“There's still pain after cortisone. What should I do?”
I just received a shot of cortisone in my shoulder a few days ago, but the pain is still there. Is there anything else I can do?
16 Answers
See a chiropractor.
I would suggest looking into other options such as chiropractic or acupuncture.
Cortisone is the worst choice for treatment. It deteriorates the joint and ultimately makes the condition worse. Get evaluated by a chiropractic professional.
Get further treatment
It's normal not to have all of the pain gone by now. You should seek help from your chiropractor if you still have some.
Cortisone only works about 40% of the time. So, it’s not surprising it was not effective in your case. You should probably ask the doctor who prescribed it what they would recommend since I can’t diagnose your problem without seeing you. It might be useful to try an alternative approach like chiropractic or acupuncture to see if it helps you rather than the medical treatment which has already failed you.
What should you do? Don't get another cortisone injection! One of the things they don't tell you (most of the time) is cortisone weakens whatever structures they inject it into. We fix serious shoulder conditions on a daily basis with only conservative methods. Find yourself a good functional medicine chiropractor, find the source of the pain, and get it fixed.
Cortisone is hit or miss as to whether or not it provides pain relief, and the doctor could have hit or missed the right injection spot. I see it work about 50% of the time with the first injection and much less with subsequent injections. The real question is -- what is the diagnosis? And has an MRI been done?
Dr. Simone
Dr. Simone
Hello,
I'm sorry about your shoulder pain. There are many things that can be done, but first it's important to find out what is wrong. Cortisone injections help stop inflammation, but do not cure anything and they can actually damage the joint.. What is causing your pain? The answer to that determines what is the best treatment. A chiropractic examination can help find out what's wrong, and if you need an X-ray or MRI, they can be ordered. Chiropractors don't just treat the spine. We treat all of the joints, and the muscles. Here are some things you can do until your appointment:
1. Ice
2. Alternating heat and ice
3. Over-the-counter rubs or patches, or CBD products
4. Shoulder exercises (here is a link to some good ones on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A8qOaip6UfQ)
Good luck and good health!
Dr. Steven Moon
I'm sorry about your shoulder pain. There are many things that can be done, but first it's important to find out what is wrong. Cortisone injections help stop inflammation, but do not cure anything and they can actually damage the joint.. What is causing your pain? The answer to that determines what is the best treatment. A chiropractic examination can help find out what's wrong, and if you need an X-ray or MRI, they can be ordered. Chiropractors don't just treat the spine. We treat all of the joints, and the muscles. Here are some things you can do until your appointment:
1. Ice
2. Alternating heat and ice
3. Over-the-counter rubs or patches, or CBD products
4. Shoulder exercises (here is a link to some good ones on YouTube: https://youtu.be/A8qOaip6UfQ)
Good luck and good health!
Dr. Steven Moon
Cortisone is just an anti-inflammatory. An injection in your shoulder simply helps to decrease the inflammation. The big question is why is the inflammation there in the first place? You should see a physician that will address the actual cause of the inflammation or symptom "Pain." Chances are that there is an imbalance in the function of the shoulder joint(s). There
are 3 motions that need to be in sync, Glenohumeral, Acromioclavicular and Scapulothoracic rhythm. Have a Chiropractor or an Orthopedic doctor evaluate your shoulder and arrive at an accurate diagnosis (MRI may be needed) and get the proper treatment. Cortisone injections work best when the cause of the inflammation is dealt with at the same time.
I hope you find this info helpful.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Eric Miller
are 3 motions that need to be in sync, Glenohumeral, Acromioclavicular and Scapulothoracic rhythm. Have a Chiropractor or an Orthopedic doctor evaluate your shoulder and arrive at an accurate diagnosis (MRI may be needed) and get the proper treatment. Cortisone injections work best when the cause of the inflammation is dealt with at the same time.
I hope you find this info helpful.
Take care and be well,
Dr. Eric Miller
Without knowing your history this is a difficult question. First, a good exam needs to be done. I presume you have had a recent MRI, without this it would be a blind injection which is never a good idea. Next, you should have had an MRI with contrast, research suggests many things are missed without contrast as high as 35%. Understanding the difference between anabolic and catabolic injections should have been discussed. If not responding then orthopedic review should be done again.
You may need to wait another week or so to see if it takes. If after another week, then you may try to visit your local chiropractor to make sure that the shoulder is in place.
There can be several reasons for shoulder pain, impingement, bone spurs, muscle imbalance and subluxation of the shoulder. It would take a complete exam to figure out what is the cause of it. I am sorry that the cortisone injection did not give you any relief. Some people get a wonderful "cure" of the pain, most get at least two weeks relief before symptoms return and like you, sometimes it fails to give any relief. While cortisone can help with the pain it usually does not get to the cause of the pain and has the unfortunate additional effect of damaging the tendons and ligaments and weakening the bones. I would advise you to find a good chiropractor who treats sports injuries. He can probably help you.
Cheers,
Dr. Payne
Cheers,
Dr. Payne
Find the cause of the shoulder pain, not just treat the symptom
Depending on the steroid used, it may take up to 10 days for the effects to fully kick in.
Vasilios Kountis, DO
Vasilios Kountis, DO
There is still a lot you can do for your shoulder. I recommend visiting a Chiropractor or Physical Therapist for an assessment and treatment of your shoulder pain.
