Anyone had a corticosteroid injection before?

[itsoi]

I got bit by a dog through my wrist and it ended up casing issues, It's healed up now but I have had issues with pain in my wrist/back of hand/thumb, I'm dropping cups, intense pain even holding my phone etc so doctor has said today he is sending me for a scan and then I will have to have a corticosteroid injection in my thumb.

I know how pathetic this might sound but I hate injections and I'm now terrified its going to be really painful having it done, I can't stop thinking about it!

Can anyone that has had this done let me know if it hurts so i can prepare myself?!

Tons of them.

I won't lie to you, depending on exactly where and how they are injecting, it can be painful (for example, if it's in the joint itself - an intra-articular injection - compared to steroids in the muscles) - BUT - you get local anaesthetic in the most difficult ones first, so you feel the anaesthetic with the traditional 'sharp scratch' and then strong pressure. With some of them, you barely feel it at all.

The one thing you must do is stay still. They don't take long and the worst part is really the anticipation, not the actual procedure, and if they've included a local with it, you'll have an almost immediate relief from pain. If you don't need an injected anaesthetic, it takes a bit longer to work, but the pain fading can often still be felt within a couple of hours.

Talk to them - they might be able to offer a topical anaesthetic as well.

DH gets them in his thumb joint for arthritis. He's the biggest wimp known to man but finds them OK - though he said they're better at the hospital than the GP is at them!

I've never had one, but my mum has had several. Sometimes, they have caused insomnia, so she has been unable to sleep all night till the early hours. I don't know how common that is, but I wouldn't plan a great deal the following day just incase.

I've had 3 in my knee. Not pleasant but it's over in seconds. My Doc was amazing each time and got me breathing deeply and steadily before he did the injection.

I had two in my frozen shoulder. It did help with the pain but did not help with stiffness in my shoulder.

Yes, I have had them in shoulder, didn’t find them particularly painful

Have had about four in my shoulder. It is painful but benefits massively out weigh the pain

I have had them in both elbows separately about a month apart. Not going to lie the injection was one of the worse pains ever and for a week I thought my arm would come off and then it went and never ever got pain in that elbow since and I couldn’t pick up a pen.

They then did the other elbow a month later - I stocked up on painkillers and even took some before and after a few days again pain went and I never had any more probs.

I've had a few - heel for Plantar Fasciitis, also shoulders for nerve impingement. Yes, it hurt, but that was only for a minute. The injections were last resort treatments for me, after all other things had failed. They massively improved the conditions I had.

I had one in my knee in July and I can honestly say it was totally painless. Waiting another month then will ask for another. Dr said I can have 3 a year. Brilliant

Coincidence but i literally just put the phone down on a GP call about my trigger finger and he's suggested a steroid injection for it. Then i went back to MN and-read your post!

I've had a couple in my knee, and will need to go back for more. I don't find them particularly painful and they work amazingly well.

I had one in my wrist. They are a little bit more heavy handed than a normal injection. There is more pressure. I also had strange shooting pains and tingling in my hand for 24 hours after, but I’m glad I had it because it did make a difference and I would have one again if needed.