'd been warned I wouldn't have panicked!

My feet are up but I'm hungry and live alone. My cats are rubbish at cooking!

dreamdaisy

Rest, rest and rest some more. The hunger will die down (!) and if a moglet allows you, stroke him/her for comfort. Get something to eat once the pain killers are working, but do keep as still as possible to allow the steroid time to seep into the joint and take effect. I wish you well. DD

frogmorton

Hi Donna

Once you have got some relief from the painkillers get yourself a quick bite to eat - a sandwich maybe and take the painkillers as prescribed.

I do hope you feel much better later this afternoon.

Honestly best thing is to try very hard to distract yourself - this is where the cats come in

Love

Toni xx

donnas

Lunch is on. I have books galore, cats and the Ddeadwood boxset. Will settle down with them once I've eaten.

c4thyg

As the others say, this is to be expected. I've had many steroid injections and in some very painful places but the initial pain is worth sticking out and the benefits can last for months.

If you don't feel up to cooking I think this is as good a reason as any to order takeout tonight. It won't hurt for once and you really need to rest the joint for a few days.

Aren't cats wonderful. I'm so glad I've got my kitten, even though Pixy keeps threatening to steal him!!

Don't worry, it will be worth it soon. xx

donnas

Wondering if I'll be able to go to work tomorrow. I shall wait and see I suppose.

One of my cats is supervising me. Bless her purry socks.

c4thyg

donnas wrote:

Wondering if I'll be able to go to work tomorrow. I shall wait and see I suppose.

One of my cats is supervising me. Bless her purry socks.

If you can I would recommend not going into work tomorrow. You really need to rest the joint for now. Once the steroids do their magic you'll be less likely to need time off. Don't be too hard on yourself.

frogmorton

Call in sick today Donna for tomorrow

better to rest and give the jab it's best chance of working

So glad you have your cats to look after you

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

24 hours good, 48 even better. If you can avoid work tomorrow, do so. I hope you are feeling a little better now. DD

barbara12

Hi Donna
Like the others have said this is normal,the pain relief you get at the beginning is the anesthetic.
Hopefully you will feel the benefit very soon.
Love
Barbara xx

donnas

Called in sick. Draconian absence policy at work, but I try to save my sick days for things like this, I suppose. Thanks for all your support and advice everyone.

donnas

Still in agony I'm afraid. Can't weightbear at all. I'm so annoyed at the doctor not telling me about this! I suppose though, they don't know what happens after you walk out of the clinic. It's all theory to them. And the big toe bears your whole weight, so tampering with it is bound to cause pain.

I've been crying and feeling very sorry for myself. A little meditation helped but was only shortlived.

Trying to put up and shut up.

dreamdaisy

Steroid jabs can really upset the joint: they don't think to warn you, as to them it is a routine procedure - which they may never have had done on themselves. Keep the painkillers topped up, rest it as much as you can - I don't know what other joints are affected by arthritis with you, but if you can, walk on the heel of that foot. I have had both knees done a number of times - it is the only thing that makes me quail - the pain is quite different to the arthritis hurt. Hang on in there, girl, it will feel better soon, I am sure. DD

donnas

That's the thing. They just don't know what it's like. I've had loads of steroid injections before, big ones in the bum, and little ones into soft tissue swellings in hands and feet but this one's the wake up call. It better work! I can hobble about on the side of my foot or with the

My best friend is on holiday and my nearest friend is away working for her mum out of town. So it's me, the cats, a pot of soup and the cast of Deadwood.

dreamdaisy

Joint ones are different. I've had the depos (pointless) and the joint ones (also pointless for me but far more painful and one has to try). It can take some time for the pain to go away, so keep topped up. DD

dorcas

Hi donna!

oh your poor toe

I've not had toe injections but would imagine there isn't much room in there for any additional swelling. :roll: so the fluid from the local anaesthetic plus the steroids are bound to make the joint feel very tight... so maybe that's what's causing the pain?

I hope that this wears off by tomorrow. They do say to keep the injected joint rested and elevated if you can for at least 24hrs.

sorry you've no-one to look after you.... cats don't make good nurses! at least mine definitely wouldn't .

be kind to yourself and rest up..... hopefully you'll get the benefit of the joint injection in the days ahead.

Iris xx

airwave

Hmm, not nice is it! The pain comes from the fluid in the injection putting extra pressure on the joint, from inside. The afterpain comes from the larger crystals which the steroid injection contains, it will reduce as they are dissolved in the circulation, it will take a while, reducing levels of pain as they disappear.

Meantime, a mild painkiller should assist, aided by heat to take away the pain and aid circulation. Surgery nurse will always offer help.

8)Its a grin, honest!

donnas

Thanks for the info. My joint was in a terrible state, no idea how he got the needle in there. I thought they'd x-ray it first, but no, straight in there.

Surgery nurse?

donnas

Ah! Foot is improving after a night's sleep! No more agony. Unstable and uncomfortable but getting there.