Airline Pilot Forums

Anyone know if getting a Cortisone shot in and of itself is DNIFing?

Like many things in the medical world, it depends who you ask. Generally, no, but I'm a pilot, not a flight doc. ;)

Some flight docs I've spoken to say it's a 12-hr DNIF, like some immunizations - no paperwork required.

Some flight docs say it's not DNIF at all if you have no reactions and the underlying problem isn't DNIFing.

Anyone know if getting a Cortisone shot in and of itself is DNIFing?

Have you ever had one? The shot itself hurts like a banshee! Then you have relief for a while, then the injury starts hurting again. I don't recommend them.

Have you ever had one? The shot itself hurts like a banshee! Then you have relief for a while, then the injury starts hurting again. I don't recommend them.
:eek:!
Yes - I've had them in my elbow and my shoulder.
They do hurt some.
Then after a while the actual area the shot was taken for was hurting. My elbow was even throbbing so bad that it hurt more than before the shot - THEN - I was pain free for 3 months!
A little discomfort at the start was well worth the relief of symptoms for the extended period.

As for being med down.....I had my on Fridays so I didn't worry to much whether it was a 12 hour down chit or not. I never hd any problems with the FS and did not do any additional paperwork. I did have to stay at the clinic for about 10 minutes after the shot to make sure there were no immediate reactions.

USMCFLYR

I did have to stay at the clinic for about 10 minutes after the shot to make sure there were no immediate reactions.
I remember the first time I got one the nurse came in, gave it to me quickly, then said "alright hang tight for ten minutes" I sort of looked at her like "ok..." then she says "it's so we can make sure you don't die" and walks out of the room.


W...t...f... I was thinking.

:eek:!
Yes - I've had them in my elbow and my shoulder.
They do hurt some.
Then after a while the actual area the shot was taken for was hurting. My elbow was even throbbing so bad that it hurt more than before the shot - THEN - I was pain free for 3 months!
A little discomfort at the start was well worth the relief of symptoms for the extended period.

As for being med down.....I had my on Fridays so I didn't worry to much whether it was a 12 hour down chit or not. I never hd any problems with the FS and did not do any additional paperwork. I did have to stay at the clinic for about 10 minutes after the shot to make sure there were no immediate reactions.

USMCFLYR

Yep, that was my deal--the shots gave about three months relief. It became a quarterly thing for my elbow for about a year. Got surgery eventually. For the longest time, I thought the surgery had not worked, 'cuz it still hurt. About two years post-surgery, the elbow was fine (or nearly so).

Yep, that was my deal--the shots gave about three months relief. It became a quarterly thing for my elbow for about a year. Got surgery eventually. For the longest time, I thought the surgery had not worked, 'cuz it still hurt. About two years post-surgery, the elbow was fine (or nearly so).
They would only give me a TOTAL of three shots :(
It fixed a few other problems that I have too so I felt like I would have taken them quarterly no problem!
One edit here - I was getting something called Kenbril or something like that.
Not sure if the OPs original question was about the same type of steroid that I was getting.

USMCFLYR

Had one 10 years ago for my shoulder. No real pain during the procedure (given that the needle was about 3 inches long), and got almost instant, and nearly 100%, relief.

He seemed to miss a small spot, though, where my range of motion still hurt a little. Asked about another shot, and was told that either the yearly, or total, number of shots was limited (I think it was 3 or 4), as it could cause dain-bramage or psychoses!

Later on, I heard voices in my head that told me to get extremely painful physical therapy, and I´ve been fine since.

I've hit my three shot limit on my inner elbow (golfers elbow) and it sucks. The pain is awful and persistent. Surgery is next option, will be a 3-4 month recovery. Going to delay that awhile, probably at least until my mil gig is up and I go back to my airline. I've had probably 8 cortisone shots min on various body parts - never a bad result.

I've hit my three shot limit on my inner elbow (golfers elbow) and it sucks. The pain is awful and persistent. Surgery is next option, will be a 3-4 month recovery. Going to delay that awhile, probably at least until my mil gig is up and I go back to my airline. I've had probably 8 cortisone shots min on various body parts - never a bad result.
Deuce -

After my 3 ran out, I was contemplating surgery like you but also wanted to wait until after retirement because I wasn't going to give up time in the cockpit.
It took some dedicated time and I had to really give it a rest, but my elbow is doing much better now and I didn't ever have that surgery. YOu might want to just give it some hard earned rest - but it takes time no doubt.

USMCFLYR

Asking the local flight doc a question by itself doesn't necessarily DNIF you

Asking the local flight doc a question by itself doesn't necessarily DNIF you
By "flight doc" do you mean AME or actual military flight surgeon?

USMCFLYR

I am not a doctor, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night, so here goes: Cortisone is an anti-inflammatory that performs its magic by reducing the inflammation in and around a particular area of the body. This reduction of inflammation is what makes you feel better. It does not fix the underlying problem, unless the inflammation does not come back. However, there are techniques, that when used in conjunction with an anti-inflammatory, can and do produce healing results, especially in injuries such as tennis or golf elbow.

What I've used successfully, on multiple occasions, is some anti-inflammatory and then some "frictioning." Frictioning is the breaking up of the scar tissue that has formed from the mini-tears that are the result of tennis or golf elbow. It should initially be performed by a physical therapist, but once seen and understood, can be done by the individual. After frictioning, an ice pack should be applied to help with the pain and reduce swelling. Frictioning does work, but is painful during treatment, but then again, no pain, no gain.

Another good way to control inflammation is by using the topical drug Voltaren Gel. It's a prescription drug, so you'll have to get it from your doctor, but applied 3 or 4 times a day, to the effected area, really helps keep any swelling down, thereby relieving the pain. The stuff is absorbed into the body very quickly, so you'll feel almost immediate relief.

Again, I'm not a doctor, but all of the above has worked to help keep me pain free, with no side effects whatsoever. YMMV.