On 2nd Jan I had my #psoas injected with Kenalog Cortisone Steroid to try and settle the constant inflammation I have.

Day 0 aka Day I had it done. We went straight home after the hospital visit, took about an hour to get home, by the time we got in, made a coffee and got a good show to watch on, I could ‘ feel’ the leg being a bit achy, heavy sensation. Advised to rest, though she did say I could do my yoga gently. In the afternoon I had a headache which I promptly fell asleep with to get rid of. It did work thankfully. Leg felt warmer along the quads. Yoga was good but felt tight in quads and in the lower back especially left side. Hoping I sleep ok, as steroids sometimes mess with my sleep patterns. I popped on some ibuprofen gel for bedtime.

Day 1 Went to bed super late nearly 2am and I was up again at 6am 🤦🏻‍♀️ but when I got up, leg felt more than fine ☺️.  Still can’t heel slide this leg, but pain has eased from the resting position, which is a positive. Won’t be up to much today, except yoga, and house duties. Hopefully lots of reading too. Going to be noting down the side effects, as come dinner time I started the facial flushing too. So that’s 3 side effects already. I assume my hunger was just me, but keep an eye on it incase that is more hunger than normal.

Common side effects of steroid treatment include:

• Increased appetite, weight gain
• Nervousness, restlessness
• Irritability and Sudden unexplainable mood swings
• Muscle loss and Muscle weakness
• Blurred vision – Cataracts or glaucoma
• Increased growth of body hair
• Lower Immunity to disease
• Lower resistance to infection
• Swollen, “puffy” face or round face syndrome
• Acne and skin disorders
• Osteoporosis – weakening bones and joints
• Aggravation of diabetes
• Increased Blood Pressure Measurements
• Upset Stomach
• Bloating Digestive System
• Sleep interruption – irregular sleep patterns
• Difficulty getting sufficient REM sleep
• Water retention, swelling
• Easy Bruising

Day 2 The facial flushing was super blotchy yesterday and got worse over time, now it’s full glowing ribena face. Feels like lava!! I’ve taken Anti Histamines to help combat it. But other than that I feel pretty ok, and I slept so so much better. So that’s a relief.  I have a few chores to potter around the house to do, and of course our Yoga later too. Such a relief to be able to do it, even though I’m definitely weaker and more wobbly (that’s due to the fused hand though, not hip)

Day 3 Slept super good again, and my face is back to its normal colour. That’s a relief.  I ache all over especially in the lower back, but that could be the yoga we are doing. So I’m feeling pretty side effect free at the moment. And better yet, I even managed one hip flexion up to 90degrees, something I’ve not managed for years! Scared to push it too far before officially physio starts though, so it was just a test. Headaches seem to be the worst, mostly they hit in the afternoon. I’ll be glad when they finally go, as paracetamol doesn’t even shift them sadly. My moods have definitely took a knock as well, way more emotional and depressed. But saying that I’ve had a lot to deal with, and I’m perimenopausal so it could just be me!

The massage gun I have is a life saver for the psoas as well, I’m determined to do everything I can go solve this issue once and for all.

Day 4 Slept well, considering I had a tearful end of day 3. Emotions are definitely running higher than normal. Yoga is going extremely well, which is a godsend. No matter how dreadful I feel or how emotional, it manages to bring you back to center and rebalance myself. Think it’s really helping with the psoas as well. Took to practising colouring in with my left hand today, in preparation for my right dominant hands surgery. Help keep me occupied and moods in check. Better than I imagined at colouring, somehow brushing teeth is way harder! Headaches are still relentless sadly. Massage gun after yoga is chefs kiss beautiful.

Day 5 Crazy dreams, makes me realize I’ve not been remembering my dreams for a long time until now. But I’m sleeping well so I can’t complain too much. Some days the thigh feels quite thick, swollen. But I am doing yoga daily, so it could be that affecting it. Still struggling with pounding headaches, but hip feels great at least. Todays yoga we actually really engaged the psoas, in hip flexion. I kept it small and low reps, to not overload it. And while it aches and swelled up afterwards, it also soon settled down. We are on Day 6 Yoga with Adriene Flow.

Day 6 Up early, having to cancel my physio appointment, life sadly often likes to upend us at times. I’m not too concerned as today would have been a discussion only, and I am actually working the psoas out daily. Hopefully I can get one soon, just need to rearrange. I could get used to this no pain hip, fingers crossed it stays, what a difference it makes!! Now to shift the headaches and it would be perfect!!

Day 7 what a week, we’ve stuck to the daily yoga, and there’s been a wealth of progress in the hip. Hope this lasts, being so pain free. Emotionally I feel the steroid has made me extremely tearful all week, emotionally fragile and overwhelmed. I’ll be glad to see that all behind me asap. Is this just life getting on top of me? Or perimenopause? Or as I suspect the steroid.