Good morning Everyone!
My half marathon is exactly one week away. As luck would have it (my luck anyway) I have aggravated my IT band on my right knee. I guess I have overtrained!
My question is this....I'm considering calling my doctor tomorrow to see about getting a cortisone injection in my knee to reduce the inflammation to get me thru the race next weekend.
Are there any concerns with this possibly aggravating the MC? My stomach issues have been SO good as of late, and I don't want to tempt fate....but this injury has the potential of really causing me some pain next week, which of course, I hope to avoid at all costs.
I've worked SO hard to get where I am, and want to do everything in my power to have a successful and (hopefully) pain free race next week.
Thanks!
~Jill
Cortisone Injection Safety?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
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jillian357
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Good morning Jill,
I don't believe that there is much of a chance that a cortisone shot would have an adverse effect on your digestive system, unless, of course, you happen to be one of those somewhat rare individuals who experience neurological effects from steroids, (but still, that probably wouldn't affect your digestive system), and it would only last for a day or so, unless you repeated the treatment. Theoretically, at least, the drug should be excreted within about 36 hours, (though the effect on the knee might last for at least a couple of weeks or so).
I'm more concerned about the possibility of damaging your knee while running, because of turning off the pain switch. It may be a bit late to try to do this before the contest, but for the future, if you plan to continue long-distance running, you may need to try some exercises to strengthen your IT bands, (if you haven't already been doing this). "Walt Reynolds's ITB Special", for example, is described in this article:
http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/arc ... juries.htm
Tex
I don't believe that there is much of a chance that a cortisone shot would have an adverse effect on your digestive system, unless, of course, you happen to be one of those somewhat rare individuals who experience neurological effects from steroids, (but still, that probably wouldn't affect your digestive system), and it would only last for a day or so, unless you repeated the treatment. Theoretically, at least, the drug should be excreted within about 36 hours, (though the effect on the knee might last for at least a couple of weeks or so).
I'm more concerned about the possibility of damaging your knee while running, because of turning off the pain switch. It may be a bit late to try to do this before the contest, but for the future, if you plan to continue long-distance running, you may need to try some exercises to strengthen your IT bands, (if you haven't already been doing this). "Walt Reynolds's ITB Special", for example, is described in this article:
http://www.sportsinjurybulletin.com/arc ... juries.htm
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Jillian,
I am also a runner (although I have never run a half marathon, just 5K's). Like you, I have had cortisone injections in the past and I never had it aggrevate MC. I have not had to have an injection for about 3 years, but it never really affected me and it helped quite a bit.
Since you are also a runner I would love to ask you another question. I am not only a runner, but an avid hiker as well. When MC is not flaring I can run and hike all i want. However, when MC is bad I run on the treadmill at my gym (there is a bathroom nearby) and I dont hike at all.
What do you do if you are out running and suddenly you need the bathroom? Does MC interfere often with your runs? Sometimes even if i am feeling ok I am nervous to go for a run outside just in case.
I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on this.
Good luck with your half marathon and be sure to let us know how you did!!
I am also a runner (although I have never run a half marathon, just 5K's). Like you, I have had cortisone injections in the past and I never had it aggrevate MC. I have not had to have an injection for about 3 years, but it never really affected me and it helped quite a bit.
Since you are also a runner I would love to ask you another question. I am not only a runner, but an avid hiker as well. When MC is not flaring I can run and hike all i want. However, when MC is bad I run on the treadmill at my gym (there is a bathroom nearby) and I dont hike at all.
What do you do if you are out running and suddenly you need the bathroom? Does MC interfere often with your runs? Sometimes even if i am feeling ok I am nervous to go for a run outside just in case.
I would enjoy hearing your thoughts on this.
Good luck with your half marathon and be sure to let us know how you did!!
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jillian357
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- Joined: Sun May 04, 2008 2:23 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Contact:
Hello Andi, nice to meet you!
I always love meeting fellow runners!
I'm glad to answer your question, as long as you don't mind if I ask you one as well!! I'll put my question at the end of this post.
I have to be honest, I don't have my MC fully under control as much as I would like, but I am getting there. It's all relatively new to me (since April of this year), and I learn something new every time I read the posts here.
I have eliminated a lot of things from my diet, including gluten, dairy, soy, legumes, & pretty much anything processed as well. I've been existing on chicken, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, some rice pasta.....pretty bland stuff.
That being said, I got some great advice for my marathon training from Karen (moremuscle) who is also a runner, and she has several half and full marathons under her belt. Very impressive in my book.
I have found that I have to get up 1.5-2 hours pre-run to get thru the routine I have laid out on Saturday mornings (my training run day). Karen suggested drinking a hot cup of strong tea on the mornings before my long run to stimulate the bowels. I drink my tea, and have a very small snack (1/2 of a Lara bar usually), as I can't run with hardly anything in my stomach lest I am guaranteed an episode of diarrhea. I then usually spend 45-60 minutes or so dashing to the bathroom taking care of business. On the days I am going to run longer than an hour, I usually take 1-2 Imodium tablets just in case. I always carry some extra Imodium with me as well.
This unfortunately still doesn't guarantee I won't have an episode, but it helps a lot. Just two weeks ago I was running along feeling great when a twisting cramp hit me like a ton of bricks, followed by you know what. I have learned when I am running outside for longer periods to always have a route where I know I can get to a bathroom. There have been episodes for my shorter runs in the neighborhood where I simply have to head home (and pray that I make it in time) and then get back out there once I have used the bathroom.
I guess if you are hiking in the woods, can you go off to a remote area and take care of business if you had to? I personally have never had to resort to that yet, but I could see it happening....MC can be so darn unpredictable!
It STINKS, no doubt about it...but I love running entirely too much to let MC stop me from doing it. I guess I just try to make the best of it and not let it get me down emotionally. Please remember that you are NOT ALONE, I know exactly what you are going thru when it hits and you are running.
I have had people (family mostly, who know what I have) tell me I am crazy for running this half marathon because of my stomach issues, but I am not a quitter. Sure, it makes things much more challenging, but Karen has taught me it's entirely doable if you set you mind to it.
Plus, I can be a downright stubborn fool at times too.
Now, my question.....I don't know if my General practioner can give me the cortisone shot, or do I need to go to an orthopedist? I'm worried, it's really getting to be crunch time, and the more I have read today, and the more I have thought about it, I really feel the cortisone will get me thru and feeling good enough for next Sunday's race. I'm hoping I can get one this week.
Tex--I promise to listen to my body. I know this would be a temporary fix, and I fully intend to back off the running once this race is over so I can heal properly and nip this in the bud. I went from 10 miles one Saturday to 13 the next (too big of a jump) and then I was doing the step mill at the gym on my cross training days. I simply did too much.
I have excellent shoes and orthotics to correct some overpronation.....so I am confident once this rigorous training is over and I back off things will fall into place and heal as they should. In the meantime, I've been icing and wearing an IT support band I picked up at my local running store.
I'm just going to do all I can to prevent 2-3 hours of agony next Sunday! Thanks, as always, for watching out for me! Thanks for the link too....I have been doing some stretches, but darn if that IT band isn't a hard one to stretch!!!
Love,
Jill
I always love meeting fellow runners!
I'm glad to answer your question, as long as you don't mind if I ask you one as well!! I'll put my question at the end of this post.
I have to be honest, I don't have my MC fully under control as much as I would like, but I am getting there. It's all relatively new to me (since April of this year), and I learn something new every time I read the posts here.
I have eliminated a lot of things from my diet, including gluten, dairy, soy, legumes, & pretty much anything processed as well. I've been existing on chicken, sweet potatoes, white potatoes, some rice pasta.....pretty bland stuff.
That being said, I got some great advice for my marathon training from Karen (moremuscle) who is also a runner, and she has several half and full marathons under her belt. Very impressive in my book.
I have found that I have to get up 1.5-2 hours pre-run to get thru the routine I have laid out on Saturday mornings (my training run day). Karen suggested drinking a hot cup of strong tea on the mornings before my long run to stimulate the bowels. I drink my tea, and have a very small snack (1/2 of a Lara bar usually), as I can't run with hardly anything in my stomach lest I am guaranteed an episode of diarrhea. I then usually spend 45-60 minutes or so dashing to the bathroom taking care of business. On the days I am going to run longer than an hour, I usually take 1-2 Imodium tablets just in case. I always carry some extra Imodium with me as well.
This unfortunately still doesn't guarantee I won't have an episode, but it helps a lot. Just two weeks ago I was running along feeling great when a twisting cramp hit me like a ton of bricks, followed by you know what. I have learned when I am running outside for longer periods to always have a route where I know I can get to a bathroom. There have been episodes for my shorter runs in the neighborhood where I simply have to head home (and pray that I make it in time) and then get back out there once I have used the bathroom.
I guess if you are hiking in the woods, can you go off to a remote area and take care of business if you had to? I personally have never had to resort to that yet, but I could see it happening....MC can be so darn unpredictable!
It STINKS, no doubt about it...but I love running entirely too much to let MC stop me from doing it. I guess I just try to make the best of it and not let it get me down emotionally. Please remember that you are NOT ALONE, I know exactly what you are going thru when it hits and you are running.
I have had people (family mostly, who know what I have) tell me I am crazy for running this half marathon because of my stomach issues, but I am not a quitter. Sure, it makes things much more challenging, but Karen has taught me it's entirely doable if you set you mind to it.
Plus, I can be a downright stubborn fool at times too.
Now, my question.....I don't know if my General practioner can give me the cortisone shot, or do I need to go to an orthopedist? I'm worried, it's really getting to be crunch time, and the more I have read today, and the more I have thought about it, I really feel the cortisone will get me thru and feeling good enough for next Sunday's race. I'm hoping I can get one this week.
Tex--I promise to listen to my body. I know this would be a temporary fix, and I fully intend to back off the running once this race is over so I can heal properly and nip this in the bud. I went from 10 miles one Saturday to 13 the next (too big of a jump) and then I was doing the step mill at the gym on my cross training days. I simply did too much.
I have excellent shoes and orthotics to correct some overpronation.....so I am confident once this rigorous training is over and I back off things will fall into place and heal as they should. In the meantime, I've been icing and wearing an IT support band I picked up at my local running store.
I'm just going to do all I can to prevent 2-3 hours of agony next Sunday! Thanks, as always, for watching out for me! Thanks for the link too....I have been doing some stretches, but darn if that IT band isn't a hard one to stretch!!!
Love,
Jill
Jill,
I swear, reading your post you could be me. It is so nice to hear others who understand how horrible it is to have MC, esp. when you love doing things like running and hiking. I do exactly as you do, I get up an hour early every day just so i have time to use the bathroom so I can leave my house. I work out at a gym at 5am every day so I get up at 4am, take some anti-diarrhea pills and then spend the hour going to the bathroom until it is out of my system. I can then go do my workout, but i have to go thru the whole routine again once I come home from the gym while I am getting ready for work. I also carry anti-diarrhea pills with me wherever I go, if i happen to run out i feel nervous until I can get some more. I never thought about drinking the hot tea to get things moving so I thank you for telling me about that. So much to learn from people on this site.
Like you, I am just learning about MC. I have had it for about 6 years but was just diagnosed last month. I had never heard of it and have spent the last month trying to read all I can about it. I am so happy that in my online reading I came upon this forum.
I also have prescription orthodics and have had running injuries from overuse.
I have always had my cortisone treatments done by an orth. However, a friend of mine has had her primary care doctor do them. I think that it depends on the doctor. I would ask your doctor if he/she could do it because sometimes it takes a long time to get in to see a orth. Call tomorrow as you only have a week before your half marathon.
I admire you for sticking with it for this race with both the MC and your injury. Tex is right to not take a chance of hurting it any further once you have the shot and the pain is gone. However, I do know the drive and the passion to want to run, and to hike. I know if it was me I also would not let anything interfere.
About 10 years ago i broke my ankle (running). I paid money outside of what my insurance would pay so I could get a waterproof cast. I then spent every morning water running in the pool at my gym since I could not run outside or on the treadmill. I also hobbled to the gym on crutches to lift weights for my upper body. When the doctor took the cast off my leg there was very little atrophy.
Physical activity is something that is hard to give up when you are used to doing it.
Please let me know if you get the shot this week, I will be thinking of you.
I swear, reading your post you could be me. It is so nice to hear others who understand how horrible it is to have MC, esp. when you love doing things like running and hiking. I do exactly as you do, I get up an hour early every day just so i have time to use the bathroom so I can leave my house. I work out at a gym at 5am every day so I get up at 4am, take some anti-diarrhea pills and then spend the hour going to the bathroom until it is out of my system. I can then go do my workout, but i have to go thru the whole routine again once I come home from the gym while I am getting ready for work. I also carry anti-diarrhea pills with me wherever I go, if i happen to run out i feel nervous until I can get some more. I never thought about drinking the hot tea to get things moving so I thank you for telling me about that. So much to learn from people on this site.
Like you, I am just learning about MC. I have had it for about 6 years but was just diagnosed last month. I had never heard of it and have spent the last month trying to read all I can about it. I am so happy that in my online reading I came upon this forum.
I also have prescription orthodics and have had running injuries from overuse.
I have always had my cortisone treatments done by an orth. However, a friend of mine has had her primary care doctor do them. I think that it depends on the doctor. I would ask your doctor if he/she could do it because sometimes it takes a long time to get in to see a orth. Call tomorrow as you only have a week before your half marathon.
I admire you for sticking with it for this race with both the MC and your injury. Tex is right to not take a chance of hurting it any further once you have the shot and the pain is gone. However, I do know the drive and the passion to want to run, and to hike. I know if it was me I also would not let anything interfere.
About 10 years ago i broke my ankle (running). I paid money outside of what my insurance would pay so I could get a waterproof cast. I then spent every morning water running in the pool at my gym since I could not run outside or on the treadmill. I also hobbled to the gym on crutches to lift weights for my upper body. When the doctor took the cast off my leg there was very little atrophy.
Physical activity is something that is hard to give up when you are used to doing it.
Please let me know if you get the shot this week, I will be thinking of you.
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jillian357
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 112
- Joined: Sun May 04, 2008 2:23 pm
- Location: Ohio
- Contact:
Hi Andi,
Thanks again for the advice and support. I’m so sorry that you have to deal with all the MC issues like I do, but I must admit, there is comfort in knowing we are not alone with this!
The tea really does help for me anyway, give it a try and see it the same is true for you.
You have a great attitude and are determined as I am to continue doing the things we feel passionate about. Good for you!
I wanted to let you know I went to my GP today….he isn’t sure if I have IT band syndrome or hamstring tendonitis, so he was hesitant to give a cortisone shot. Instead, he wrote me a prescription for a 9 day course of Prednisone, his logic is this will get to all the sources of inflammation and calm things down. He also gave me a prescription for a mild painkiller as well to get me thru.
The good news is he said my ligaments, tendons and joints are all in excellent shape, this is simply an injury brought on my overtraining. A good course of rest and ice will have me good as new once this race is over. He assured me that by continuing to run right now, no permanent harm will be done. whew!
I’ll post once the big day is over, hopefully with a very positive race report.
Thanks again!
Love,
Jill
Thanks again for the advice and support. I’m so sorry that you have to deal with all the MC issues like I do, but I must admit, there is comfort in knowing we are not alone with this!
The tea really does help for me anyway, give it a try and see it the same is true for you.
You have a great attitude and are determined as I am to continue doing the things we feel passionate about. Good for you!
I wanted to let you know I went to my GP today….he isn’t sure if I have IT band syndrome or hamstring tendonitis, so he was hesitant to give a cortisone shot. Instead, he wrote me a prescription for a 9 day course of Prednisone, his logic is this will get to all the sources of inflammation and calm things down. He also gave me a prescription for a mild painkiller as well to get me thru.
The good news is he said my ligaments, tendons and joints are all in excellent shape, this is simply an injury brought on my overtraining. A good course of rest and ice will have me good as new once this race is over. He assured me that by continuing to run right now, no permanent harm will be done. whew!
I’ll post once the big day is over, hopefully with a very positive race report.
Thanks again!
Love,
Jill
Hi Jill,
Is your doctor aware that you plan to run a half-marathon Sunday? If he had given you a cortisone shot, the drug would have been out of your body in a day and a half. I have no way of knowing what dosage rate he prescribed, but if it's adequate to resolve your knee pain, that treatment regimen will probably be sufficient for the prednisone to take control of your adrenals and various other organs by Sunday
Also, oral cortisone, such as prednisone, will increase your blood sugar and blood pressure. In combination with prednisone's tendency to take over the adrenals and associated functions, I'm not sure that's a good idea for someone about to do what you are planning. Still, he's the doctor, (and I'm not), so if he's aware of what you plan to do, (which it sounds like he is), then I'll try to not be concerned.
It's not that the prednisone is so bad, but as I'm sure you're aware, a half-marathon is not exactly a walk in the park. Regardless, I hope you'll be in optimal physical condition by Sunday, and I wish you the best of luck in the race.
Love,
Tex
Is your doctor aware that you plan to run a half-marathon Sunday? If he had given you a cortisone shot, the drug would have been out of your body in a day and a half. I have no way of knowing what dosage rate he prescribed, but if it's adequate to resolve your knee pain, that treatment regimen will probably be sufficient for the prednisone to take control of your adrenals and various other organs by Sunday
Also, oral cortisone, such as prednisone, will increase your blood sugar and blood pressure. In combination with prednisone's tendency to take over the adrenals and associated functions, I'm not sure that's a good idea for someone about to do what you are planning. Still, he's the doctor, (and I'm not), so if he's aware of what you plan to do, (which it sounds like he is), then I'll try to not be concerned.
It's not that the prednisone is so bad, but as I'm sure you're aware, a half-marathon is not exactly a walk in the park. Regardless, I hope you'll be in optimal physical condition by Sunday, and I wish you the best of luck in the race.
Love,
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Jill,
I am so happy that you dont have damage to your ligiments, tendons, and joints. I know that is a huge relief to you.
I hope the prednisone helps you, it may help with your MC as well. I dont know much about it, Tex knows a lot more. If you are up to it, please post when you can as I will be thinking of you every day and wondering how you are doing.
Nine days does not seem like too long to have to take predinsone, hopefully it can get the imflamation down. How are you feeling today?
After your race a I hope you really do take it easy. You may want to consider water exercise as I did, until all the pain is gone. Running in the water kept me fit, but also put no stress on my joints. It is something to think about if you have a pool that you can use. I was about your age when i broke my ankle (I am 51 now, and i broke my ankle about 10 years ago) and for me the water exercise helped keep me from losing my fitness while I healed.
I am also curious if in addition to running you also do resistance training? I have been lifting weights for about 18 years now and it helps a lot. Cardio exercise like running is great, but keeping your muscles toned helps prevent injury, and helps prevent osteoprosis and other illnesses. While you heal your injury, if you can maybe water exercise for cardio fitness, and resistance training for upper body will help keep you at peak fitness.
Good luck with your half marathon.
I am so happy that you dont have damage to your ligiments, tendons, and joints. I know that is a huge relief to you.
I hope the prednisone helps you, it may help with your MC as well. I dont know much about it, Tex knows a lot more. If you are up to it, please post when you can as I will be thinking of you every day and wondering how you are doing.
Nine days does not seem like too long to have to take predinsone, hopefully it can get the imflamation down. How are you feeling today?
After your race a I hope you really do take it easy. You may want to consider water exercise as I did, until all the pain is gone. Running in the water kept me fit, but also put no stress on my joints. It is something to think about if you have a pool that you can use. I was about your age when i broke my ankle (I am 51 now, and i broke my ankle about 10 years ago) and for me the water exercise helped keep me from losing my fitness while I healed.
I am also curious if in addition to running you also do resistance training? I have been lifting weights for about 18 years now and it helps a lot. Cardio exercise like running is great, but keeping your muscles toned helps prevent injury, and helps prevent osteoprosis and other illnesses. While you heal your injury, if you can maybe water exercise for cardio fitness, and resistance training for upper body will help keep you at peak fitness.
Good luck with your half marathon.
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jillian357
- Adélie Penguin
- Posts: 112
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- Location: Ohio
- Contact:
Good morning all,
Hi Tex--yup, Doc is fully aware of the half marathon on Sunday, that was the whole reason for my appointment. To be perfectly honest, if this race wasn't looming I wouldn't have even sought medical help, I would have just let it heal on it's own. He has me on a low dose of Prednisone, 30 mg a day for three days, then taper down to 20mg, and then 10mg. I will finish it up on Tuesday.
His idea was that this will be just enough to get thru Sunday's race--he did advise me to take it slow and listen to my body, which I fully intended on doing anyway.
Thanks, as always, for looking out for me!
Andi,
Thanks to you too, for your concern and support! I'm feeling pretty good today; if nothing else, I feel hopeful that Sunday will turn out ok after all. Thanks for the tips on the water workouts, that's a great idea to keep working out without the impact. I fully realize that after Sunday my main goal will be to get this injury healed so I can be in fighting shape for next year's running season.
I do resistance training as well, I've been doing it regularly for 3 years or so now. I notice a huge difference when I compliment cardio with weight training...plus, it's such nice to see a muscle pop out, isn't it?
I would love to be able to bench press 100#, but as of yet, the most I can do is 75 pounds.
Good for you for lifting for so long! I agree, it's so important for our overall health!
I promise to keep you posted on my race and the end result. Gosh, it's sure nice to have people who care so much! It means the world to me, so thank you all for that!!!
Love,
Jill
Hi Tex--yup, Doc is fully aware of the half marathon on Sunday, that was the whole reason for my appointment. To be perfectly honest, if this race wasn't looming I wouldn't have even sought medical help, I would have just let it heal on it's own. He has me on a low dose of Prednisone, 30 mg a day for three days, then taper down to 20mg, and then 10mg. I will finish it up on Tuesday.
His idea was that this will be just enough to get thru Sunday's race--he did advise me to take it slow and listen to my body, which I fully intended on doing anyway.
Thanks, as always, for looking out for me!
Andi,
Thanks to you too, for your concern and support! I'm feeling pretty good today; if nothing else, I feel hopeful that Sunday will turn out ok after all. Thanks for the tips on the water workouts, that's a great idea to keep working out without the impact. I fully realize that after Sunday my main goal will be to get this injury healed so I can be in fighting shape for next year's running season.
I do resistance training as well, I've been doing it regularly for 3 years or so now. I notice a huge difference when I compliment cardio with weight training...plus, it's such nice to see a muscle pop out, isn't it?
I would love to be able to bench press 100#, but as of yet, the most I can do is 75 pounds.
Good for you for lifting for so long! I agree, it's so important for our overall health!
I promise to keep you posted on my race and the end result. Gosh, it's sure nice to have people who care so much! It means the world to me, so thank you all for that!!!
Love,
Jill