Kenalog and 4 months

I'm a physician. Usually Kenalog injections can be avoided and oral steroids used like prednisone. The local dimpling effect may occur if the injection is too shallow, actually there is a temporary "disolving" of the subcutaneous tissue, the muscle and joints are not damaged. It is usually viewed as a "cosmetic" adverse effect. The Kenalog injections was primarily designed for joint injection and the kenalog or similar depo form stays active in the joint for a few weeks. All steroid medications can cause irritability and this is usually temporary for a few days. Steroids can cause muscle weakness- this is usually associated with high doses for prolonged use like being on prednisone for 3 or 4 months. Steroids can have an adverse effect on menstruation, but this is usually associated with chronic use. The most serious problems with the steroids result in bone weakness(osteoporosis) and serious damage to joints like the back and hip. Steroids can also result in weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure and cataract formation. I don't think Kenalog is any different than other steroids such as Medrol or Prednisone in terms of the side effect profile. These are dangerous medications that can also be very helpful in saving lives and diminishing pain.

I got a shot in early January for a severe tonsillitis infection. I was so sick at the time, that I consented to the shot because I thought it would relieve the swelling. The doctor never mentioned any side effects. Unfortunately, the shot did not help at all. Even worse, I noticed a few months after I received the shot, that I had developed a dark indentation at the site of the shot, on my butt cheek. Since then, I have noticed that the dent has gotten bigger and uglier. I'm very upset about it. I went to a dermatologist/cosmetic surgeon, and she advised that I do nothing. She said it would fill in with time - 6 months to a year. We will see.....it doesn't seem to be getting any better.

The worst and most distressing side effect, is this month I had two periods, two weeks apart. I've never been on birth control, and my periods have always been very regular. I had been reading about this side effect a few months ago, and was relieved that at least my periods had not been affected.....well, I was wrong. 4 months after the shot, I've been affected. I had noticed in the past several months, that my periods had gotten shorter, lasting only 2-3 days as opposed to 3-5. They have also gotten lighter, except this most recent irregular period which was a bit heavier.

Along with the dent and irregular periods, I've been experiencing back aches, extreme fatigue and some nauseau - all symptoms which I've never experienced before. I'm a runner and in pretty decent shape and good health. Now I feel like my body has deteriorated due to one small but devastating shot!

I'm very upset and distressed about these side effects. I'm afraid of what other side effects I might not know about yet.

I contacted a lawyer that I found on this website, who is helping a client with these symptoms. I want to join a class action suit. This is unacceptable!

I had 2 kenalog injection in my sacroiliac joints. I had these injections within 2 weeks of each other. I had them done because I suffer from a chronic back pain, had had a spinal fusion and within 4 months began suffering unbearable pain in my hip and leg,it felt as though my hip was dislocated.
The side effects I have suffered are as follow: extreme hunger,weight gain, puffiness in my face and stomach, excessive hair growth on my face. The wierd part of the excessive facial hair is that before I had these injections done I always left handfuls of hair in the shower and when I put hair products in my hair, since the injections I hardly lose a single strand of hair.I also had severe night sweats,mood swings, and I have yet to get my period since I had the injections.
Above all of this I also suffered steroid withdrawal. Like I said I has these 2 injections within 2 weeks of the other. Abpput 3 weeks after the last injection I began to have a creepy crawly feeling in my arms, cold sweats, and vomiting. I called my Dr who said it was withdrawal from the steroids. I couldnt believe this. I did some research online . I discovered that this does happen if you have more than one injection within 3 weeks. I guess it does make sense because when you take oral steroids you are almost always given a taper pack. You are weened off of them so that you don't go into withdrawal. With an injection obviously you can not be weened but if you have the injections too close together, withdrawal can happen.

The only advise I have is that if you can wait to have your injections more than 3 weeks apart...do it because the withdrawal is miserable.

Kenalog Warning! Please think twice before letting Anyone inject this drug into you!! I am a new nurse, I had only been working as a nurse for 4 months on May 31st of 2007 last year when I let my NP of 7 years give me a Kenalog injection to my Left elbow for severe tennis elbow brought on my 16 hour days of charting by hand as a new nurse. As with any drug, we should always be on guard and informed, and I feel twice as dumb for being a nurse and letting this happen, but I was so busy and in demand that immobilization of my dominant arm at the time simply was not an option to my employer.

By October of 2007 I had a literal "crater" in my elbow. I went to an ortho doctor and when he walked into the room he looked at me and said I was the worst case he had ever seen. I still didn't believe him until he sent me for xrays and an MRI. I have NO fat left on my elbow. I have total muscle necrosis and wasting away. Basically the Kenalog shot ate away all but 2millimeters of my elbow muscle and the xrays showed so much inflammation and irritation that the doctor was afraid that the bone had become infected as well. So I had to endure a bone biopsy of the elbow 3 weeks ago before he would even agree to do the elbow muscle transfer which I have to have done this Friday.

I was a new nurse and did not even get to work for a year on the floor before loosing full use of my arm and being forced to give up my nursing job. This elbow muscle transfer requires 3-6 weeks of immobilization, then 4-6 months of physical therapy, then another 4-6 months before you can expect your arm to be back to pre-surgery condition.

Basically I can not work as a nurse for a year, and will not be able to type, write, sign my name, use my cell phone, drive a car, wash my hair, or even pull up my own pants after I go into surgery this coming Friday.

And no, Doctors can Not be sued for an improperly delivered Kenalog injection if the intention was good and the shot was in the right place and did not hit the bone. I have been turned down by 3 lawyers.
Please be careful and try physical therapy, ice and immobilization first!

I'm African American and received an injection for a minor infected hair bump which had hardened and swollen. 4 months later I have no pigment in the area. The Dr. did not warn me until after the injection was given. I am not happy about a big white spot on my brown skin. Does anyone know if I have a legal case with this matter? I see no signs of pigment or hair in the area.

I am starting to believe that it is impossible to sue the doctors for disfiguring my body.I have an attorney that is very nice but I don't believe my case is strong enough for medical malpractice.I guess in order to win a malpractice case you either have to be dead or maimed.If someone hit your car and put a big dent in the rear ,you could sue and have your car repaired or even get a new car if you wanted to.Well a doctor put a big dent in my rear and he probably will never have to pay for the repairs and I can never get a new body.He caused this damage and now I have to live with it forever.Where is the justice ?Does anyone out there have any advise ? I want my butt fixed and I can't afford the thousands of dollars that it will cost.I will never trust another doctor another doctor again.