Cortisone or Prednisone

Hi guys,

I'm suffering extreme pain in my right shoulder that I have had surgery on to fix bursar, cartilage, AC joint etc last year.  Now and again when I'm working too much on the computer at work I get still severe pain.  In the past I've had Cortisone injections directly in the joints and had a backup of oral cortisone.

My question is.  Now that I have and RNY pouch can I take Cortisone?

Before WLS, I had Cortizone shots in my shoulder without a problem.

Since reaching goal I have had several shots and had problems both times.

After the first set of 2 shots I was awful. When I left the office I was feeling funny but  I got myself to my car without passing out.  I had my  DGD with me and I paniced which I think made it worse.  I blew my horn until someone came to help me (people actually walked right by without helping).  I felt like I was going to pass out and I got very nauseous. Someone finally got a nurse to help me.  She brought me orange juice and called my SIL to drive me home.  I spent the rest of the day in bed.

The second time I got 1 shot.  They felt I had problems because of my low weight and from not eating breakfast the previous time so I took a protein bar with me and I didn't get as dizzy but I had to sit in the office until it passed. It felt like a bad case of dumping.  I layed down most of the afternoon.

i had cortisone with my knee.  The first hour or so wasn't bad but the pain and swelling after that was awful, bad enough I called the Dr back to see if it was an allergic reaction.  It was not unheard of but not common.  It was better after pain meds and then ok the next day.  I don't think it had any thing to do with my RNY since it was local to my knee.  I had cortisone years ago with a foot and with my hip but it was so long ago I don't remember any side effects to know if it was different this time than before.

The pain is so bad i ended up taking cortisone tablet and hope that it doesn't upset me just for a few days. I took ine tablet last night and feel a bit heartburn like this morning but I can't cope with the pain. I think I'll call my doc this morning.

There are 2 things you have to be careful with cortisone - watch your blood sugars carefully - it can really spike your sugar.  Then, if you take a cortisone tablet - make sure you take it with a PPI - nexium, protonix, prilosec or prevacid or it could cause an ulcer.

Something key that I noticed you said is "when im working on the computer"  That tells me from my job experience that if thats when your getting some pain that your computer station, desk, monitor, chair, legs etc might not be in the best ergonomic position for your body.

You might want to take a close look at just how your set up and exactly what is hurting, neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, upper or lower back, behind the knees, buttocks, swollen legs or cramps etc

Take a peek at this link, Esp go though the menu on the left side as this just might help you

osha.gov/SLTC/etools/computerworkstations/index.html

Thanks so much Tony for the link.  I did have a look into my work positioning at my desk and I've swapped chairs for one that goes a tad higher (I'm very short at only 5'1") and I sit at a large l shape desk so I got one of those shelf thingys that go across the corner so I sit in the corner of it.  My legs dangle a little bit so I'm yet to find a solution of how I can sit high enough for my shoulder and still touch the ground.  In my old job it was great as the desk itself had a winding mechanism in it so I could wind it lower for my height.

I'll go study your link and see what else it suggests.

Thanks heaps

 

Karin,

they also make some special steps/ramps to rest your feet on under the table and also at the right height and angle too so while you sit higher to be inline with your desk, keyboard, monitor etc you don't want your legs dangling down as that creates pressure on the back of your legs which can cause pain, pressure points, restrict blood flow etc all which are not good.

Also take a look at your monitor, are you leaning over to see it? head up or down to read it. Everything should be in a neutral position.  All that leaning creates pressure in your neck, shoulders and even pressure on your elbows cause your leaning and you body is being supported.

So work on one thing at a time, going from head to toe, there is also a check list on that link too as to the pros and cons of some of the items one might purchase.

I hope it helps you out. Many office workers could feel much better at the end of the day if everything FIT them properly