Cortisol shots for carpal tunnel - any affects on kidney?

Sorry you are going through such pain. My question is did this Rheumy test for this or just make an educated guess? Usually it takes an EMG test of the arms/hands to identify and accurately diagnose Carpal tunnel.

Just wondering.. tired of docs who make these absolutes without proper testing.

Hope you get relief without any ramifications.

Let us know how you are doing hon!

Jan

NanoSecond said:

Other issues are more pertinent

Hi Jojo.  Cortisol is a steroid.  Here's what Wikipedia says about it:

"Cortisol is a steroid hormone, more specifically a glucorticoid, produced by the zona fasciculata of the adrenal cortex. It is released in response to stress and a low level of blood glucocorticoid. Its primary functions are to increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis, suppress the immune system, and aid with fat, protein, and carbohydrate metabolisms. It also decreases bone formation."

In other words - your fasting blood glucose levels wil go up and your immune system will be weakened.  These are far more serious issues than the low potential for kidney infections.

My advice is to avoid steriods when/if at all possible. And, if it is not possible, use them sparingly.

Carpal tunnel or any tendonitis, bursitis, or acute soft tissue inflammation is a response to injury, stress, strain or overuse syndrome. The ensueing inflammation acts to provide the process of healing and immobilization. Sometimes the swelling and inflammation is excessive and can become chronic with considerable pain and dysfunction. It is a normal response. In severe or acute cases, having a shot of cortisone resolves inflammation rapidly. Cortisone is a steroid. Not the type an athlete uses to build muscle. It is a strong anti-inflammatory. The quicker the swelling resolves, the less the permanent risk for long term damage to the affected tissue. It is not systemic. It is local. It is effective and safe when used on occaision.  Don't be concerned with any adverse effects in kidney function. Without treatment, the damage to musculoskeletal tissue will be of greater concern to kidney function. Things need to be kept in perspective. It is a well accepted standard of care. I hope it works for you. So much depends on the accuracy of the injection.

Hi. I was having an issue with this in my right hand. I started paying attention to how I was using my hand and noticed I was putting a lot of stress by the way I held my phone when texting. I changed the way I hold my phone and started using both hands (and relax and don't over-extend) when texting, and after a few weeks of being careful things improved.

Carpal tunnel is one syndrome that is related to one nerve, but the kind I was having was another nerve more towards the outside. The neurolgist I saw did mention he might have to do the test Djinnie mentioned to diagnose the nerve damage.

I only mention what happened to me thinking you might pay attention to the way you're using your hands. Maybe typing? Or in your job? It did help for me.

Also, I was leaning on my elbow on the arm rest in my car while driving, and that also might have been causing damage to that ulnar nerve that runs through my elbow. I stopped doing that too. I'm pretty sure one or the other helped me resolve my problem with time. I didn't get a cortisone shot, but I have had them before for plantars fascitis in my fot (and it helped resolve that) and for a problem with my shoulder (I think it helped with that too).

I remember hearing that you should have only a limited number of these shots in a certain area (I don't recall how many), because it can cause a different problem. You might want to research that if he wants to give you another shot.

Best to you.

Todd

Jojo61 said:

Thanks for the input. Still

Thanks for the input. Still not sure what to do. I went to the rheumatologist because my hands and feet have been very sore and stiff and my wrists have given me very sharp pain when I lean my wrist on a surface, or when I am leaning using my hands - such as yoga. The backs of my hands have developed large lumps at the joint between index and middle fingers - on both sides. My family doctor (who is in his first year of practice) looked at them and said "you have arthritis and by the look of your hands, you have had arthritis for a while". I asked if he wasn't sure it is carpal tunnel. He said no, but, he said, this "Joint doctor" (don't get excited, Fox was really good at diagnosing. This joint doctor looked at the lumps on the backs of my hands and said they were my tendons (xrays showed nothing) and both hands had carpal tunnel. Diagnosis by eyeballing, Jan! When he suggested the shot I felt I may as well give it a try -  the shots hurt!! He gave the shot on underside of each of my wrists. One hand went completely numb about 5 minutes after but by the end of the day it was back to normal. However they feel worse than they did before!! Even though I have an appointment to go back for another shot in a month, I think I am going to ask for a referral to a neurologist. I do believe that I need to watch what I am doing...I work in an office setting, which doesn't help, I am sure, and also I know when I sleep, my hands always end up being flexed down....time for support splints, I think! Thank you for your input!!

Hugs

Jojo

Oh boy, JoJo.. don't get me started!  I too as diagnosed with carpal tunnel after an EMG test (needles/electrodes) which said both arms has positive results. I had this dime size pain in upper arm of ONE arm for months and months. How can that be carpal tunnel when i have no wrist/hand pain? Turns out its all part of my MS.

Now, did this Rheumy do any labs to substantiate or rule out arthritis? Or any other diseases? AND why call it carpal tunnel when your pain/stiffness is in both hands and feet?

Eventually I was referred by my life-saving chiropractor to this specialized nutrtionist. They use NRT/ART which is Nutrtional response testing or Autonomic response testing. If you ever had someone push against your limbs and you push counter to these pressing down THAT is what ART is like only its more specific.

Another suggestion besides seeing a provider of NRT/ART is an ant-inflammatory diet. You'd be surprised at how reducing inflammation improves how you feel, give you much more energy and reduce or eliminate many symptoms.

BUT you still need to see if you have any form of arthritis. Even if you do, and those "lumps" are a part of it, you need a wholistic approach. If you are open to that approach. Are you?

Even my MS doctor was amazed at my improvement after seeing this specific and highly trained Nutritionist helped me reduce inflammation which in turn improved my balance issues, cog fog and overall fatigue/pain issues.

Maybe a 2nd opinion from another Rhuemy? Or one who runs tests to rule in/out other diseases?

Gentle hugs, Jan