I have been in 8 weeks of PT for a mysterious and troublesome shoulder injury, as yet undiagnosed, making progress that amounts to 2 steps forward one step back, and the therapist is talking about referring me for a cortisone injection. I have had 2 cortisone injections in my spine and they did nothing for me. I am not excited and am quite dubious about the prospect of getting one in my shoulder. I have unstable joints in general and this shoulder is particularly unstable. I have read that cortisone can weaken tendons and ligaments and that seems like the last thing I need.
Can anyone share their experience with cortisone injections for shoulder problems? I am feeling very frustrated but am getting to the point where I might try this. I cannot do freestyle at all and my daily life such as personal care and home maintenance is greatly challenged by this darn shoulder. Plus my border collie is depressed because I cannot throw his frisbee. Things are getting desperate!
Parents
Former Member
I got a cortisone shot for pain from a trapped radial nerve back in 2006. It relieved the pain for about four days, then the effect wore off. I finally had a radial nerve release operation, then discovered that somewhere along the line I had torn my rotator cuff as well. I just started another round of PT for that about a month ago.
I personally would put off cortisone until I had a diagnosis. In my case the radial nerve diagnosis came after I had already had PT for tennis elbow (which I didn't actually have). That didn't really help the pain at all :sad:
(The orthopaedist finally made the correct diagnosis after injecting the radial nerve with xylocaine.)
I got a cortisone shot for pain from a trapped radial nerve back in 2006. It relieved the pain for about four days, then the effect wore off. I finally had a radial nerve release operation, then discovered that somewhere along the line I had torn my rotator cuff as well. I just started another round of PT for that about a month ago.
I personally would put off cortisone until I had a diagnosis. In my case the radial nerve diagnosis came after I had already had PT for tennis elbow (which I didn't actually have). That didn't really help the pain at all :sad:
(The orthopaedist finally made the correct diagnosis after injecting the radial nerve with xylocaine.)
