Cortisone shot and OSA

[tkadam]

I've been using a Bi-PAP for the last six months with moderate success. Some nights are better than others ... some nights it doesn't seem to help at all (I think from mouth breathing).

Anyway, I had been diagnosed with OSA for about 10 months or so before I finally got my Bi-PAP. Before I got the Bi-PAP I was sewing tennis balls into the back of sleep shirts to keep me off my back at night. This seemed to work a little but obviously wasn't a great solution. However, early last summer, before I got my Bi-PAP, I received a cortisone shot for shoulder pain. Interestingly, that night I slept "THE BEST EVER". I slept all night, woke up in the morning, jumped out of the bed and felt like Superman.

I have had GERD in the past and am slightly overweight but active. I was curious if there were any similar experiences out there. I can't help but wonder if my particular OSA case is somehow related to inflammation.

[Hawthorne]

I have Rheumatoid Arthritis, an inflammatory type of arthritis. I have had it for 19+ years now and was daignosed with OSA 6+ years ago. Interesting to speculate a relationship but I don't know.

I have had many interjoint cortison shots in the years I have had RA. I can't relate better night's sleep to cortisone shots but it may be that, when I have a cortisone shot, that joint does not pain for several weeks (or months if I am lucky) and that relief of pain may lead to better sleep - not the cortisone shot itself.

I don't discount a realtionship between inflammation and OSA but I'm thinking it's pain relief that makes for better sleep.

[Jason S.]

I don't discount a realtionship between inflammation and OSA but I'm thinking it's pain relief that makes for better sleep.

Relief from cortisone injections usually doesn't come for several days to a week after the shot.

[Hawthorne]

I have always had quite bit of pain relief from interjoint cortisone shots within a few hours at most. The doctor does suggest not doing too much with the joint for 24 hours after the shot. It does improve as time goes by but there is a good amount of relief right away -- in my case anyway.

[SleepyRose]

I don't discount a realtionship between inflammation and OSA but I'm thinking it's pain relief that makes for better sleep.

Relief from cortisone injections usually doesn't come for several days to a week after the shot.

I also have RA and do get relief from the cortisone usually by the next day, sometimes even sooner. I try to take it easy right after so I dont get a "flairup". I often get them in my feet and as well as my knees and shoulders. I dont think Ive ever slept better afterwords but I havent had any shots since Ive been diagnosed with OSA.

Maybe like Hawthorne said, we sleep better because the pain is relieved somewhat.

[Hawthorne]

SleepyRose - sorry to hear that you also have RA! I agree when you say, "the pain is relieved somewhat with cortisone shots but hey, it is better with a shot now and then! Most of my shots have been on my knees and shoulders.
I have had several since my OSA diagnosis and can only see that "somewhat" pain relief is probably what gives better sleep.

[SleepyRose]

SleepyRose - sorry to hear that you also have RA! I agree when you say, "the pain is relieved somewhat with cortisone shots but hey, it is better with a shot now and then! Most of my shots have been on my knees and shoulders.
I have had several since my OSA diagnosis and can only see that "somewhat" pain relief is probably what gives better sleep.

RA and OSA! What a lovely combo!

[Hawthorne]

Delightful!!!

[GumbyCT]

And cavities...

Gumby thinks OSA is as common as arthritis and cavities.

[john_dozer]

I had 'best night ever' prior to CPAP the night of a root canal. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory. Could have been coincidence. But I handn't had a day like that in years and years. Had so much energy I didn't know what to do with myself.

[hobbs]

I have a skin disease that sometimes requires oral and/or injected steroids. Every time I get treatment this way, my nightly numbers drop significantly. YMMV.

[tkadam]

I would certainly agree that pain relief contributes to better sleep. However, I don't think less pain trumps stopping breathing over 40 times an hour. I'm not talking here about just sleeping better. It was near miraculous.

It wouldn't surprise me if different people had different causes for their OSA. In other words, OSA is a sympton of other various issues. These types of disorders are the hardest to diagnose correctly. I'm definitely down with making PAP therapy work as well as possible because that's the best solution right now and I think anyone struggling with this disorder needs to get onto PAP and stick with it ... doing otherwise can lead to other health issues.

I'll never forget the look on my Dr's face when my sleep study results came in and OSA was confirmed. He didn't believe me at first ... I didn't fit the "typical" profile. Well I don't know what he thinks is typical but from what I can tell this disorder is affecting a lot of people with different shapes, sizes and walks of life. We'll never make any progress understanding OSA if the medical community thinks it just happens to people with thick necks or are overweight.