Cortisone Injection

[Wilf]

I have osteoarthritis right knee, not much cartilage left, so i arranged a cortisone injection. Soon as i mentioned cycling to doctor he said no good for the knee. I then had a debate with him explaining what i thought were the benefits. He then changed it to cycling with minimal pressure which i sort of get. However i live in the welland valley and cycling avoiding hills is impossible. Just wondering what views fellow cyclists have on this, i will start keeping a higher cadence and also stop standing up now and then if this will help me.
certainly not intending to stop now 66 and need all types of exercise.

 

[vickster]

Spin and sit. I have OA in both knees, I've never been discouraged from cycling, however don't stand up and use low gears. I also had to stop clipping in as I don't have enough bend to have my feet in that forwards position. Obviously make sure your saddle is the right height.
I was told not to run (fine by me ) but I swim, do aqua aerobics, gym stuff, walk. If it hurts too much don't do it, simples!

Oh and don't expect the steroid injection to last too long. If your OA is mild to moderate, hyaluronic acid injections are proven but not available on NHS and Private HC won't normally pay either so are a few hundred out of pocket. You can also keep having them unlike steroid (which can further damage the cartilage)

 

[oxoman]

Pretty much what vickster says. Just take it easy no powering up hills etc. If it gets to much pedalling under moderate pressure it may be worth considering an ebike. Got a few in my club that have continued to ride having converted to them after various issues looked to be stopping them.

 

[Drago]

It's often amazed me over the years how incredibly unfit looking doctors seem to have odd ideas about the benefits of exercise. After all, imagine how much worse off youd be if you were less fit, or had less well developed leg musculature, or osteoporosis that could have been held at bay by exercise, etc?

 

[fossyant]

Unfortunately, steroid injections only offer temporary relief, as as Vickster says, can make things worse/cause tissue damage. I have a torn rotator cuff and the doc and I discussed steroid injections as it's been so painful. Decided against it as I was warned it could weaken the tendon, and cause a full tear, needing surgery. Nope. I've had them before in my shoulder and they don't offer relief for long.

 

[vickster]

Unfortunately, steroid injections only offer temporary relief, as as Vickster says, can make things worse/cause tissue damage. I have a torn rotator cuff and the doc and I discussed steroid injections as it's been so painful. Decided against it as I was warned it could weaken the tendon, and cause a full tear, needing surgery. Nope. I've had them before in my shoulder and they don't offer relief for long.

I don't think tendon rupture is common if done under ultrasound guidance by an expert. I had two into a very poorly elbow tendon (tennis elbow) and despite the warning by the consultant radiologist, all good (apart from the fact the jab f'ing hurts) and the second one seems to have fixed it (I was very close to needing surgery) 🤞

 

[Drago]

I had the ultrasound guided injection in my sacked shoulder. 2 or 3 days of excruciating pain (the prodedure itself was off the scale painful, albeit for only 5 or 10 seconds), and once that subsided it was no different than before.