Going to have a steroid injection in my hip for the first time - is it very painful? Should I take painkillers before the appointment?

[WhatIsItLikeIWonder]

Hi,

I’d be really interested to hear about anyone’s experience of having a steroid injection. I’m having one in my hip tomorrow morning for the first time and wonder if I should take painkillers myself beforehand? Do they use local anaesthetic too or perhaps it isn’t bad enough to warrant that?

Thanks. Am reeling a bit from a recent diagnosis of osteoarthritis.

I think you will be OK and it won't be as bad as you are expecting. But yeah - take some cocodomol or paracetamol - and some naproxen or ibuprofen half hour or so before.

Thanks @RedYellowPinkGreenPurpleOrangeBlue - and thanks for the reassurance! Did you have it in your hip too? What was it like afterwards, and did it help? 😊

I've only ever had them in my lower back (sciatica). I didn't take pain killers before hand. The injection point was sore as any injection would be when the local anesthetic wore off but on the whole my pain was measurably less. I'm looking forward to another one when I can have it.

I'd go off any advice you've been given by the medics involved. Good luck xx

Had one into hip last January. It wasn't painful and took couple of minutes at most. It was somewhat helpful, not as useful as I'd hoped but effects vary with each person. Don't be scared, no worse than a flu jab.

I have steroid injections in my knee every six months. It just feels like a regular jab, just a little scratch. I don’t take anything beforehand and I’m usually a complete wimp with pain.

I've had one in my hip (and also one in my shoulder, and two in my elbow, on separate occasions). I've never taken a painkiller beforehand, and it was fine. Worked really well for me, too.

Thank you so much everyone! That’s really reassuring. Mostly I’m just hopeful it will help (although I have heard that can vary) and I will then focus on exercises to support my muscles around the joint.

Am also going to make small changes towards an anti-inflammatory diet, starting with cutting out refined sugars/anything sweet other than fruit. I would be interested to hear if that has helped anyone too?

You'll be fine! The anticipation is much worse than the reality, honestly. I had several injections into my knees over the years (I've now had them both replaced, now that is painful) and had consistently good results. I've had far worse experiences at the dentist.

I've had them in my toe. I'm sure I had a local anaesthetic jab first but maybe i'm imagining that. It certainly wasnt sore at the time. It got painful for a day or two afterwards but then completely pain free for several months.
I hope it works for you.

I find - may not work for everyone - that cutting out wheat/gluten is helpful in reducing inflammation.

When I had mine in my shoulder I was told the steroid jabs already have local anaesthetic in them.

I had one in my hip for bursitis and was nervous like you. Took a painkiller beforehand and was a wee bit sore the next day but nothing the painkillers couldn't handle

Thanks everyone, this is all so helpful.

@newnamethanks I am starting with cutting out sugar other than fruit but am gearing myself to build up to cutting back on carbs/gluten. Glad it works for you!

I had one in my hip and scarcely felt it, and I was worried beforehand.
Sadly it didn't work for my pain, ( bursitis) but the injection was nothing to be feared.
.

Thanks all 😊

I had one in my hip on Monday. I declined the other hip as I felt it wasn't bad enough.

The improved on the done hip is so great I wish I had had the other hip done!

I wasn't looking forward to it - I am an RGN and managed to avoid anything'bones' - makes me gip. So this was way out of my comfort zone.

The injection stung ( that was the local) a bit and it was all slightly uncomfortable- mostly from having to lie on my side!

Will I have it again?

YES!

Took co codamol before and ibuprofen and codeine combo tablet after.

Was supposed to rest afterwards but ended up popping into a caravan dealers on the way home.....🤣

I hope it's being done under ultrasound so they can pick the right spot.
I've had about 4 in hips, no pain during the procedure, some worked better than others.
After the last one I continued with the wallpapering we were busy with and was fine.

I've had steroid injections in my knees. They helped a lot though I did find them uncomfortable with a weird feeling while the steroid was being injected. Difficult to describe it exactly. I felt slightly nauseous and queasy for a day or two afterwards, and strangely had a massive craving for eggs, something that I don't eat a lot of. The craving wore off when I stopped feeling sick.
If you have joint problems it's worth avoiding citrus fruits and tomato recipes as much as possible, basically avoid acidic foods. It's annoying as I love tomato flavoured meals but I find that it helps. I also try to avoid red wine as that seems to irritate my joints.

Thanks everyone. Sadly it’s a couple of weeks after my steroid injection now and it hasn’t helped at all, and in fact it feels slightly worse if anything 🙁

Has anyone experienced it working after a longer period?

I have them in both hips 4 times a year.
Yes they use local anaesthetic.
They actually go in from the top.
Now l can honestly say everyone has been different and I've realises it depends who is doing it.
If I'm lucky and l get the female doctor .. l never feel a thing.
There is one male doctor who is heavy handed and always in a rush and it hurts like hell. I have both hips done.. two weeks apart. Takes about 20 minutes altogether.
Unfortunately the only pain killer l can take is paracetamol.
It takes about 3 days for me to feel any effect.. and those three days l usually suffer from going hot and cold..
But gosh afterwards it's so worth it..
I broke both my hips and pelvis and have stage 3 osteoarthritis.
My surgeon is trying to avoid giving me hip replacement for as long as possible. I'm 65 .. probably get them in about 3 years time.
Good luck x

Oh my goodness, poor you! I’m so glad the injections work for you. Mine has done absolutely nothing after two weeks - I’m so disappointed.

But maybe someone has experienced it beginning to work after a few weeks? Clutching at straws

DH had this a couple of weeks ago so I asked him. He said basically it's like an initial little painkiller injection and after that it just feels like weird pressure deep in your joint which is brief and not too bad.
Good luck! DH has stopped limping and can walk quite a bit further without pain now plus he can train the muscles around the joint.

Just read your update - it did take a little while to work. About a week or so.

Thanks @MavisPennies - it’s been two weeks for me now with no improvement. I do wonder if it’s also muscular/ligament/tendon based pain otherwise surely the anti-inflammatory would have worked?

Obviously I have osteoarthritis and that could be the whole reason, but my left hip is pain free. The issue started after I fell heavily on my right hip some months ago (thanks to DDog for stopping suddenly on a rainy night!).

Ps c glad it works so well for your DH!