L5 s1 symptoms and conditions

I have been taking 15mg of Oxycontin for about year now. I first injured my back about 7yrs ago. At the time i was just taking 5mg Percocets a couple times a day. but it really didn't do much for me. I have tried for as long as i could to not take Oxy, but 10mg of Percocet doesn't do much for you when you have been on them for years. I have the L3-L4,L4-L5an L5-S1 all herniated and degenerated. I have more recently noticed some real changes in my personality. Severe mood swings, i find myself just activated and frustrated all the time. I have really bad sleep habits. hard time getting to sleep and staying a sleep. then when i do i don't want to get out of bed. I just don't feel like myself anymore and i was wondering if anyone else has had the same feelings or experiences. thanks

I started out exhausted and dizzy as I was upping the dose for the first 3 weeks and then magically all of my pain was gone! I have chronic back pain due to L5/S1 disc removal, bulging discs and degenerative disc disease. Everything was great until I got my period and it started for 1 day and stopped w/mild spotting (that is not normal) the Dr. suggested I was pregnant when I KNEW that I wasn't. After the 4th week on the medication my hair started falling out. 1st more strands than normal and now by the handful! It is obviously thinning. Has anyone experienced this? Is the follicle permanently damaged by the chemicals? I've since weaned myself off the medicine and am in complete pain again. This seems to be one of the rarer side effects of this medication. Has anyone experienced this?

I had 2 40mg Kenalog injections in L5 & S1 for a slipped disk a month a half ago. I had a consultation with my doctor beforehand and basically I was told that I may have some mild side effects a couple of days after the injection that would go away in a few days & possibly a bump on the injection site. I am a very healthy 31 year old female so I figured this procedure would cause me minimal problems......Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. 20 days I got my period and it wouldn't stop. It lasted for 9 days and 5 days later I got my period again for 9 more days. It has gone on like this for over 3 weeks now. I have always had a regular period that lasted no more than 4 days. I was completely horrified and thought the worst like cancer or something. My doctor has run numerous different tests on me and everything is normal except that I am anemic and low on sodium. The Dr. can only conclude it was this corticosteroid shot. After reading this message board I am at a lost for words! It seems like others had symptoms like this and even worse! I also planned on getting pregnant soon and no one told me this would be an issue. Now it is. I also read that this drug can lead to osteoporosis so to everyone out there on Kenalog start taking calcium and iron too.

I received a kenalog injection by fluoroscopy for lower back pain at L5/S1 disc. After the injection my period was a week and a half late, once it started it hasn't stopped I have been bleeding heavily for 20 days now. I have always had normal cycles every 25 days and lasting 4 to 5 days. This is not normal for me, even after the birth of my 3 children my cycles returned to normal and I bled lighter and for less time than what I am now. I called and spoke to the nurse at the pain management clinic where I received the injection and she told me that she had never heard of that happening. She then went on to say possibly every 1 in 100 can have that side effect. My gynecologists nurse also said she had never heard of this. I started researching kenalog on line and every
article I found about this list menstrual irregularities. I had the pharmacist at my pharmacy print me the patient insert for kenalog 40 and it to lists menstrual irregularities. If I can find this information our so easily and the pharmacists are aware of the side effects then why aren't the doctors informing their patients. My gynecologist put me on 200mg. of prometrium which is a progesterone to try to stop the bleeding. Thirty pills total which I had to double up on the first week but they did not work so he told me to stop taking them. I am scheduled to see him tomorrow to possible try a
premarin injection which is estrogen to see if this stops the bleeding. I called and spoke with Bristol Myers concerning my side effects, and the nurse I spoke with told me kenalog
suppresses your adrenal system which controls cortisol and hormone production and it can take several months to get out of your system. I can not go on bleeding like this for several months it's already been 3 weeks with no end in sight. My only other option right now is a d and c. I am afraid to put any more shots or hormones in my body as it is messed up enough already. I have also been extremely week and tired, very dizzy, irritable, mood swings. no energy, sweats at night, shaky, and heart palpitations. I never had any of this before the injection. My only problem was back pain from an auto accident otherwise I've always been healthy. I know kenalog caused. I wish I would have been informed of the side effects first. It helped my back pain but it is not worth it for all the other problems that it caused. I told bristol myers when I spoke with them that they need to make sure that the medical professionals using their drug are aware of their side effects and that they inform their patients especially females, and she made a notation to follow through with my request. No one should have to go through this. I am so glad I found this website as I do not feel so alone now. I will write again and let you know how I made out at the gynecologists office. Sue

In reference to Liz's post. Liz, where did you get your shots? Did they recommend that you take prometruim to stop your period? My shot was given to me for a herniated disk as well L5 S1 but it was given to me in my upper arm, hence the disfigurement. My back felt good for about 2 months but It is starting to bother me again. I also felt Very moody. I could have screamed all day. Were you told of any of the side/adverse effects before the shot? Did you have to sign a waiver? I have not had any ringing in my ears. thanks

Ladies - I am 41 yr old female. Took kenalog 1-2x yrly between 16 and 22 yrs old for extreme hayfever. Yes, it was a miracle, but I did experience non-stop bleeding. (about 9 months worth - spotting) Noticed that this happened if I got the shot while on my period. When I received a shot when NOT on my period, I skipped several at times. Now, I have a herniated disk (L5-S1) - and what a total miracle this was. I was in excruciating pain for 2 months, got a shot and within days the pain was gone - except for little "reminders". This shot was an epidural (directly in my spine) SCARY stuff, however, I'm not a big fan of surgery. Anyway, the first shot, I was just finishing my period and it went on for 2 weeks longer. This shot, I am mid-cycle, so we'll see what happens. As far as other side effects, after a shot, about 2-3 days later, I am very tense & irritable, quick tempered, but that fades. My appetite wanes and I get supercharged - get a lot done, but I think I re-injured my back because I was feeling so good! Does anyone have a problem with ears ringing constantly????? I'm wondering if this is a side effect as well.

In December 0f 2002, I badly herniated L4-L5 and bulged L5-S1. The pain in my low back and left leg was almost unbearable. I received my first Kenalog epidural on January 28, 2003. There was some relief but the pain was still severe. I was coping with it via two Hydrocodone 10/650's, four times a day. The second injection on March 26, 2003 produced a great deal of relief and I cut down on the Hydro's considerably. On June 10th I received another Kenalog injection and it waslike a miracle. As the steroid was being injected, i felt instant relief and was pain free for a considerable time. As the relief wore off the Hydrocodone regimen had to begin again. I have now begun another cyucle of Kenalog epidurals and I am looking forward to the same relief. I have noticed no side effects, only pain relief.

IN 1999,I had two epidural kenalog injections, which brought temporary relief of lower back pain,but returned after a few days. Then, I underwent a discogram, revealing two herniated and torn lumbar discs. I had two,two-level decompressive laminectomy surgeries in 2000, followed by three caudal-epidural Kenalog injections. Shortly afterward, I developed terrible burning pain from my lower back, through my pelvis and down both legs. I was referred to a neurosurgeon who implanted a spinal cord stimulator, then five months later, he opened my lumbar spine up a third time and he fused the L4-5, L5-S1 levels with allografted donor bone and implanted rods and pedacle screws. I have a strong suspicion that I developed Arachnoiditis as a result of the ESIs, but my doctors ahve all clammed up. Kenalog's data sheet states that it is NOT RECOMMENDED for epidural use, as it is neurotoxic, but doctors continue to use it on peoples' spines. I am now permanently disabled, in constant neruopathic pain and my future looks bleak. DON'T get epidural steroid injections of kenalog or Depo-Medrol, they'll mess you up for life! DON'T DO IT!