Cortisone injection symptoms and conditions

On Sept. 2, 2009 I had a cortisone shot in my back for L4, L5, C1 disc problems. The shot was painful but brief and I went out of there with no particular symptoms. It was done in a hospital by a neurologist. On Sept. 4th I woke up and the whole room was spinning. I threw up and this continued for awhile. I could hardly stand and went to the hospital emergency room where I spent the next twelve hours getting all kinds of tests. My blood pressure was 185 over 110. Finally, they told me they could find nothing physically wrong and dismissed me with meclizine for dizziness. This is now Oct.27th and I had these vertigo symptoms for seven weeks! I was sent to an ear specialist and underwent vesicular therapy for benign position vertigo several times a week at a rehabilitation center. I had brain MRI and a neck MRA which showed nothing. Last Saturday I passed out for a few seconds. Every medical specialist insists that the Cortisone shot had nothing to do with all this but I am still undiagnosed. Yesterday (Oct. 26th) the dizziness ended (7 weeks). I don't know if it is gone for good. I cannot believe that it is just a coincidence that all this happened two days after the cortizone shot. Does this strike a bell with any of you?

I am a 48 year old woman, 5'1" (now 145 pounds). I had Mirena inserted almost exactly 5 years ago, and am scheduled to have it removed in 2 weeks. I gained 25 pounds over the course of the last three years; prior to that, my maximum weight for my whole (non pregnant) life was 123 (I was at 120 when Mirena was inserted, four years after the birth of my second child). I have always been very healthy, never abnormal blood tests except during my two pregnancies was tested as pre-gestational diabetic and had to watch my carbs.

I never put it together with Mirena until just recently, when I started doing research on hypothyroidism after a friend told me that my symptoms could be due to that problem. Depression, hair loss, acne on my back, and the terrible weight gain. I went to see my G.P. who referred me for blood work. I hoped to see evidence of low thyroid function (actual TSH value, 3.12 -- I was told this is normal on a range of .4 to 4.5). I also discovered that I now have high cholesterol (269 triglycerides, 251 total cholesterol, 46 HDL, and 151 LDL). My fasting (14 hours) glucose # is 99 (I was told this is normal on a range of 65-99 mg/dL), and my vitamin D, 25-OH is 21 (also was told this is still normal but low on a range of 20-100 ng/mL). I tried to give blood six months ago, and was turned down because of anemia, so I've been eating a lot of spinach, greens, and more red meat than I normally would, so I was interested to see if I am still anemic -- the red blood cell count is 3.8 (told it was normal on a range of 3.8-5.1 mill/uL). I mention these specific results because although I was told they were normal (except for cholesterol), when I physically went to the doctor's office and requested a copy of the results and did some research online I see that my thyroid IS actually low-functioning -- according to guidelines revised six years ago, anything over 3.0 is considered hypothyroid and should be treated. Plus, isn't a fasting glucose of 99 pretty high? Yet my doctor's only suggestion: diet and exercise. Good grief, I've been on a diet since I had my first child, 13 years ago. True, I don't exercise regularly (I'm a teacher and mom of 2; I never seem to have the me time.) I guess I have an excuse to get a gym membership now.

Also, for the last year I've had increasing pain in my shoulder (I couldn't lay on my side, for example, and lately I can't reach behind me or over my head). An x-ray turned up mild bone degeneration, but not enough to cause the pain I've been having. I was referred to an orthopedist, who today diagnosed a shoulder rotator cuff injury (I've had no injury; he says it is a common degenerative complaint in the over-40 crowd). He gave me a cortisone injection and I'll be on PT for a while to see if the pain goes away. If not, I'll have to have an MRI and surgery to correct the tear.

I'm posting all of this in case it might be useful to someone out there who might be going through the same thing. I had a thyroid test done about six years ago at my OB/GYN, and it was normal then (though I don't have the number; I'll get it in 2 weeks at the OB/GYN). It will be interesting to learn whether my thyroid level has gone up since Mirena. Also, although my research suggests that the effects of these synthetic hormones do not wear off for some time, possibly even years, I will finally feel like there may be hope if my symptoms improve over the next few months when Mirena is gone. If so, I will share it with you.

If you are reading this, perhaps you have a similar story. I wish I had been more aggressive about checking out the possible causes of my many symptoms, but I let them go for years because, I guess, I just figured I'm a healthy woman who is no longer young. (Oh, one more thing: for the first year or even two years that I had Mirena, I had incredibly heavy periods. The blood flow was similar to that during the day or two after the vaginal births of my daughters. Don't know if that's significant, but it took a couple of years for my periods to get fairly normal on Mirena.)

I had a cortisone injection into my left knee on Friday, June 5th and immediately started to react. Within an hour, I had extreme redness and heat in my face, neck and upper chest. Wheezing, hives in throat and mouth and behind my ears. Extreme headache that came on suddenly and started in the back of my head and stretched to the front. Dizziness, chest discomfort. I went to the ER and was given a nebulizer treatment, benadryl IV and prednisone because the doctors at the ER felt that I must have had an allergic reaction to some medication that was mixed with the cortisone injection, because they said that to be allergic to cortisone is very rare. About 20 minutes after they gave me 60mg of oral prednisone, they started my benadryl IV. I felt such a hot rush to my face, my ears were burning. Eventually, the reaction calmed down and they sent me home with a prednisone taper and benadryl every 4 to 6 hrs. Sunday morning, I took 60mg of the prednisone and within 20 minutes I knew that I was in trouble so I took 50mg of benadryl and on the advice of my doctor, called an ambulance. In the ambulance, I was given oxygen, a nebulizer and more benadryl IV. After that morning, I knew that my problem was the steroid. I hadn't had any sleep since Thursday, I had been nauseous ands been battling chest discomfort and a very bad headache. I spoke with my doctor on Monday and he wanted me to take Atarax,25mg, every 3 to 4 hours. I saw him on Tuesday and I went to an allergist on Wednesday. She started me on 50 mg of zyrtec twica a day and 25mg of Atarax at night to see if this would help the reaction that I continue to have. She said that it could be several weeks, at least, that I will continue to react, until the injectable steroid is out of my system. It had been 13 days, and Im still reacting.

have been taking 20mg for about two weeks. a couple days after i started taking the stuff i started experiencing chest pains at night that would wake me up, coupled with leg pain. it's getting worse; now, after two weeks i am having severe lower back pain that radiates down both legs, similar to sciatica, happens at night but continues throughout the day. also leg spasms at night. i am stopping zocor today. can't face this pain anymore. i have bad knees, and recently had to have a cortisone injection, but this new pain is worse than the knees. owing to the chest pains, i had a stress test today at the heart group, and had such difficulty walking that i could barely make it down the hall with my cane. three of the nurses there said they hear this all the time about the statins, and that the doctors don't want to listen to the complaints but the nurses all agreed that the statins are the culprits. results on stress test were fine.

A few years back I severely injured my back. As part of my treatment my doctor gave me prednisone. My joints, especially my knees hurt beyond belief. I even had go to my parents house because I couldn't move, it hurt too much. I called my doctor and you know what he told me?!?! it was all in my head.He accused me of trying to get pain pills from him. The joint pain got so bad that I had to be hospitalized. You know what they told me at the hospital. I was having a allergic reaction to prednisone. No S***t!??! anyway, since that time I have not taken prednisone. My concern now is that my doctor wants me to get a cortisone injection. . . I am scared I would get the same reaction. from the research I have done so far, it looks like it is from the same family. Does anybody know?

Thanks
B.

Received my very first Cortisone injection on March 24th,2009. Immediately felt weak and shakey. Anxious. Called MD office and they told me to eat something. This did help for awhile. On March 25th woke up feeling great. No knee pain. Knee stiffness gone. About 24 hours after receiving injection, my face became flaming hot with redness to follow. Some swelling to my left cheek. Anxious. Feeling like I want to cry. Fingers feel strange. Some nausea. Not eating great now. Ears feel plugged. Slight headache. Just took some Benadryl. Am applying ice to my face and lotion to prevent all the dryness from the heat radiating off it!
Don't think I'll be getting a second knee done. I'd rather be in pain. KJ

i had a cortisone injection in my knee on tues 24th june 2008..to help with arthritis pain..its now 5 days later ...and i feel ill ....my knee is very painful ...all up and down my leg is so stiff ...i cannot bend it .and it feels so heavy ...i cannot lift it up without holding it to do so ...i feel sick ...my whole body just feels ill ....thats how i describe it ...i feel depressed ...and feel hot and keep flushing up in my face...im having difficulty sleeping due to all these feelings...when oh when will it start to go away ...all the pain and stiffness...i wish i hadn't had it done stiffness

My chronic pain has really increased since being on Lamictal for 15 months for bipolar. I have had fibromyalgia for years. The bipolar developed after that. Since starting Lamictal, I have developed headaches so severe that I have been off work 3 times in the past 7 months, inc. 5 weeks recently. I've always had headaches, but these new, more severe headaches are non-stop. I have to take 3 time-release 100 mg codeine tablets every day, plus Gravol to keep the headaches bearable. Even then, many days I end up bed-ridden. I've also developed chronic, very bad plantar facsiitis in my left foot since starting Lamictal. I did weeks of intensive physio, plus swimming therapy to no avail. Finally had to get a cortisone injection in my foot.

I hate being like this; I like my job and was used to leading a very active life, despite the fibromyalgia, before I went on Lamictal. I briefly tried Lithium recently, but it had a whole other set of side effects, so I am really frustrated.

Has anybody else had increased or new pain since being on Lamictal?

Rosslyn

I had a Kenalog injection between my eyes for a zit/cyst. I've had mild cyctic acne for years and easily treat it with cortisone injections every few months. I asked for a cortisone injection which I've gotten regularly with no problems, but was given the Kenalog and told it was the same thing - is it?!?! I now have an 'dent' between my eyes. I've called my normal derm to see if she can add filler or something, will it ever go away? It's been approx 4weeks and the dent keeps getting bigger.

I'm in a living hell because of prednisone withdrawral. Was on the other coast of USA and my knee gave out (have severe OA with no cartilage left). Had cortisone injection but didn't work after one week. Went back to dr. and got prednisone injection and prescribed 60mg / day. I had a schedule for tapering off, but as soon as I went from 60 to 30, pain came back with a vengence. I was in So. California and had to drive back to upstate, NY, so i had to go back to 60mg. I returned to NY with only 4 pills left. Went down to 30mg/day in Georgia, then 20 in N. carolina. I feel like death warmed over.

I am now taking 10mg / day and i'm having full body muscle spasms daily which are excrutiating. I gained weight and diabetes is difficult to control to under 250. My dr. said he will not give me refill, but I see him tomorrow and will tell him what it's been like. I can't sleep unless taking 20mg vicodin and 1050mg. carisoprodol and 5 benedryls. then only sleep 3-4 hours and wake up to cramps unbelievable.

When on the 60 per day and the IM injection, the pain in knee almost disappeared. Now, it is back plus every side effect from the prednisone. If this is hell, I feel as if I'm in it. Can't be cool, can't be warm. Either sweating bullets or chills. Definitely not the "miracle drug" it's touted to be. Good luck to my fellow sufferers. Keep the faith, believe this too shall pass. -Jay

Started taking 60 mg 2 weeks ago for Asthma. No noticable side effects until the 6th night. I had insomnia and became extremely agitated and angry. I even went as far as to go out to the garage to find my husband's BB gun (I don't know what I planned to do with it but I was just in a rage...) The next day I stopped the Prednisone. I than started feeling sick like a bad cold or the flu (sore throat, achey muscles, headache, congested sinuses and ears). I Went to my Primary Care Physican because we were going away on vacation and I wanted something to make me feel better, plus my BP was dangerously high (166/120) He gave me Vicodin which I took quite alot of over a 3 day period (like maybe 8 tablets a day) and started me on a beta-blocker for the HBP. Don't know if it was from the Vicodin, the beta-blocker, withdrawl from the Prednisone or a combo but I was absolutely exhausted during the day and could not sleep at night and sweated profusely even though the room was cool. I was also taking a RX cough syrup with a histamine in it. By Sunday my Asthma was out of control again. Monday the breath thing measured 220 (I am 44 years) and I couldn't stop coughing. I went back to the Dr. who gave me a cortisone injection and ordered me back on the Steroids (40 mg. for 10 days) I'm also on a antibiotic and diruetic. This is my 3rd day back on and have had terrible headaches and the sweatyness as well as some aches but other than that I've done pretty well. As far as the insomnia - the pharmacist recommended I take all 40 mg. of Prednisone in the AM and the Beta-Blocker b-4 bed. So far this seems to be working because the beta-blocker does make me tired. My face is bloated and I am hungry but refuse to give in and overeat because I know It'll just make it that much harder to get back on track with my exercise and healthy eating habits once I'm over this thing. I resigned myself to the fact that no matter how crazy or bad this stuff makes me feel, I just have to stay on it for the full 10 days in order to recover. I've warned my family and friends that I might become outraged at any little thing and have canceled obligations and other things that might stress me out and cause me to flip out again. I bought a few good books and other than Carpooling the kids around to their activites I plan to just chill for the next week. Now, my question is - the Dr. prescribed 40 mgs for 10 days - what about the weaning off thing? Do you think I'll be okay to just stop taking it at the end of 10 days?

Had cortisone injection yesterday for shoulder problem. Today, 24 hours later, my face is all flushed. Also, does this effect my blood pressure?

Thank you.

Got a cortisone injection in the neck. Few several minutes later had very excruitiating pain. Pain subsided to low pain few hours later. Had achy back and legs. Nauseaus. Restless sleep on and off. Next day dull achiness in the neck. Had to move slowly.

Had a one time cortisone injection in 2004 for severe hay fever. Was a miracle shot! However, one side effect I personally experienced was a menstrual period that lasted 51 days. Took a one time cortisone shot this year, 2005, and once again, the same thing has happened. My Dr. has been a practicing allergist for some 50+ years and has NEVER heard of this side effect, until me. Just want to help anyone else out there who may have had the same problem, but did not relate it to the shot.

renee, I believe the cortisone injection you received is the cause of the indentation on your foot. The same thing happened to my foot. I received 2 kenalog injections, and I now have fat pad atrophy in the ball of my foot. Also, when I first noticed an indentation, I had a small area of whitish discoloration.

I don't know if you can sue the government. If you are serious about a lawsuit, talk to a malpractice attorney.

Third app't at dentist . Premed with 500 mg zithromax; also took it two other times within month. I took 500 mg one hr prior to app't .
Had special novocaine as cannot have vasoconstrictor. dentist out of room , felt a bit uncomfortable wanting to sit up a bit felt for about 1 minute a pressure in the chest. Did not report as I was eager to get tooth extracted and had improved quickly , had never exprienced the weight feeling in chest before.
Noticed in past month forehead itching and eyelids a bit swollen and itchy on lids also felt spotty raw areas sore. Face felt hot over past month
I have had problem with palpitations and breathlessness with Doryx and Cephadroxyl until I had finished both series. It left me entirely as I stopped except for a couple events slight a couple times for a couple months after. Ihad thought the infection had affected my heart it was over my sternal region . the infected cyst did not improve however with z pac cipro and the doryx and Cephadroxil until entire cyst was removed.
Penicillin drops in my eyes left half my eye flame red . had a local reaction to penicillin injection in oil 1948. Rashes from
oral antibiotics. Problem with blephamide and local cortisone injection in hand .
So where do I go ?