Kenalog and night sweats

MY lower back hurts worse then before and I was told no it won't.
Woke up to night sweats last night. lost bladder control 1st day.
so far no relief just more problems.

I have had 6 kenalog shots in both my upper theighs fot bursitis and although I am long past menstrual periods I too have experienced some harsh symptoms. Before the doctor only did one theigh per appointment but this time she did both. I have had sever flushing, night sweats (thought I was over them) and after reading some of the others wonder if the weight lose I've experienced is due to the kenalog. Insomnia has been a problem with these injections too and am lucky to get 4 to 5 hours of sleep. I was only told any symptoms could possibly be soreness at sight, bruising and bleeding at sight....why oh why...are we all given such a small amount of information on these drugs and what is the long term effect going to be?

I just came across this site while searching online for photos that resembled what is happening to my body. I have matching large indentations above both butt cheeks, and after reading this I realize that they are in the same location where my dermatologist gave me "steroid" shots for poison ivy in Sept. of 2008. I have no idea if it was kenalog, but after reading this I'm afraid that's exactly what it was and will be calling his office on Monday to confirm. I too would like to know just how big these will get and if there is any way to correct them. It's all I can do to sit at my desk for 8 hours. I am in great discomfort, and very upset about the appearance of these large indentations.

I received my first shot on Kenalog three weeks ago, for a bulging disc in L5, and it took me from a 8 out of 10 pain scale, to a 2. After two weeks , I received my second shot, and now I feel about 98% better. As an added bonus, my Psoriasis of 15 years, that no Doctor could seem to control, has all but disappeared! Also a severe pain in my r/foot under 2nd tow area, has completely gone away, after 10 years of misery! I also am seeing my two toenails, and one fingernail restoring themselves to normal again(the nails had fallen off years ago, like a fungus, but it was not fungus). My dermatologist told me it had no cure and that I would have to deal with it! Kenalog benefits have FAR outweighed the negative effects so far... I have lost about 5lbs in 3 weeks, and anxiety is a mild issue, as is mild night sweats, but for me, this is a small price to pay for pain relief that was making my life miserable!

I am a physician. Kenalog is one of several injectable steroids that can cause subcutaneous atrophy or lipoatrophy as a side effect. For those who have this reaction, they will notice a dent or divot. This is not dangerous problem and most of the time the dent or divot will fill back in with time. How much time? The range is 3 to 24 months without treatment. However, for many patients this healing process can be speeded up with weekly saline injections that can be safely performed by almost any Doctor and need not be expensive.

The technique was well described in the Journal of Dermatological Surgery in 2006. If you do a google search for the name of the article as listed below you can find the Abstract and take a copy to your Doctor.

Best to all,

T.

Treatment of Local, Persistent Cutaneous Atrophy Following Corticosteroid Injection with Normal Saline Infiltration

Shumaker Peter R., MD*, Rao Jaggi, MD † , Goldman Mitchel P., MD †

Published in Dermatological Surgery, 21 Mar 2006

ABSTRACT
Background. Injections of corticosteroids are commonly used for a variety a dermatologic conditions but may cause local, persistent cutaneous atrophy, with few therapeutic options.

Objective. To determine the effectiveness of bacteriostatic normal saline infiltration on the improvement of corticosteroid-induced cutaneous atrophy.

Materials and Methods. Four patients with corticosteroid-induced atrophy of the skin, two caused by acneiform cysts and one from intramuscular steroid injection, were treated with weekly injections of normal saline directly into the atrophic site. The patients were seen on weekly follow-up visits, and improvement was documented.

Results. All four patients demonstrated complete resolution of skin atrophy and restoration of surface contour within 4 to 8 weeks of initial presentation. Injected volumes of normal saline ranged from 5 to 20 cm3 per treatment session and three to six weekly treatments. The patients were completely satisfied with these results.

Conclusion. Normal saline infiltration offers a safe, tolerable, relatively rapid, and effective treatment for local, persistent corticosteroid-induced atrophy.

Dermatologic Surgery, Volume 31 Issue 10, Pages 1340 - 1343,

This post is directed to anyone who has contacted me regarding a possible class action lawsuit, which I was trying to initiate, as stated in my Oct 17th, 2008 post.
After contacting as many as 10 law firms, from NY to San Francisco, I have virtually "thrown in the towel". In essence, what they are saying is, this will be too expensive to litigate. The pharmaceutical companies have "teams" of lawyers, and I believe they are reluctant to go up against them.
I find it diabolical that this drug Kenalog is causing so much suffering, some emotional, some esthetic and some, like myself, sheer physical pain...but nothing can be done about it.
For all of you who have emailed me and I was unable to return your ems, I apologize....but I have been waiting to hear something positive feedback to relay. Unfortunately, that was not the case. If anything does develop I have stored your information and will get back to you. I would hope you would do the same.

In January of 2009 I had a Kenalog injection between the L4 L5 in the lower lumber spine area to help with pain. It began to work for me about 5 days after the shot and my back felt better. I was due to return to work, and then I had a panic attack. Never in my life has this happened to me. I was just laying on the couch and all the sudden I felt sick to my stomach, got a terrible headache, had trouble breathing and was experiencing numbness in my hands and feet. I was taken to the ER and tests all came back negative. Was given Klonapin to help me relax, and returned to work a few days later. On Feb. 1st, while at work, I had another panic attack, only after this one, my speech was stuttered and I had neck spasms so bad that I almost couldn't stand it. I also had the night sweats, nausea, depression, headaches, lack of appetite, so I went to see a neurologist. Several tests were done and all came back normal. Then I was referred to Univ. of MD Neurologist that told me it was stress related. However, during both panic attacks there was no stressful situation. After an increase in Effexor I returned to work after being off for four weeks. Then just two nights ago I experienced a terrible immediate migraine that resulted in another panic attack. My speech is still stuttering, I have constant neck pain, and I feel like it's never going to go away. My doctor wants to do another set of Kenalog injections in my neck this week. I think after reading this site, I am going to refuse and get a second opinion.

I WAS TOLD TO TRY NERVE BLOCKS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SURGERY. I HAVE A RUPTURED LEAKING DISC AS THE RESULT OF A CAR ACCIDENT AT L4,L5, I HAD THREE INJECTIONS, I WAS NOT EVEN TOLD THEY WERE USING A STEROID. WHEN I STARTED HAVING NIGHT SWEATS, IRRITABILITY AND EXTREME FACIAL HAIR MY GYNO SAID IT WAS THE NERVE BLOCKS. THE NP AT THE PAIN TREATMENT CENTER SAID IN TEN YEARS SHE HAD NEVER HEARD OF IT. THE DEPO SHOT I WAS GETTING WAS NEGATED SO I GOT MY TUBES TIED. I HAVE AN APPT WITH AN ENDOCRINOLOGIST IN JUNE, I GOT IT IN NOV, MY HUSBAND SAYS WE WILL HAVE A CIVIL UNION BY THEN!! THE PAIN RELIEF LASTED 19 DAYS, THE HAIR 2 MONTHS AND COUNTING. THE SURGEON TOLD ME BEFORE HE PUT ME UNDER HE DIDN'T THINK IT WAS GOING TO WORK. I WISH I KNEW ABOUT THE SIDE EFFECTS. NOT HAPPY AT ALL. TREATMENT CENTER SAID BECAUSE OF SIDE EFFECTS I WAS NO LONGER ELIGIBLE FOR NERVE BLOCKS AND CLOSED MY CASE AS A PATIENT. I ALSO HAVE 2 BULGING DISCS IN MY NECK AND CHI FROM THE ACCIDENT. I GUESS I MAY HAVE TO HAVE SURGERY. THIS HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD EXPERIENCE.

I had a Kenalog injection in two trigger points (one on the right side of my spine in the shoulder blade area and one on the right side of my spine in the lower neck) on March 27, 2008. Prior to the shot, I was suffering from numbness in my right arm and leg, shooting pains and loss of motor skills in my right arm, severe muscle spasms in my back and neck, tightening in my chest and back, severe migraines, night sweats and hot flashes, vertigo/dizziness, shortness of breath, heart palpitations and chest pains to name a few. Since the injection, I have noticed an increase of heart palpitations, dizziness, severe migraines, blurry vision, excessive weight gain, severe hot flashes, tiredness, and have had trouble sleeping. In the last two weeks, I have noticed a quarter sized indentation where I received the shot in my shoulder blade area and a baseball sized indentation where I received the shot in my lower neck area. I was not made aware of ANY side effects to this shot and will DEFINITELY not get another one. It is only a month later and I have not felt any improvement in my symptoms that I had before or after the shot. I received the shot, as my doctor felt it would help with what they think is a spazzed muscle in my back shoulder blade area near the spine. The doctor who gave me the shot stated if it didn't help, they would try giving me a cervical epidural, which has its own set of scary risks! I am beginning to think I will have to live with my symptoms for the rest of my life!

i had this shot last June. i would never do it again. i had insomnia and night sweats for a month. i was up every hour on the hour wiping my self dry i was dripping wet from head to toe.. i had to wear my husbands running clothes for the sweat. the sweat was making me cold with my pj's. had to sleep w/ towels.every morning i would be so depressed from not sleeping i couldn't function at work. had severe anxiety( had to go on Xanax) had hair thinning, I lost 6 lbs went down to 100lbs and I'm 5 ft. become severely anemic the doctor wanted to do a blood transfusion. i could not stop bleeding for months clots galore. this is just a short version of the problems. the drug finally stopped working after 9 months.doctor wants to give me depo medrol. i don't think so!

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.

I received a kenalog injection for coccyx pain March 2007. I have noticed the following side effects: nausea,heightened anxiety, insomnia, night sweats, loss of appetite, fatigue and severe generalized itching. It is now August and I am still experiencing these problems.
I have a question. Has anyone out there noticed their blood sugar
increasing? I am trying to see if this is separate or related to the injection.

I'm not sure my doctor used Kenolog as I was not told exactly what drug name it was, but I had a cortisone shot in both hips. Just after the shots, the room started spinning and I had to lie down for two hours in the Dr's office. I had started my period that morning when I went for the shot. It has been almost 4 weeks and I am still bleeding. It's not heavy but it's just there. The other side effects I had (and am still having some of them) are: facial flushing, night sweats, trouble sleeping, leg cramps, headaches, watering eyes, vision problems, and stomach burning, The doctor who gave me the shots told me that the menstrual bleeding was not a side effect of the shots. Well, it all changed after the shots. He suggested I go and see my gynecologist. I'm not going. I'm just wondering when it all will end. My hips are much better but you shouldn't have to go through this kind of thing to get something else fixed. I should have been told of the side effects that could happen with this. I didn't know what was happening to me. If I hadn't had the internet, I wouldn't have known and it would have driven me crazy.

has anyone ever recived the injection kenelog in the scalp for hair loss. i did and over the last couple of years i have noticed new changes to my body.twitching under my right eye, rapid breathing, insomnia, mood swings, insomnia, pressure in my back like a sharp object poking my insides, occassional night sweats. i didnt know if this was a side effect or not but i didnt feel this way until after the shots. eventhough the hair grew back i still feel these effects. can someone respond

I received three sets of shots after having lipo. These shots were used to reduce swelling and stop scar tissue buildup. I now have a bloodclot in my left leg. Doctors are running all kinds of blood tests on me. I also have hair loss, anxiety and night sweats.

This stuff is really bad for you. I can't believe that it is on the market.

Same here...I got my shot for posin ivy in January and noticed a HUGE indention in my buttocks about 2-3 months later, It has been 11 months now since the shot and the hole has gotton alot deeper with joint pains, and night sweats. I am currently trying to sue the doctors office for neglegence, and also not informing me of the side effects..
Do not take this Shot!

I want to cry I took a Kenalog shot because of a keloid on my hand. My hand has no pigmentation in that area and it looks worse. I have night sweats,headaches and pain in my joints. I has been 2 months now. I want to sue this company but My lawyer says there are not enough complaints. He needs to look at this sight. Any suggestions?

I received an injection of Kenalog (40 mg in my right buttocks ) in November 2004. I had some sort of of rash under my eyes. The shot worked. The rash came back in February 2005 and again I was given an injection of Kenalog (1cc in my right buttocks). It was after this second shot that everything changed for me. The first obvious side effect to be directly identified with Kenalog was the Huge hole in my butt. I had Many other side effect for weeks and months to come that I didn't realize was the Kenalog till just this past week. I have had terrible night sweats for months, I have had a chronic yeast infection that no matter how much diflucan I take it doesn't go away. But the worst side effect is that my resting heart beat has been about 15 beats per minute more that it ever was and shoud be. I feel like there has been as excess of adrenaline running through my body 24/ 7. Hard to be inside my own sking these days. I also recently started to lose my hair. I just last week finally couldn't take the way I feel so, I went to see an endocronologist who said it is the reaction of the Kenalog. And told me this could last a year.
Has any one else out there experienced a rapid heartbeat and unbearable anxiety?????

I had a series of 3 kenalog injections for pain in my neck at c-4 and c-5. Immediately after the last injection i noticed re blotches under my skin and went to my dr. She said it was blood under the skin from a hit or scratch, which would normally be a regular bruise, blue ot such. I had blood tests and was found to be anemic and have to take iron to rebuild. This was a result of the kenalog. I also have night sweats and terrible mood swings which I am trying to work out without any more drugs. The effect of kenolag on my pituitary gland has stopped hair growth on my arms and head.
The last injection was a month ago and no sign of any regrowth yet. This drug should definitely be taken OFF THE MARKET. It seems no drs. tell us of the horrible side effects and if they know what they are, why are they using this drug on us the patient. Remember, First Do No Harm??? I will never take this drug again and will certainly tell others the same.
L. Boss

I recently recieved local injections into the psoriasis lesions on my hands. The MD used about 3cc. Within 6 days I began to experience insomnia. Being a menapausal women, I have had my share of 3:30 AM sleeplessness and night sweats. This however is different. I cannot fall asleep. My MD prescribed a sleeping pill to use short term. I am wondering if anyone has experienced this?

After a reaction to a known food allergy and being treated with success at the emgergency room with benedryl, I followed up with my GP for irratation in one ear. After an exam of my inner ear he said the canal looked inflamed, probably lingering from the food allergy and said a "shot" would clear it right up. His nurse came in with the injection, and I asked "what exactly is this" she said it was "Kenalog" and said people come in all time and get it for all kinds of things, mainly for allergies and they just "love" it. I had never heard of the drug before this. I received the 80mg injection in my left hip on 06-20-05. Since then I have experienced mild to moderate depression, anxiety, panic, fatigue, night sweats, muscle pain, stomach cramping and a mild form of acne around the hair follicles on my chest as per the dermatologist. I beleive it is the side effects of the Kenalog. If I would have been properly informed I would have opted out of injection and kick myself for not asking more questions about it. I know from reading the forums every one reacts differently but the side effects seem consistant throughout. I would caution anyone before taking this drug to througly weigh the benefits vs the risks.

i loved the shot the first few springs i had it; it cleared up my asthma induced allergies within a few days .
however! i had it last March and this fall (exactly 6 months later) i seem to have allergies (I dont get fall allergies). but will not get the shot now or in spring if i can help it. I have had two periods a month for 8 months now, this makes me tired cranky MOODY. It increases night sweats and hair growth. Mostly I guess I can choose between breath and blood. Tired either way.

i reciecved a 40 miligram of kenolog in my right hip about 3 months ago. About 2 weeks later i started to get a dry mouth, severe anxiety, loss of appitite, horrible night sweats, hot flashes, weight loss, throwing up, not seeing as well, dentation on right hip,chapped lips, tremendence amount of energy, agitation, no pain, basically flying high!!! This injection was for my allergies. I had no idea that all of these things were due to the kenalog. I thought that i was possibly loosing my mind. I started to think that my hormones had gone hay wire or that my adrenaline was out of wack, i just coulnt figure it out all these things that were happening to me, and then it dawned on me that it could be the kenalog so i called my allergist and asked about it and he said yes it can give you anxiety. He then prescribed some pills for me for relief. Oh yeah!! I forgot that i got infected hair particles on my face which turned into staff infection!!I had no idea that it was also caused from the kenalog but it was, all of it was!! I was really really scared!! I was also very aggressive. I had it all and now i have---- so much neck pain. I have had two doctors say never get one again. Yes it did help my allergies!! Oh did i forget i had horrible axiety too??

I just finished three epidural injections for pain & numbness due to herniated & bulging cervical discs. Kenalog was injected.
I have felt just terrible since mid-week of the first injection ! I have had severe fluid retention. In addition to the retention I also get up 4-5 times per night to urinate with no change in the fluid retention! My abdomen and stomach are distended and very uncomfortable especially after meals. I now have an uncontrollable appetite & eat incessantly. I feel huge! My thirst has increased. I have night sweats. My breasts have been very sore. I am irritable, fatigued, bloated. I have moon face! My neck pain is now constant at the base of my skull with intense pressure, especially when I lie down. Obviously, I do not sleep well. My legs, ankles & fingers are especially swollen.
I wish I had never had the injections of Kenalog. Compared to the side effects I am experiencing from Kenalog, I would have lived with the discomfort and numbness!
What is the time this takes to get out of my system & I can expect to get back to normal?