Cortisone shot for piriformis pain

hey-

have you done lots of stretching and rested? I had this problem this summer and it was so painful, I was limping and couldn't run. Cortisone won't heal you, you won't feel pain but the pain will come back sometime if you don't do proper stretching for that area.

I had a friend who had it and it helped. It took up to 10 days though

Dont do cortisone when massage or physical therapy will be more beneficial. Cortisone can break down muscle tissue. I hate how quickly Docs like to suggest surgery and shots...they're not necessary!

Find a good PT who has knowledge about running. Cortisone is only going to treat the symptoms not the cause.

I'm a collegiate runner who has been battling hip and lower back problems for 4 years now, the original problems started following a high femoral stress fracture and the subsequent lack of allowing adequate healing time for it. Following a flare up of back and piriformis pain last fall I received a Cortisone injection to clear up the pain allowing me to run and finish out my season. I was well aware that the injection would not cure the problem, just cover it up, but it absolutely worked for that tasked and after a day or two off following the injection I finished out the season pretty well. The doctor managed "hit" the spot exactly, which I guess is key to the injections success, I'd find a doctor who does lots of injections.

I took time off after the season to heal and haven't had problems in the last year. So if you are in need of pain relief only, for a "short" (up to several weeks)period of time I would recommend the shot, but also make sure you address the actual cause of the pain as soon as you can or once the injection wears off the pain will return, possibly with a vengeance. Good Luck.

Oh, and Cortisone injections, while not painful are no where enjoyable.

Doctor: "Alright, this is going to feel like a goal ball going into the low of your back."

Me: "Ok."

Doctor: "You may want to hold onto the table pretty firmly."

::Enter Golf Ball::

Thanks for the input. I'm aware that the cortisone shot will reduce the inflammation and make the pain go away, but it won't "cure" anything. I am seeing a PT as well for stretching and strengthening. However the pain is interfering with my everyday functioning and it can wake me up at night if I roll over onto the affected side. So we're trying to get the pain to subside while we address the cause of the problem.

I've heard they can hurt. Since it's going into the "meat" of my butt hopefully it won't be as bad as if it were to inject into a joint.

My brother had one in his shoulder. He said it hurt like a b*tch --felt like battery acid, then freezing cold. I've heard they put lidocaine or something like that in it which may explain the cold feeling. I don't know much about them except what I have heard. However my brother said the shot pain was worth it since it made the pain in his rotator cuff completely subside. He was then able to address the causes through PT. Before the shot, PT wasn't working because it hurt him too much to fully complete the exercises. So I guess it can be beneficial to get you on track, but it's not a cure.

BTW, the Dr. tried all sorts of other options before he gave the shot, so I don't think the generalization of doctors being too quick to prescribe injections rather than stretching and strength work is accurate.

HR wrote:

Dont do cortisone when massage or physical therapy will be more beneficial. Cortisone can break down muscle tissue. I hate how quickly Docs like to suggest surgery and shots...they're not necessary!

Read that they don't break down muscle but they will weaken tendons.