Disc herniation symptoms and conditions

I am a 41 year old woman who had an epidural injection using Kenalog in my lower back (for stenosis, disc herniation, degenerative disc disease, etc.). My first injection was on 4/1/09. About two weeks after the injection, my period started a week early. I had light to moderate spotting, not quite like my normal period. I also noticed that I broke out with major acne, had bad mood swings, constant urination and increased hunger. I had a second injection in my back on 429/09. I told my pain management Dr. what I had been experiencing, and he said that it was the side affect of the drug, Kenalog.

I just saw my GYN for my yearly pap smear and told him what I had been experiencing. He said he had never hear of anything like what I was going through as it related to an epidural injection, though he also admitted it wasn't his area of expertise. Due to my age, my GYN commented that the spotting I was having could be due to my body changing and getting ready for menopause. He said that spotting was very common in women my age. He gave me a prescription for Progesterone 100mg to start taking for 15 days to see if that stopped my spotting (and hopefully return my cycle back to normal). He also did a uterine biopsy to rule out any other causes. My uterine biopsy came back normal. I'm currently taking the progesterone and my period seems to be tapering off, but it still hasn't stopped. It went from spotting to more heavy bleeding to spotting again. I'm due to stop the progesterone on Tuesday 5/26/09 so we'll see what happens there. It's officially been six weeks of having a period.

I'm very frustrated that I've had a menstrual cycle this long. I canceled my other future epidural injections as right now, by back in doing much better (the injections did help, though the side affects are the pitts!). If my back flares up, I will seek other solutions as I will NEVER have any Kenalog again.

For those women who've had the same issue with their menstrual cycle, did your cycle ever return to normal? If so, when???

I had a Kenalog injection into my knee joint after my orthopedic removed 30cc of fluid from the knee. about 2 hours later, I began to experience pain around the knee joint. Rapidly, over the course of 15 minutes, I went from mild pain to pain so actuate, I could not function. I could not move, speak, or do anything that might move my leg in the tiniest of motions. The pain extended down my calf, and into my foot. After 30 minutes, I was in such acute pain distress, I was transported to the emergency room. It was by far the worst pain I have ever experienced in my life, worse than labor, and even more severe than a disc herniation four years prior to that. I experienced flushing and stomach pains and it took too pain injections to bring it under control. After ruling out a cartilage tear or fold with an MRI, it was determined that I experienced what is known as a steroid flair. I spent the next day resting and recovering from stomach pains. The pain subsided but left my knee in a worsened state than before the injection, although the inflammation went down. Needless to say, I will not be accepting Kenalog injections again.

Prometrium may have been what I was given about 20 years ago. The shot for my disc herniation was injected directly into my spine. First one - an anesthesiologist shot directly in the spine above the injury and let gravity do the rest - helped a bit, but wore off quick. Last two shots - The Dr. used an x-ray m/c and dye to guide the injected fluid right there where the herniated goo lays on the sciatic nerve. It usually takes 4-5 days for the full effect - no sciatic pain - to take hold. Took care of the pain wonderfully, just "little reminders" every now and then. Those I can handle. But when I had the kenalog for allergies years ago, it was in my butt cheek. I've never had an indent and have never heard of this before! Grumpy, quick-tempered and a bit weepy would be good words to describe some side effects. Extreme tension - little things set me off that normally don't matter at all. Screaming all day - I can definitely identify with that feeling after a shot. Not having that this time - I have prayed for that not to happen this time - As far as a waiver - yes. They never describe fully what the side effects are. When I was young and taking them for allergies - my doctor said there were no side effects. Well, I fell into depression a while after and began taking Zoloft. I eventually found an article in a magazine which confirmed that corticosteroids deplete serotonin in the brain - hence - I am still taking anti-d's......Just take it easy and try not to move wrong or overdo it after the shot - I think I got to excited at feeling good and may have reinjured it. I hope this is the last one.