Hydrocortisone injection in my elbow?

[Katymac]

I think I over stretched my elbow & it has been quite painful since about February; I have had acupuncture but it hasn't really helped

The GP has suggested a hydrocortisone injection, is this the normal next step?

Will I be able to drive afterwards? I am due to drive to Stansted!! Damn that was bad planning (I have had the appt for nearly 2 months & DD decided to go away about a week ago!)

Do I need to reschedule something?

[PollyPerky]

I think it's a steroid injection- might be hydrocortisone but that is just one type of weak steroid.

Have you been referred or will the GP do it?

Yes you will be able to drive but the procedure is likely to be painful.

[sashh]

You are advised o rest the joint after having it.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Have you not been referred to a physio? Never injured an elbow so don't know the protocol but my experience has always been to try and manage a problem with exercise first and injections maybe at a later stage if no improvement.
You could ring the (presumably) consultant's secretary and ask what the advice would be for driving.

[Waxlyrically]

I had this done for tennis elbow. It was very painful to have done but I drove on to work afterwards. I waited about 40 mins as I felt faint straight after because I'm squeamish. Worked really well though.

[Katymac]

It was presented to me by the practise nurse as a done deal really

I don't take ibuprofen as it affects my tummy & I don't use the cream as I have skin allergies (don't know what I am allergic to really as they aren't bothered to check)

So the injection was it; done by the GP no hospital or physio input

Are there options I should consider? I am hypermobile and have IBS, FM & CFS/ME

[LivingInMidnight]

I have HMS, you should probably have gone to a physio first. I wouldn't trust the nurse to understand hypermobile joints tbh.

[Katymac]

Can't see physio without seeing doctor first, can't see doctor without seeing practise nurse

Circles within circles

[Natsku]

I've had one in my foot before and honestly it was horribly painful, worse than the pain before, and I couldn't walk for a couple of days after it so I would be wary of getting one done just before you have to drive.

[Katymac]

I wonder if I should go in saying the nurse suggested this as a possibility - are there any other options available like physio?

[Natsku]

Not sure about other options, but I'd at least ask to postpone it for a time when you can rest for a day afterwards. It does work though, at least in my experience that, despite the horrible pain for a few days, after that my foot was back to normal so it sorted out the problem.

[ShotgunNotDoingThePans]

Definitely see your gp. Seeing the practise nurse first - what's that about? Even more important to be seen properly with a condition like yours.
You don't need permission from anyone to seek proper medical help. And, fwiw, my physio has been teying her utmost to avoid injections for months now, but she says if I decide to have them I should go to someone who practically does it 'all day every day,' ie. not a gp.
Just tell him/her you'd like to try physio to start with; it used to be the case that we were entitled to 10 sessions on the nhs - don't know what the situation is now.

[Katymac]

It is frustrating

I'll see how it goes

Thanks

[Spam88]

I've had a steroid injection in my foot and couldn't walk properly for the rest of that day, so I'd be wary if you're intending to drive that same day.

The injection was painful, but sorted out the problem and I haven't had any pain for 2.5 years :)

[Katymac]

I may go in with the idea that I'd quite like an injection on ever joint that 'hurts' so that would be:
left hip
4 vertebrae in my lower back
right knee
both hands multiple places
both feet multiple places



No I wouldn't really do that

The reason I was looking for help is that certain movements make it hurt so I am assuming damage, rather than the constant hurt that I have all the time with the others whether they are moving or not

We will see

[Fontella]

I came on to post about my sore arm and saw this thread, so I hope you won't mind me jumping in Katymac

For the past two weeks my arm has been 'sore'. It feels bruised if anything, and the pain isn't constant, but noticeable particularly when I try and straighten my arm. It's around the inside and outside of the elbow area.

I know I haven't injured it and have no idea where it has come from. It's not constantly painful - I'm just aware of it when I move in such a way that extends/straightens my arm and it feels exactly like the pain of bruise when you touch it.

The fact that I've had it for two weeks now is what bothers me. It is definitely less sore than when I first noticed it, but it is still there.

I'm reluctant to go to the doctor's at the moment because it doesn't feel bad enough and like I say, I am certain I haven't strained or injured it. I'm left handed and it's my right arm.

The only thing I can think of is that I do sleep on my stomach and sometimes this arm is folded up underneath me. However, I've always slept like that, so why would it suddenly become sore and why would it hang around for two weeks, when I now consciously try to avoid sleeping in that position?

There are clearly similarities with the OP, but then I don't have any other 'pain' issues. It's just this sore arm and it definitely feels muscular rather than joint related, even though it is in the area of the elbow.

Has anyone had anything like this before?

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

I had two, it didn't work. Eventually just went by itself after 18 months. Physio made it worse as did acupuncture. I do physio exercises now it's better to strengthen my arms/ elbows so I'm less likely to get it again.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Fontella- that's what mine felt like.

[Katymac]

I think mine might be different - it hurts when I pick things up (mug of tea, kettle) especially if there is any twisting (plate from a shoulder level shelf?)

More recently (in the last 5-6 weeks) it has been aching just generally with a sharp pain when I use it

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Katy- all sounds very familiar, I kept dropping cups of tea as I forgot my arm hurt!

[Katymac]

Well he had all the stuff for the injection out so that wasn't a good start

I asked whether the next step was an injection & he said it can be

I suggested it might be last resort & he said no that was surgery; I said that my brother was keen for me to avoid it & he said my brother didn't have the pain

By this stage I was very flustered & forgot all about my 'other' pain & said I was surprised that physio wasn't an option - he said it was so we are now awaiting physio & I need to put a tubigrip on but I forgot to ask how much to use & whether double or single

So not great but not a disaster - I hate being so anxious about "going to the doctor!

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Don't rule out the injection, it can be like magic especially if you haven't got it really badly. Physio just made mine worse and even my physio who also uses sports physio/ acupuncture/ acupressure suggested for the injection

Good luck

[Katymac]

I guess I wasn't happy about it being first 'solution'

[Fontella]

Sorry I haven't been back to this thread.

I decided to start 'exercising' my arm to see if it helped. I started out by straightening and then flexing it. The straightening was very painful but I kept doing it.

Then I noticed that if I held my arm out straight palm down and twisted my hand slowly to palm up position it was really, really painful - excruciating in fact. But again I just kept doing it.

I did this every few hours - flexing and and straightening and the hand rotation. It hurt but I persevered and sure enough the following day the arm was a lot less sore.

I have kept up the exercises and the pain has virtually gone. I still get a twinge when I do the hand rotation, but it is a tenth as bad as it was.

Still have no idea what caused it, but the exercises have helped enormously.