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pain in leg after steroid injection in hip

After having stiffness in my right hip for some time,  I was referred to a physiotherapist who then referred me for investigation for further treatment. This was in September 2013.  A couple of weeks later I had a steroid injection in my hip which was extremely distressing.  I was then pain free for two weeks then suddenly became unable to walk.  The pain was excruciating when I tried to stand after sitting on a bench in the garden. Now in February 2014 and after sending a complaint to the hospital where it was carried out, I have been granted a further appointment with the consultant.  My doctor, during all these months, has put me on four different types of pain killers and morphine patches but nothing helps.  She says she thinks it unlikely that the injection has caused all this pain.  I am convinced that it has and am tired of being fobbed off.  I am now almost an invalid and cannot walk without hanging onto my husband for support and I come to a standstill with pain and tiredness after 10 minutes of struggling to get around.  I as now so scared of what the consultant is going to say.  I would be terrified of having another injection as when it hit the sciatic nerve I nearly hit the roof. The doctor injecting said this was when the needle was entering the capsule?  I have had sciatic pain ever since and I never had this before.  I was told that the injection may or may not work but nobody warned me that the sciatic nerve would be damaged and turn me into an invalid.  My family and friends cannot believe how much this pain has changed the quality of my life.  I am not able to take a holiday or pursue any activity or indeed my great love which is interior design and decorating. Has anyone else had a similar experience and what is the prognosis?


This discussion is related to Anyone else have sciatica pain after cortisone/steriod injection in hip?.
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Avatar universal
Thank you.  I will keep you posted.
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1415174 tn?1453243103
Well, I guess it is good news that they can do something to make you better even though you will hurt for a while.  I hope you will be cured of the infection before they do the surgery.  I look forward to hearing how the surgery went and your recovery.
mkh9
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Avatar universal
I attended the consultant yesterday.  I had an x-ray and then saw the main consultant.  The upshot is that I need an urgent hip replacement and this will happen in the next 4-6 weeks!!  I was completely shocked as I was just expecting to be fobbed of with excuses.  It seems that the steroid injection could have accellerated the need for this.  The x-ray showed that there had been rapid deterioration in the joint and may be caused by an infection due to the injection.  The ball at the top of the leg will be taken off and replaced and a rod put down into my leg bone.  I had all the procedures done that day - weight, blood taken, swabs taken, instructions and full health history taken.  I was there for hours. I came home exhausted and confused but I suppose someone was taking notice at last. Apparently I will be awake during this procedure.  I wish that I had not watched so many operations on television - hammers, chisels and saws and drills!! Thank you all for your kind wishes and I will let you know the outcome.  
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1415174 tn?1453243103
It does sound like the sciatica. When I first had my injury I sat all day and didn't do anything. After a month I was able to walk to the other room and back. I started walking to that room and back and increased until I got to 10 time to the next room and back. At first I couldn't lift my foot to go outside for 2 month or even get into the shower. My husband had to bathe me. It was embarrassing despite him seeing me (obviously) but having to be under his care. finally I was able to step outside. I could only walk across the street and back. So it took me along time to be able to get where I am now. It will be possible. Don't give up. I didn't actually go back to any PT or doctor either as I didn't trust any anymore. So, I understand. So now it has been since 2009 and I finally am walking 2 miles. I still have pain but the pain have finally gone down to a tolerable level. I hope that you don't have the cauda equina because that is treatable with back surgery. But if it is a damaged nerve Perhaps Neurontin or lyrica might help? I know I don't like meds either and refused to take Cymbalta and probably would have helped. I did try Neurontin because my pain goes down the back of the leg to foot too but it didn't work at all.  But it might work for your pain since it is burning pain. It might get you moving. It would be good to get an MRI just to see if anything comes up such as a nerve being pinched by a sliped disk. but I don't blame you. I would have done better going to a different PT but I lost my trust in them. I still believe walking is the best cure for most back pain. I hope you will read the book.
take care,
mkh9
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Avatar universal
Thank you for replying.  Do you think that it is normal for the sciatic nerve to be damaged during the procedure I had?  There were two nurses in the room together with the doctor when he injected me.  They could see that I was distressed and said that the man who had just had this treatment before me had shouted the place down and that it was a very painful procedure.  Nobody had warned me that it would be so painful and I was very shaken up.  I expect that when I go on Monday they will probably say that everyone experiences this and that it is normal.  I posted my concerns as I need to be prepared for his explanation.  Thank you for your prayers.  I have to say that I have prayed that I will not be left in this invalid state.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for replying.  I am sorry for your problems and had been thinking about going to a chiropractor but now I would not go near one.  I have lost confidence in GPs and specialists and do not know what to do when I see the consultant on Monday. Pain killing tablets are useless to me and cause me to have a horrible cramping pain which can last for hours.  The morphine patches were not much good either.  I put two on over Christmas but no relief.  I am sick of being a misery - this is not like me at all.  I had noticed stiffness in my right hip when out walking with my brother over three years ago and I tried to get over stiles.  I was shocked to find that it hurt so much.  I wish that this was my only problem now - I am almost housebound and could not dream of going walking further than to the car.  I have the burning sensation and sciatic pain in my buttock going down my leg in waves to my foot but I have not had numbness.  Turning over in bed is also very difficult.
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Avatar universal
I've had many spinal and hip injections. Once I  had an radiologist inj. Dye in my hip for a CAT  scan that  hit sciatic nerve. It was terrible, but went away w in 48 hrs. Then I had a spinal cord stimulator implanted for pain and they hit a spinal nerve also. Made me jump off table!  Pain pills didn't help because it was inflamed not just hurt. Nerves hurt when they swell and get caught.
Please don't get caught up w pain pills if it doesn't help anyway. They gave me a shot of Toradol (anti inflammatory) that helped right away.
Please go to a separate Orthopedic surgeon and don't expect them to admit another doc made a mistake. They all cover for each other and then wonder if you're going to sue them. A gd physical therapist could help too.
So sorry. I'll pray for you

Helpful - 0
1415174 tn?1453243103
I haven't had this happen and I am so sorry this happened to you. It does sound like the doctor may have hit a nerve (possibly the sciatic nerve) and caused damage. So, you can walk but does your foot feel numb and/or weak? Are you now incontinent? I ask this because it is a sign of another back problem, cauda equina.  If it is this you would need immediate surgery. If you don't have the incontinence you may not have this. I wouldn't have them do another injection or go back to that doctor. If there was a chance of that kind of side effect they should have made it clear.  I was injured by a physical therapist. I had back pain but was  able to do everything and get around, drive etc. But after going to him one day he was doing adjustments for my SI joint (which wasn't my problem I didn't believe) and he did the wrong leg. He said that side was off that day and he did it on purpose to adjust it. But I went into severe pain and had to go on pain pills for the first time etc. I sat and got deconditioned and it taken me 3 years to get where I can walk 2 miles now. I still can't lift much or go shopping on my own or do laundry. I wouldn't go to a chiro either. They don't even have as much experience as a Ph.D. physical therapist. I don't trust them.  I would see an orthopedic surgeon. Not in the same group that you went to. You can read the book Conquer back and neck pain walk it off by Dr. Mark Brown. He explains when you can walk it off and when to have surgery. It helped me a lot. You need a good diagnosis. I think it may be sciatic pain. Does it start at the hip or buttock and go down the back of the leg to your foot or sometimes the foot is numb. Or is it burning pain?
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