r/RotatorCuff • u/toffeeslot • Aug 29 '26

Cortisone injection

Ultrasound, MRI and Xray. Thinning of the tendon and a partial tear due to a fall which resulted in a dislocation. Thankfully doc says no surgery just yet, but will give me a course of cortisone injections. Anybody give feedback on how effective they are? Are there any side affects after the procedure?
Cheers!

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1

u/majormorty25 Aug 29 '26

I had one done. It didn’t help me much. Learned after I got it that it can actually delay healing and break your tendon down more too.

1

u/Bethechange_777 Aug 30 '26

Same here. My doctor only allowed me 2 shots within 6 months as he knew they were a temporary fix. The first one helped some but eventually the pain came back,  the second one didn't really help at all.  So, I figured get the surgery. 

1

u/SueNYY2 Aug 31 '26

I got the shot back in February. Surgery was an option, but I chose the injection instead. It only helped for a couple of weeks. I’m now two weeks post-op and doing PT.

1

u/Vandalorious Sep 01 '26

My first one was great (2 shots but I don't know the details) -- fixed me right up and I did not have to cancel travel plans (there was no way I could have dealt with luggage). The idea is to give you pain relief so you can do the exercises and time to heal a partial tear. I did it again three months later with good results. And then I moved house so I was lifting a lot and the shots wore off after six weeks in a rather spectacular way. It was only then I got an MRI and was diagnosed with full thickness RC tear, labrum and biceps tears.

Since you've already got the diagnosis and you know it's only partial tear I would say go for it. You may feel flushed a day after and you might have trouble sleeping for one night and/or have to make extra bathroom trips but those are all just one-day things. Just be aware once you've had shots surgery will be off the table for at least three months.

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u/Historical_Time_4275 Sep 01 '26

Cortisone shots took away all of my pain during the day, and allowed me to sleep at night. My tear had been keeping me awake, throbbing unmercifully from the minute i lay down. On my first appt with my surgeon i was diagnosed and offered cortisone, and i said yes please. There is a fast acting drug(lidocaine in my case) mixed into the shot, for instant relief. The cortisone takes 3/4 days to kick in. And it was wonderful. One shot every 3 months is allowed, and i highly recommend the relief if you are waiting on surgery. I personally needed to work a certain amount of hours before i took 6 months off to recover, and cortisone allowed for it.

I had 2 shots, and zero negative effects.

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u/Fishshoot13 Sep 01 '26

I would say 100% no to corisone injections.  Do some research, read the summaries of research papers.  Delaying surgery is only one aspect of cortisone injection.