Kenalog and high blood pressure

Hi, had two epidural shots..first one went fine..worked really well..after the second one..my face has been swallow for over 3 weeks now..rash all over..water weight gain..back of my neck is all swelled up..there are days that i can barely walk on my leg..due to the swelling..i have been to 16 doctors and no one could figure out what is wrong with me..im thinking this is some reaction to the epidural shot that i had..I also have been bleeding..period i guess for over 3 weeks..spotting..does anyone know when and if this ever goes back to normal..what doc i need to be seeing to correct this problem..if anyone has any information that could help me..im 27 female mother of one..that has never had any medical conditions like this ever..so i have to assume that this is from the shot..i tried calling the doctor that did my shot and he said its not because of him and now will not return my phone calls..im at a loss on what to do..please email me at ****** if anyone has been through this and knows if this goes away on its own..what i need to do..anything thank you for taking the time to read my story.

D.
long island, NY

There should be warnings about this! The doctor should have told me that this could happen..it is not worth what we all have been through!! sorry just venting.

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 had what the doctor told me was cortisone injections on my scalp and elbows for psoriasis which i later found out was kenalog...i now have had my period for 4 weeks ..i got my reg. period on feb.5th then went to the doctor and got the shots on feb.14 by feb21st i started my period again and haven't stopped after going to my obgyn and having many test that all have been fine . the first 2 weeks after the injections i had lower back pain, headaches the lower back pain is now gone but i am still getting the headaches every now and then. when will this all go away and it would be really nice if the doctors told you about this ...i take med. for high blood pressure and asked my doctor if this was safe ..he told me yes i have been back to the same doctor just last week who told me he has never heard of this happening how is it that we all are having the same things happening and the doctors say they have never heard of this happening?

I wish I could say that my symptoms are something new but they're not. I can only thank God that I found this site and finally feel like I'm not totally crazy! I received a cortisone shot (kenalog and Lidocaine) on June 15th. June 17th I started experiencing tingling down my arms,across my shoulders, serious heartburn, change in tastebuds (sour tasting all the time), which progressed with a sudden case of high blood pressure. My period also came a week late and has not left yet but only taken short vacations (3-5 days of light to no bleeding, followed by a regular flow with some gushes all over again). Two weeks ago I started having a tight sensation in my jaw and cheek with sensitivity right under my ears. I've had periods of dizziness, severe migraines as well as heart palpitations (fluttering in my throat). Added to this is swelling down one side at any given time, changing back and forth with no reasoning. I had severe gastritis and GERP as a result as well.

I too was living a healthy life and regret the moment I agreed to that shot. Does anyone know how long these side effects last? Who do you see to deal with them? Are they mimics of real situations (do heart palpitations turn into heart attacks? gastritis turn into ulcers?)

I have had 7 injections of Kenalog, and if I knew of all the problems I would have I would have never agreed to it. I am having them for pain management all recommended by my workmans comp nurse. I never questioned the treatment as we have sought others witn no success. I first was miserable with stomach and menstral cramps I believed brought on by the first series of shots. My "pain doctor" said that it was not from the medicine and to keep taking my medicine. I am also taking Baclofen a muscle relaxer to help with the cramping the injections may cause. I am so miserable with leg cramps, dizziness, tiredness, arm cramps, stomach cramps, feelings of disorientation, and now a never ending period (I am on day 15). Again the doctor denies any of this relating to the injections. I am going to see my family doctor just to rule out anything else, but after reading this site I am sure that I am right assuming it is from the injections. I am 37, so the pain doctor said I could be starting my "change". I am sooo tired of the denial and as I notice my doctor is not the only one in denial. I am glad I started doing research I just hope it is not too late. I could really use some legal help now.

Over 10 years ago I hurt my back being hit by a car. The Ortho gave me shots of corticosteriods every two weeks and this went on for 6 months. I went into premature menopause and was told, this caused bone loss as well"..I asked this new Ortho "to please not use steriods for this reason and because I now have premature thinning of my bones due to the misguided efforts of the 1st MD. Last week I had reinjured my back in 3 disks, I told the MD about all the side affects from before with injections, but he claimed this was different and new.. He claimed kenalog was "new and not what I had before". I had an intense headache immediately after the procedure and rapid heart beating ever since that hasn't gone away, and every time I lift my head I get the headache.It's been a week today and there is no positive change and still no call back to answer my worries. My BP is through the roof and I've never had high blood pressure in my life. My back still hurts me and he shot the tailbone area, after I asked him "NOT TO inject there because of previous nerve damage by MD #1 from 10 yrs. ago. NO MD will call me back and I'm worried I'll have a heart attack since this chest pain has increased and my PCP will not listen and neither will the Ortho who did the injection and he clearly lied about what it was or it's "new-ness".. anyone else have this painful heartbeat and bad headache after a shot, and when does the CFS headache go away??

i recieved 3 kenalog epidural injections for herniated disc, 2 weeks apart, followed by a decompression nucleoplasty, also with Kenalog injection. after the first epidual. i began having extreme irritablity which i reported to the pain management doc. he said he couldn't prescribe anything but could refer me to a psychologist, which i declined , realizing i was having a reaction to something. after the 3rd epidural, my irritabilty had increased to the point where i was shouting and screaming, and had completely lost my patience. my face had blown up, and cheeks were hard to the touch, and my neck skin was swollen and hanging down. i described my appearance as "looking like a blowfish".

on the day of the nucleoplasty, i agreed that the doc should go ahead and use it again, since it was important for the procedure, and it was not a "true (anaphalctic) type reaction.

after this last injection of Kenalog, i had a terrible terrible reaction. my face became even larger, with big dark circles under my eyes, and my eyes partially closed, appeared like slits. i was frightened by my reflection in the mirror.

my feet, ankles and legs swelled up to the point where it was painful and difficult to walk.

i also i developed insomnia.

at the same time i was "off the wall" with irritability, anger, impatience, and could not stop crying.

during the day i had a general ill and sleepy feeling, and fell asleep driving, without notice.

throughout this period of Kenalog adminstration, i also had flu like symptoms every morning. sore throat, laryngitis, loose cough, muscle pains. i noticed black and blue marks on my extremities as well.

now i have a full blown flu and full blown bronchitis, and i feel so very very ill.

my feet and calves, hands and fingers are experiencing very painful cramping, intermittantly throughout the day and night. it's happening right now in my left hand, so i have to stop typing. i wait for one minute and try to continue typing, but that causes the painful spasm to return. i try again 2 more times, waiting a minute in between spasms. finally it stops and i can continue typing.

there are probably more symptoms, like the irregular heart beat, and these little bumps on the skin of my right cheek, but i need to rest now.

generally, i feel sicker probably than i can ever recall feeling in my life.

would appreciate hearing from anyone with similar symptoms, and especially how long before my face returns to normal. i live with the fear of what will i do if it does not?

My husband had back surgery in June of 2005. They were suppose to operate on L4,L5, and S1 but instead they operated on L2 and L3. After surgery mu husband was referred to pain management. They did epidural lumbar injections with 80cc of Kenalog every 2 weeks for 6 months. The doctors just told us that we are going to give you injections. They didn't tell us anything else. These injections were given in the L4,L5 and S1 region. On top of all of the injections my husband has heart disease and high blood pressure which the doctors knew this before the injections. NOW we have been told by 3 different doctors that there is nothing that they can do. Also, they have told us that my husband is on limited yime and they only trying to make him comfortable. But we can't get no doctors to put this in writing so I can get help at home for my husband. My husband on only 52 years old. My husband has developed a rash, skin flaking off, muscles lost, weakness, can't walk, and etc.

Kenalog is a steroid. I am diabetic and steroids really increase my glucose, the elevated glucose levels can cause heart palpitations, high blood pressure, etc. I check my blood glucose often after my injections and cover it with Insulin. This does decrease my heart palpitations and other side effects. The only other bad side effect is the severe depression after the shot. I was going through a particularly bad time anyway, and after the shot I was suicidal. The doctor should have warned me about depression, it would have helped to know it was caused by the kenalog.

Within an hour of the injection I suffered a headache which progressed to a severe migraine headache. I also experienced very high blood pressure and broke out in sweats. The blood pressure did not begin to normalize until 5 days and I am still experiencing a headache (although not a migraine. This is the fifth day after the injection. I was not aware of any of these side effects so I was hospitalized due to the extreme blood pressure and extreme headaches. A cat (sp?) scan and spinal tap was done in an effort to determine the reason.

Hi Just wanted to let you know that the patient information sheet from the Drug maker of Kenalog, has every one of our symptoms listed. I have had 3 steroid epidural shots, and my menstrual cycle is so off. I have had my period for 40 days straight now.
The doctors obviously have not read the statements made from the Drug manufacturer, or this site would not be here. It clearly states in bold: MENSTRUAL IRREGULARITIES-- all female patients should be notified.
I also have had severe joint pain, high blood pressure( I was always very low b4 shot), severe panic attacks and mood swings. Our Dr.s are doing us a grave disservice. My Dr actually suggested that I may have Lyme Disease! Which I do not, I had the test just in case!
But ask your Dr.s for the Patient information sheet from the manufacturer of Kenalog, Bristol Meyer Squibb. And know that you are not alone!

I HAD A SHOT IN MY HIP LAST FALL FOR SEASONAL ALLERGIES. A WEEK AFTER MY FIRST NORMAL PERIOD I BEGAN THREE GOING ON FOUR WEEKS OF VERY HEAVY BLEEDING. I FINALLY WENT TO MY OB GYN AND HE SAID HE SEES THIS PROBLEM ON A REGULAR BASIS. THE KENALOG TOTALLY WIPES OUT A FEMALES HORMONE BALANCE. I HAD TO TAKE DOUBLE DOSES OF BITH CONTROL PILLS FOR TEN DAYS TO GET THORUGH MY VACATION AND RE-SET MY CYCLE. I AM NOW ANEMIC FROM THE BLOOD LOSS AND TAKING MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF IRON. NOW ALL OF A SUDDEN I HAVE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. COULD THIS HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE SHOT THREE MONTHS LATER?

My husband had a shot of Kenalog in his shoulder. He has high blood pressure and diabetes. (Doctor was aware of both conditions) Within hours he started having vision problems. Within 24 hours he was hospitalized with a stroke, paralyzed on his right side.