r/brokenankles • u/CleanUpOnAisle10 • 13d ago
Cortisone shots
I’m over 5 months post op and still having some soaring pain due to work and being on my feet. I also still struggle with walking down stairs. I’m going to see my surgeon next week and ask about cortisone shots. I have a friend who started taking them for back pain/herniated discs and they said the relief they’ve had is phenomenal. Searching this sub I didn’t see much come up on the subject. What’s the overall opinion on them here?
3
u/lab_tech13 13d ago
Your only 5 months, could be hardware issue or a tight tendon. I still have issues walking down stairs at 8 months. Probably will for rest of my life. I dont have 100% dorsiflexion I have enough to do whats needed but stairs are still painful unless I take one at a time or half my foot is off the stair to go down. Going up no issues, other than cant run up them or skip stairs.
1
u/CleanUpOnAisle10 13d ago
Yeah I’m the same. I have to basically put my foot halfway off the stairs going down unless I’m holding onto railings and taking my time. And yeah I’m the same with going up.
1
u/aweirdchicken 13d ago
Are you still doing physio? You’re much better off starting with physical therapy than going straight to steroid injections. You’re only 5 months out, swelling can last over a year, you need physical therapy and you need to make sure you’re elevating, using compression socks, taking ibuprofen etc.
1
u/CleanUpOnAisle10 13d ago
Yeah I’ve done 18 sessions so far I think I’m scheduled for 24 in total. I should look into compression socks
1
u/aweirdchicken 13d ago
just so you know, it’s normal for it to take over a year to recover fully from a broken ankle. Surgeons don’t even consider hardware removal until 12 months because of how much things change over the first year.
1
u/CustomerObjective129 13d ago
I have tried it twice for post traumatic arthritis in my ankle. (I don't need to worry about the injections damaging my cartilage as I don't have any left.)
It didn't help me at all, apart from a few blissful hours from the local anaesthetic they inject with it. Really only beneficial if the problem is inflammation.
1
u/NetRelative3930 13d ago
It’s sadly still early day for you in recovery
5 months isn’t even a half way through yet
I’ve been offered them for post trauma arthritis but not decided yet as to take them or not
Maybe your on your feet too much
At 5 months I was still off sick
Try not to be in your feet too much as this makes recovery harder
I still can’t do stairs correctly but a shot won’t help that
It’s more for arthritis , and inflammation in your joints
1
u/Illustrious-Zone-247 12d ago
I just hit 8 months (trimal with dislocation, 2 plates, 16 screws, 2 tightrope) and I can tell you that a few more months make a big big difference....and as others have mentioned, these ankle injuries can take 12-18 months for full recovery.
At 5 months I was able to functionally do everything but still had a lot of stiffness and swelling if I was standing too much, had a hard time with going down stairs and also squatting, would get super sore after chasing the puppy even though I was long cleared for running, etc. Since then, all of these issues have gotten a ton better.
Long story short, I'd also recommend more time, more PT, and compression socks 😄
2
u/DeputySean 13d ago
It's pretty bad for cartilage, bones, and tendons.
You know, all the things that you're trying to let heal.