Cortizone Shot - Should I Call my Endo?

[moorejames]

I'm scheduled to have a needle jammed into my neck tomorrow. It's a cortizone shot to try and get some inflamation down from a piched nerve in my neck ( in the C4-C5 area).

The spine doctor knows its going to screw with my blood sugar and wants to me check more frequently for a week or so following. ( he said the injection wouldn't screw my numbers up as much as an oral steroid, but he said it would have an impact.)

So, should I call my endo today? Would she even do anything? (give me a temporary insulin pen to counteract it???? )

Oh, and I'm scheduled for my A1c later this month. I'm sure that's not going to be pretty after this shot.

Frankly, if it relieves the pain, numbness and tingling I'm getting with the pinched nerve, I'll take a few weeks of screwed up blood sugar. I know how to fix that...

jim

[notme]

I think I would wait and see how much it messes with your blood sugar. I have had cortisone shots in my shoulder and it definitely had an impact on my blood sugar for about a week.

If your numbers have been good, the A1c should not be impacted to badly. If you find that your numbers are ridiculously high, call your doctor and ask what you should do.

I understand you wanting to just go ahead and have the cortisone shot. It absolutely helped me. If you have one bad A1c it is worth it.

Good luck, Jim

[gettingby]

Jim, my situation is different since I am a T1 on insulin. Whenever my Ortho doc gives me a cortisone shot for my trigger finger, I always let my endo know. He then tells me how much of a temp basal to program into my pump to counter the highs that we both know are definitely coming with it. Usually, he has me increase my basal to 110% for 72 hrs after an injection. Your endo may be able to help you figure out how to combat the highs since you aren't on insulin.
Good Luck. I hope the injection gives you some relief.

[moorejames]

Thanks.

I've been through a month of phsyical therapy, acupuncture, therapuetic massage, deep tissue massage, rossiter you name. Nothing seems to be able to knock it down this time (it's been flaring up every so often for the last 8 or so years.)

At this point, injections are pretty much the last thing to try and if they don't work - it's off to the surgeon.

I'll probably take a wait and see approach. I was just curious if any else had called in advance.

[moorejames]

Jim, my situation is different since I am a T1 on insulin. Whenever my Ortho doc gives me a cortisone shot for my trigger finger, I always let my endo know. He then tells me how much of a temp basal to program into my pump to counter the highs that we both know are definitely coming with it. Usually, he has me increase my basal to 110% for 72 hrs after an injection. Your endo may be able to help you figure out how to combat the highs since you aren't on insulin.
Good Luck. I hope the injection gives you some relief.

This is one of the very (very) few situations where I envy a T1 :)

[kgm0612]

Back in July I had a steroid shot in my lower back and after several days of HIGH BS readings, I called my endo's office and he upped my basal rates and lowered my I:C ratio. It took a good month before my readings got back to normal.

Fast forward to last Thursday.........I saw my neurologist and told him I am having constant pain due to the occipital neurolgia that I have in the back of my head/neck. He gave me a steroid shot, but at half the dose and will give the other half in six weeks if I'm not any better. My BS is running a bit high, but nothing like it was with the steroid shot in the back.

Good Luck!

Karen

[moorejames]

Well, I got the shot this morning. Everything went fine - I barely felt it going in, and only felt it a little as he was injecting.

No immediate pain relief, but no immediate complications either, so we'll see what it does.

I haven't checked my BS yet. Figure I'll give it a few hours and then start checking regularly.

jim

[princesslinda]

Hope you get some pain-relief soon! Constant pain can certainly wear you down. I'll also be interested in hearing how your blood sugar responds as well.

[Psycho Penguin]

I had a cortisone shot in my back and my blood sugar was elevated. The doctor can use a weaker shot that doesn't raise sugar, but it IS weaker in pain killing unfortunately.

[moorejames]

Well, it definitely affected my BS. I spent most of yesterday afternoon dwelling in the mid 200's :eek:

I called the endo's office, but my Doc went home sick yesterday, and her partner was apparently slammed so I never did hear back from them.

I ate a light, protein only dinner, had a few glasses of wine and was finally back down around 180 by bedtime. Woke up this morning at 138. (I'm usually around 118-122 fasting).

I figure I'll just go *really* low carb the next couple of days, since I really don't have any other choice.

On the pain front - I think it's starting to work. Definitely took the edge off. The real test will be after a day at the office.

jim

[moorejames]

BTW, I just realized I'm an idiot and have been misspelling Cortisone the whole time....

I hate it when that happens.....