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Has anyone had steroid shots in their shoulders for PMR?

Posted by 2mary @2mary, 2 days ago

Has anyone had steroid shots in their shoulders for PMR? I was diagnosed with PMR in February of this year. I started out at 40 mg and now on 1 mg. My doctor said to come back in July for annual check up and to start physical therapy. My right shoulder was hurting so bad that I decided to had an x-Ray before starting therapy, which showed arthritis, so I had a shot and it has helped for part of the shoulder. I saw my doctor last week for the first time since diagnosis and now she has me starting methotrexate as my pain continues to consume my entire body. I do not see a rheumatologist until October. Has anyone had success with steroid shots?

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2mary | @2mary | 22 hours ago
In reply to @tuckerp "@pmrsuzie I had x-rays and an MRI of my right shoulder. This was at the start..." + (show)
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@pmrsuzie I had x-rays and an MRI of my right shoulder. This was at the start of PMR. I was convinced I had an orthopedic problem. The tests showed that I had some osteoarthritis and small slap tear in my right shoulder. But he said for 70 yrs old , that was not my problem. Testing also showed some bursitis. He gave me cortisone-steroid shot and said that he would only do the one. His comment was the shots would eventually deteriorate the joint and tendons. He would do plasma injections at $500 shot. By then the PMR had moved everywhere else. All my joints were sore. 4 hours after my first prednisone I was a new man. To answer your question, they might be able to tell from an x-ray but I would say an MRI is better. Particularly as we age and try to be active it doesnt take much to tweak a muscle and those muscles take forever to get better.

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@tuckerp
Thank you, my doctor has never suggested an MRI so I hope when I meet with a Rheumatologist in October they will recommend. How long did your cot

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2mary | @2mary | 22 hours ago
In reply to @pmrsuzie "@tuckerp Do you know exactly what was wrong with your shoulder? I am having a shoulder..." + (show)
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@tuckerp
Do you know exactly what was wrong with your shoulder?
I am having a shoulder problem and it is not pmr. I recently really aggravated whatever is wrong when I twisted a plant trying to get it out of a pot. How much can they tell is wrong from an xray? I am trying the rest and activity modification treatment for now. Have not seen a Dr yet.

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@pmrsuzie
The x-Ray on right shoulder showed arthritis and the pain is as bad on my left. Hope you get better soon

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2mary | @2mary | 22 hours ago
In reply to @kjoed53 "I had three cortisone injections before my PMR diagnosis. Two were near my left shoulder blade..." + (show)
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I had three cortisone injections before my PMR diagnosis. Two were near my left shoulder blade for what they thought was a pinched nerve, and one was in the area of my back closest to my left hip. Each only lasted about 7-10 days. After my PMR diagnosis I started 25mg prednisone and it was like magic.

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@kjoed53
Thank you. Prednisone has not been working for me and now on methotrexate since Sunday.

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kjoed53 | @kjoed53 | 21 hours ago
In reply to @2mary "@kjoed53 Thank you. Prednisone has not been working for me and now on methotrexate since Sunday." + (show)
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@kjoed53
Thank you. Prednisone has not been working for me and now on methotrexate since Sunday.

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@2mary
Is the methotrexate working for you? I just started kevzara July 24.

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dga76 | @dga76 | 18 hours ago

Yes, still on predisone (although trying to step down). I'm not sure rheumatologist would give me additional shots in the same joints if I started having pain again but he may if different joints. He did prescribe PT but I haven't started it (and won't unless I start having pain again). Hope this info helps.

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2mary | @2mary | 16 hours ago
In reply to @kjoed53 "@2mary Is the methotrexate working for you? I just started kevzara July 24." + (show)
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@2mary
Is the methotrexate working for you? I just started kevzara July 24.

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@kjoed53
Not sure as I just started three days ago with a low 2.5 mg.

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rlstonejr | @rlstonejr | 8 hours ago

Ba careful what shots you get! Been on pred for PMR for 12 yrs. In December X-ray indicated arthritis in shoulder. Ortho dr gave me a shot which contained lidocaine for immediate numbing and 40 msg of pred. I was on 9 mg oral pred at the time. My fasting blood glucose shot from 130 to 218. Had to add RYBELSUS on top of Metformin and JARDIANCE to reduce. Now still only down to 150. But I have lost 20 lbs 😊 and A1c dropped from 7.6 to 7.0.

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connielopera5471 | @connielopera5471 | 4 hours ago

I was diagnosed with PMR in early 2025. I had bilateral hip pain, knee pain and shoulder pain (especially on the right). I had shoulder x-ray and a steroid injection in the shoulder. After the injection my other joint pains resolved for 10 days, then all pains returned.

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