My rotator cuff has been in bad shape since high school with tendinitis and minor tares. Unfortunatly, it's gotten much worse with my involvement in waterski competitions and white water kayaking over the summer. I had a friend suggest a cortizone (or cortisol) shot so I didn't have to sit out on waterskiing this weekend but after reasearching it I'm not sure if it's such a good idea. They seem to be amazing at relieving pain but do nothing for the actual healing process-some research shows it might even slow it. My doctor says no way, but he's also very old school and thinks I shouldn't waterski at all.

Anybody have any experience with it?

I had a cortisone shot a couple of years ago and if Id have known how painful it would be Id never have agreed to it. To say it was excrutiating is an understatement, I almost fainted and Im usually pretty tough with these sorts of things. While it gave relief for a while, usually the pain comes back so generally it tends to be a short term thing. A friend of ours who is an orthopedic surgeon say he would never recommend such shots.

Hope this helps
L

I guess it depends on who you talk to,,, I get them for the bursitis/tendinitis in both shoulders. Works wonders for be,,, within a couple days I have no pain at all and the shots themselves are not much more painful than having an intravenous needle placed. I usually get at least 6 monthes out of each shot,, tho I sometimes need to go back the next week because they didn't hit exactly the right spot.

On the other hand,, I've been trying epidural injections of corticosteroids for back pain,, with no relief. He has tried at t12,, t11,, t10,, and yesterday at t9 and t8,, still nothing. I think I'm done with this guy,, maybe acupuncture next,, at least until the legalize medical mariquana in Pa. Too hard to find a reliable dealer, here,,, maybe when it's in the drug store at Walmart, it will be easier.

Good luck with the waterskiing,, not all that much summer left.
ed

I havent used it myself but have been recomended it for medi carpal relief. The way I understood it the shots only work for a while, after which you have to get another injection... and another. To me it seemed like you said, just a patch, and doing nothing to actually help the problem. So I figued on saving that one till my arms are about to fall off.

Unfortunately the thing that I have found is best for these "overuse" issues is just giving the effected area some time to recover. Even a short amount of time with good rest will do a lot. For my carpals I found that buying one of those 15 dollar braces from wall mart work great. By the time the thing is totally mutalated it has absorbed enough of the stress my joints usually take for them to be feeling a lot better. Abbey I'm not sure what movement hurts but basically whatever it is if you can find something that restricts you from it may allow them to get the needed rest. One of those slings used for a broken collar bone may be limiting enough? Also eating well and a good overdose of vitamins helps during recovery time.