[unrecoverable text]

The only experience I have with cortisone was for a neuroma (a benign nerve tumor) in the ball of my right foot. I got a cortisone shot in it. Hurt like hell and didn't help. In contrast, my FIL was having disc problems in his neck. He got cortisone shots and they worked great for him.

Thanks Becky!

I had a couple of shots in my hip about 15 years ago. (The size of the needle scared the crap outta me!) They gave me a little relief, but some other health issues kept me from feeling the full benefit.

No experience personally, but I do have two friends who did. One had severe problems with two back vertebrae. Having the shots enabled him to put off major surgery for years. By the time they weren't working well, there had been improvements in how they do back surgery. He doesn't have to get them any longer. The other was for a bad hip and knee. She did really well for years with them, although over the years they worked for less and less time (her body's tolerance of them changed, making them less effective for a shorter period of time over time). She didn't mention any side effects from it, and actually looked forward to them to help improve the pain and issues she was having. She's now had a hip and knee replacement and no longer needs them.