Sciatic pain symptoms and conditions

I have had a total of 5 kenalog injections in my back for no disk left between two vertebrae, doc says fused naturally and no movement. I still have pain. I am scheduled to have yet another shot in the neck area, 5 bulging disks causing pain around the shoulder blade. I have less sciatic pain, but I have HEADACHES for the 3 months since the first shot, they don't go away. No OTC pain relief works for these headaches. The doc says the kenalog does NOT cause headaches, I know these guys lie or don't care about the FDA list of side effects. I am hesitant about getting another shot. He wanted me to have this one done under sedation, I declined, since I had the others without. He said more sensitive area and don't want you to flinch. I also get, I assume kenalog injections in both feet for morton's neuroma. Left foot shot worked. Right foot 3 shots and still hurts and numb, they can't seem to get it right. I am tired of getting the shots, and today I went to that pain management doctor and forgot to ask him how long can I expect the shots to help the pain, years? months? or weeks. I barely do anything anymore, afraid to bend, or even move. I had to go to ER first time for my back on 2/14/09 and sent to different docs and finally pain management. For those of you whose docs don't order an MRI for you, I wouldn't have the shot. I had and MRI of the back and neck and this doctor gives the shots while I lay on a fluoroscope table, I can see on the screen in front of me where the doctor is injecting. Hit and miss without an MRI is just not medically correct. Good luck to all and gonna think about whether to get another shot next Thurs.

I AM A 53 YEAR OLD WOMAN, I STARTED LIPITOR IN JUNE 2007, AS OF NOW I HAVE AS FOLLOWS.
HORRIBLE WRIST PAIN,
LOWER THUMB PAIN,
KNEE PAIN,
FOOT AND ANKLE PAIN,
SHOULDER AND NECK PAIN,
SCIATIC PAIN,
HEADACHES,
BLURRED VISION,
MEMORY LOSS,
PALM OF HAND PAIN,
TINGLY FEELING IN HEAD, SOMETIMES GOES INTO MY EYE.
I AM ON 20MG OF LIPITOR AND I AM NOT TAKING THEM AFTER THIS DAY, I HAD TRIED THEM IN THE PAST BUT AT THE SAME TIME I WAS ON ZETIA SO WAS NOT SURE WHAT CAUSED WHAT, NOW I KNOW, IS THERE ANY BAD WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS IF YOU QUIT COLD TURKEY?

1. Sciatic pain
2. Left leg is numb; tingling, burning, shooting pains
3. Foot pain/numbness
4. Constance shortness of breath/palpitations
5. Incident of high blood pressure
6. Weight Gain: Belly! Bloated appearance
7. Constipation
8. Fatigue
9. Periods of depression
10. Anxiety
11. Neck pain.
12. Coughing like choking

I only took Lipitor for 20 days but those were the worest twenty days of my life. And well be with me for ever. All the above started 3 days into taking the pill. One night after another one I was in so much pain. But worst of all I couldn't breathe. My back and neck hurt so bad. I couldn't lay down on my back and breathe. I felt like in one week I was finally going to die. after 20 days I threw the Lipitor away and went to the internet. Scared me to death, I called my Doctor. I went in for more test, he said I was just having a heart attack and put me into the ER. They said NO heart attack here and sent me home. $3000.00 for hospital and $900.00 for doctor's. And no one knew what was going on.
After four days I started feeling better but the breathing didn't get better. so went back to the doctor after two weeks. He said he read up on Lititor and it was a good thing "I" stopped. Lipitor will effect your muscles and the heart is a muscle. What the Lipitor did to me was trigger off COPD. He said I might of gotten COPD 10 to 15 (maybe) years down the road becuase I'am a X smoker but the Lipitor changed all that. Lipitor did nothing for me except to make my life harder on Oxygen. I'm only 59. Constance shortness of breath/palpitations for the rest of my life. Let me stress this I was totally in good health. Always had low Low Chocholesterol 120. But something else was a little high and Lipitor could lower it. GOOD Health. 20 pills trashed my life forever.

Ten months ago I was persuaded by my MD to start taking Lipitor . In less than two months, my numbers went from 349 to 189. However, this initial positive outcome never prepared me for a host of adverse conditions!

In the past three months, I have experienced some Red Flag physical problems but the Light Bulb Moment came with a weight increase of 15 lbs, concentrated on my belly. I have not increased my food intake and my diet continues to include fruit, vegetables, fish, chicken, milk/cheese, and some sweets. When I started taking Lipitor, I weighed 122 lbs; now I'm at 134!!!!
My level of physical activity has remained the same as has my food intake.

It was this weight increase that prompted me to search the internet for a possible connection between Lipitor and weight gain. Three days ago, my fears were confirmed as I read similar postings.

But my problems go beyond the weight gain. Here's is my "laundry list" of symptoms and I believe that Lipitor is the ugly culprit:

1. Sciatic pain
2. Left leg is numb; tingling, burning, shooting pains
3. Foot pain/numbness
4. Periodic shortness of breath/palpitations
5. Incident of high blood pressure
6. Weight Gain: Belly! Bloated appearance
7. Constipation
8. Fatigue
9. Periods of depression
10.Anxiety

I have stopped taking this dangerous drug. I am due for lab work and MD visit.

Hope to hear from you.
Jessica

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.

I am 26 and on Neurontin for sciatic pain, bipolar II, and migraines. Since taking it, I have bad chest pains and trouble breathing when I lay down. So tired but afraid to sleep. Advice?