Steroids
Question: In the Polio Paradox, you advise against polio survivors being given steroids. Does this include steroid injections for pain? I fell and have a torn shoulder ligament. Despite physio and osteo treatments, the pain is still there. I am considering asking my Dr for a steroid injection next week.
Dr. Bruno’s Response: The problems reported by our Post-Polio Institute patients - weakness, fatigue - when they were given oral steroids for the long-term treatment of arthritic pain, which is not an appropriate use of steroids.
Steroid injections do not causRicharde the same problems. But steroid injections should be limited in number because they damage the bone. Ask for the injection to be the steroid combined with a local anesthetic.
Additional Comment: I have a lot of neck pain and regularly use physical therapy and at home traction. Two years ago, my rehabilitative physician (aware of the side effects) felt I should take a single dose pack of oral steroids (lasting only 1 week) to reduce the increased pain and inflammation in my neck. You’ve written previously about oral steroids for pain. Your article “Steroids – the Good and the Bad” helped me a lot, as did the week of steroids. Just being aware that fatigue could be a side effect, I wasn’t afraid of it nor was I surprised on the 3rd day when I felt like a rag doll. I used it as an opportunity to rest, which was probably what I needed anyway. (You can find the article mentioned above and more information on steroids under the topic of Muscle Weakness in the Encyclopedia of Polio and PPS.)