help! question on cortisone shot and fish oil

[Guest guest]

Hi,

A few weeks ago I had a bad flare in my left knee. My Rheumy drained

off all the fluid and injected cortisone into the joint. As expected

the knee was pretty much back to normal within a few days.

My questions is this: when you get a cortisone injection into a

joint does the cortisone distribute to the rest of your body? The

reason I ask is that since I had that injection all symptoms of P and

PA have dissapeared. My skin has totally cleared. My aching joints

and achilles tendon feel perfect for the first time in many years.

There are only two things I can think of that have changed. The

first is the cortisone injection. The second is fish oil that I

started taking a month ago. Could it be that?

Help!

Doug

[Guest guest]

At 06:34 PM 8/5/03 +0000, Doug wrote:

>My questions is this: when you get a cortisone injection into a

>joint does the cortisone distribute to the rest of your body? The

>reason I ask is that since I had that injection all symptoms of P and

>PA have dissapeared.

My understanding is that cortisone injections *can* have a systemic effect

for some people. Generally it isn't enough to do what you describe, but it

isn't beyond the realm of possibility either.

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[Guest guest]

Hi Doug The fish oil may be of benefit but I would be surprised to hear that

it made any significant difference earlier than 2 months into it and most

people choose to use a dose too small to work much anyway. I think you would do

well to continue it anyway or as alternative flax oil. I wouldnt have commented

on that alone but wanted moreso to respond to the cortisone question. The

answer is yes. All of the cortisone that is injected into a joint will make its

way into the bloodstream eventually and will have varying effects on virtually

every system in the body. It is magic stuff for emergency use in reducing

swelling and inflamation but because of its far reaching systemic effects it

should only be used in emergencies and cannot be used long term. This applies

to

topical steroids as well. One would hope that the steroid will stay where it

was applied as long as possible and meter out into the rest of the system as

slowly as possible. Some doctors will elect to use imaging while they position

the needle to put the cortisone precisely where it is needed allowing for a

smaller dose to be used and they may also consider the vasculature around the

target area to limit the systemic absorption rate.

Steroids work great for beating down the symptoms of P and PA but your body

will adjust natural steroid production lower in response to the steroids from

the outside so the benefits of the outside steriod soon fail and if you

discontinue the external steroid too abruptly, or closer to your case if the

steroid

in the joint is abosorbed to quickly then poof its all gone, you may

experience a rebound flare. Orin

In a message dated 8/5/03 4:14:07 PM Central Daylight Time, fieldox@...

writes:

> My questions is this: when you get a cortisone injection into a

> joint does the cortisone distribute to the rest of your body? The

> reason I ask is that since I had that injection all symptoms of P and

> PA have dissapeared. My skin has totally cleared. My aching joints

> and achilles tendon feel perfect for the first time in many years.

>

> There are only two things I can think of that have changed. The

> first is the cortisone injection. The second is fish oil that I

> started taking a month ago. Could it be that?

>

> Help!

>

> Doug

>

[Guest guest]

Wow, lucky you, Doug! I hope it lasts a looong time! I've wondered

about taking fish oil too, I'll be watching to see the responses to

this question.

Penny

>

> Hi,

>

> A few weeks ago I had a bad flare in my left knee. My Rheumy

drained

> off all the fluid and injected cortisone into the joint. As

expected

> the knee was pretty much back to normal within a few days.

>

> My questions is this: when you get a cortisone injection into a

> joint does the cortisone distribute to the rest of your body? The

> reason I ask is that since I had that injection all symptoms of P

and

> PA have dissapeared. My skin has totally cleared. My aching

joints

> and achilles tendon feel perfect for the first time in many years.

>

> There are only two things I can think of that have changed. The

> first is the cortisone injection. The second is fish oil that I

> started taking a month ago. Could it be that?

>

> Help!

>

> Doug

[Guest guest]

-Hi Doug,

I had that experience once-in my case it turned out the resident

giving the injection missed the joint altogether and I got iv

prednisone. Made a dent in my knee where some soft tissue was killed

off. I am hoping in your case it is the fish oil!!!!!!!!!!

Marti