Just wanted to mention this even though it’s a older thread… I just had a cortisol shot for tendinitis and they have a slow release cortisol now and the blood sugar spike wasn’t near as bad and only lasted for a day for me when it’s usually a weeks battle.
I will b having a cortisol injection in my hip in two weeks. Do you know the specific name of the type of cortisol it was that worked so well for you? I am scared to death of having to deal with long-term spikes and insulin resistance.
I want to be proactive and go into the doctors office with as much knowledge as possible.
I look forward to hearing back from you!!!
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Hi daisymae,
It’s called Zilretta. Hopefully it works for you! Wishing you the best.
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Thank you drpepper68,
I read up about it. I hope that it will work for me too! fingers crossed.
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So I have been reading EVERYTHING I can possibly read over the internet about Zireltta. It sounds very promising. I am just waiting for the specialist to return my call to make certain that they have this available to me when I see him. Otherwise, I may consider going to another specialist. Its effects seem to be that dramatic compared to old-fashioned cortisol steroid injections on Blood Glucose reactions.
Did you have your injection in the knee or the hip? Mine will be, obviously, in the hip. I am scared to death of the pain of the injection. I have had spinal injections in the past and all I remember was the extreme pain and the terrible BG rise. I understand that they give you a numbing injection with the steroid needle, and I use (duh) styringes all the time, including IM injections, but the size of insulin syringes vs. steroid injections is quite radical, no?
Could you describe your experience for me PLEASE!!! ???
thanks so much, Daisy Mae
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I’ve had steroid injections in both my knee and hip. The needle is gigantic and scary looking, but with the numbing stuff they use, it’s really not bad at all! Just don’t watch is my very strong advice (may not be able to see for the hip anyway, but all too easy to watch for the knee). It’s really kind of creepy to watch a needle that big go into a place like a knee where it seems like it shouldn’t be able to go. I can handle most injections fine, but I didn’t think to look away, and then got very vasovagal-y and had to lie down for a while afterward as a result.
That said, once the numbing stuff wears off later, the joint can feel irritated that evening. That has ranged from pretty mild to extreme for me. My hip injections weren’t bad though, the only time it has been intense was for one of my shoulder injections. It wears off by the next day though, and then the effects of the cortisone kick in within another day or so and hopefully will help it feel better!
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Not to put a negative thought out, but I also had a cortisone injection into my knee many years ago. It was not numbed prior to the injection, and the Dr. did not warn me how painful it would be! I usually don’t have a problem with injections or handling pain, but I think I was so shocked by the pain it produced that I must have jerked my knee during the process. I still have scar tissue from that and my knee remains perpetually swollen, not hugely so, but noticeably different to me. So, DM, make sure they do get numbing, and just be prepared, it could be painful, try not to move during the process.
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Well my injection was in my elbows for tendinitis. The needle itself did not hurt until they started pushing the fluid in. A lot of fluid in a small space hurts, but not unbearable. I asked her on next elbow why they didn’t numb it and she said the numbing medicine actually burns worse that doing it without. I seem to recall that from 2 years ago, different Dr same clinic.
When I had my back injections they knocked me out. I did it awake once and asleep. You’re only asleep for 5 minutes but man did I feel great afterward. 
But that was at a pain management place so they had an anesthesiologist.
Best of luck!
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I have had 3 (maybe 4?) back injections. None with any antisthetic, and OMG were they excruciating. And I had to hold completely still throughout the entire process, especially bc they were in injecting right next to my spine (and, I suppose, a lot of nerves). I was scared to death.
Other than that, the only needles I have been given (other than from my. own injections) have only been for things like Flu shots and in-hospital morphine after a terrible accident.
However, this specialist that I am going to see is himself an anesthesiologist, so perhaps he will put me under in Twilight for 5 minutes or so. Wouldn’t that be nice. I am petrified.
I see him this coming Wednesday, and if I feel any sense of “this doctor is not for me,” then I will simply forgo the shot and leave the office. I will find another doctor…for God’s sake, I live in NYC, doctors are a dime a dozen here with some of the best hospitals in the world!
Thanks for your input.
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Yes that’s ludicrous to not give you the option to be put out. I looked forward to my shots lol.
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well, I am not certain about looking fwd to any shots, but I do understand ur point! 
I have been searching for a doctor who uses the Zireltta injections, and I have spoken with 6 so far. Not one of them either uses this drug nor has even heard of it. I cant begin to tell you how extraordinarily hopeful I was to read about it here, but am now dreadfully disappointed to learn that I am unable to find it in “my neighborhood.”
Its a no-go for me 
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I assume you’re not in Texas else I’d give you my dr. I’ll ask them if there is any other brands available. Kinda surprised as it’s been out awhile it seems.
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You got it. I’m in Brooklyn, NYC. Darn it all
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@daisymae
I had a steroid injection in my right hip about 2 weeks ago. I didn’t even feel it. The rheumatologist used a numbing spray on my skin so I wouldn’t feel the needle, but after that I didn’t feel any pain at all. I did have the crazy BG for several days.
But the injection itself was not nearly as bad as I expected.
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Yeah it’s not that bad but the long acting steroid uses a lot more volume so in a small space like my elbow it hurt a lot worse. But I didn’t cry. 
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Jan, thank you sooooo much for your info. I am terrified about the entire injection experience. Afraid of the needle (despite giving myself injections for over 30 yrs) and terribly afraid of the high BGs bc of the steroid.
I have had a bad flu-like cold for the past week, and am already on high TBs, ICRs, and ISF. I am needing almost double the amount of insulin I would normally take just to keep myself in target range. UGH. 
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Yeah, in my experience with regular cortisone injections into hips, it really shouldn’t be particularly painful if done with local anesthetic. A little, I mean it’s not fun, but nothing terrible. Just make sure they use a local anesthetic of some kind, and totally reasonable to confirm that ahead of time. I would also maybe bring headphones and something distracting to listen to, might help tune it all out, and should be able to play something once they get you into whatever position they want you in.
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About how long does the procedure take? You’re scaring me now with the recommendation that I should bring headphones!! 
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Oh it’s fast, unless you do an ultrasound guided one (which takes a little longer but also not bad). Just thinking if you want something to keep yourself distracted/calmer during the lead up and the shot so you aren’t just focusing on what they are doing. Really just something else to concentrate on, and that’s one of the easiest options I can think of that doesn’t require moving around at all.
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