Epidural injection 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???

Here is a update on my condition since last posting, please keep in mind that prior to 7-15-08 I was totally normal.I have recently found out that I have Psoriatic Arthritis,Fibromyalgia,COPD,3 bulging discs in my back and also Bursitis in Right hip.All from Levaquin! I also was the one that put 2 & 2 together and talked it over with my PCP and now I have a Rhuematologist,Lung DR,Neurologist and I am currently seeing a Pain Management DR.I had my 1st.epidural injection yesterday for the bulging discs and will have 2 more and see how it works.I am beyond being frustrated and I do not know what the future holds for me.Some days I wonder if my life will ever be somewhat normal again.Take care everyone and god bless us all,,,,

i forgot to add to my previous post, that i also suffered from irregular heartbeat which began after the first epidural injection. i had no idea it was from the kenalog, and was planning a visit to the cardiologist. the day of my nucleoplasty the ekg showed bradycardia and occasional pvcs. i don't feel the jumping around in my chest now, but i haven't had another ekg.