Kenalog and scar

I was injected with Kenalog in Mid July 2008 to reduce the swelling in my tonsils (I had a bad case of tonsillitis). I was asked if I have allergic reactions to steroid injections, and to my knowledge, I don't. So I was given a shot in my upper right buttock on Thursday (mid July). On the following Friday I was no better (still mid July). I was still not able to swallow my own spit, let alone eat or drink, so I went back Friday morning. I got another shot in the same location of Kelanog. I was not told of side effects; I was told the swelling would go down in my tonsils/throat. Again, no results.

That Friday afternoon I was admitted into the hospital for care. A weekend of fluids and other drugs got the infection out. I stayed infection free for two weeks. It hurt for a week afterwards on my right buttock, but no bruising. I healed up, had my tonsillectomy (sp), and healed fine after that.

I noticed nothing wrong with my upper right buttock until about two weeks ago. I am in the process of getting a large rib/hip tattoo piece finished, and about two weeks ago I noticed a spot that looked like a small bruise a few inches from my tattoo in the spot where I was administered the Kenalog shots. I didn't put it together then. Two weeks later (This past Thursday, September 25, 2008), my tattoo artist was about to work on me and said, "You have a dent in your butt, what happened?" I had no idea it was even a dent. The "bruise" like mark now looked like a burn scar, red, and smooth and deep--dented.

The red mark is still dented and the same color. It's about the size of an inch from one side to the other. However, each day since it has been dented, the dented area has expanded fairly rapidly. The dent is now not only in that red area (the injection site), but also along my hip/upper thigh. It's getting deeper and traveling outside the red area, and the red area is the same color. This discoloration just started. I heard this is called Tissue Atrophy due to a misadministered Kenalog injection.

Does this dent go away or stop "spreading" by itself? How will I know if it will stop spreading; is it different for everyone? How can it be properly diagnosed as well? Can a biopsy be done to prove that this it what it is? Does anyone have any insight?

Also, it's been 2 1/2 months before I saw any of these effects...why does it seem like my effects came later than others? Is that possible?

Thanks.

Like so many of you, I Googled "tissue atrophy" and have had the very same experience that you have had with Kenalog. I received a shot in late February of 08, shortly after I noticed severe bruising, which eventually turned into the atrophy I now have. I have taken pictures of it for the past several months...and now, 6 months later it is much worse...deeper and darker in color. Is anyone else having discoloration? Mine is a dark purple-red.
I AM PURSUING a lawsuit against the nurse that injected me because I was absolutely not warned of the side-effects...and now have had to suffer with this hole in my side.

It bothers me...and no one would understand unless this had happened to them I suppose. In addition, I received a second opinion and was told the atrophy was permanent...can anyone else confirm this?

I've also noticed other severe menstrual and emotional side-effects...this stuff can stay in your system for a long time.

I had the same steroid injection for tonsillitis this past January in both cheeks. I now too have noticed a large indentation in my right butt cheek. I was never informed of this possible side effect either. I would definitely be interested in pursuing a class action regarding the disfigurement of my previously favorite body-part. Had I been informed of such, I would have just had my tonsils removed!!

I had a Kenalog shot about 6 weeks ago in my face for what my doctor thought was swollen tissue after a surgery, however the Kenalog has eaten away at my tissue creating a "dent" in the side of my face. This has been a really terrible and frightening experience, and I am very concerned that the tissues will not regenerate themselves over time. He has told me that it could take a year for the tissues to regenerate themselves. Please, anyone out there who has had a similar experience with tissue atrophy after a Kenalog shot, please would you let me know if this tissues really ever came back gradually? Thanks so much.

I had a Kenalog injection in my left bum check in June 2007 to reduce hayfever symtoms. My menstrual periods are always regular - since the injection they have been VERY irregular, more days on than off. I also had a very heavy bleed which i thought was a miscarriage at the time (if it was a pregnancy then it would have been unplanned). I now think that my irregular periods and the heavy bleed are due to the Kenalog. I also have a mark at the site of the injection which is not fading - i think it will scar. When i went to my GP to complain about my irregular periods the GP dismissed me and said that i had an STD and sent me for a swab!!! I knew he was wrong and i felt very humiliated. My GP did not warn me about this side-effect of Kenalog, even though i asked about them. I have been told that the Kenalog will be in my body for 3 months - i only hope that things return to normal once it has left my system. I will never have it again.

I had the shot in the spring two times and now have a huge indention at the top of my hip it looks horrible what can we do about this I would never have deformed myself this is awful!!!

I received a Kenalog injection in December '06 to provide relief from an allergic reaction. My doctor did NOT inform me of any possible side effects other than drowsiness. Two months later a small dipple formed where the shot was given. I had no idea what it was and just assumed it was a part of getting older (I'm 30). When it began to get deeper, I became extremely worried. It has now been 6 months and the dimple has turned into a very large indentation. I still did not put two and two together and did not think it could have been caused by the steroid injuection. I visited my doctor, the same one who administered the shot in December, to find out what this could possibly be. He said he had no idea!! And even suggested it could be cancer!!!! I came home upset, obviously, thinking I was very sick, possibly even dying!! My sister did some research and found this site, and I am so relieved. But now I am angry at my doctor for not warning me of this possible side effect at the time of the shot AND then diagnosing it as a possible cancer!!! So now I am left with this deformity on my butt and a profound feeling of helplessness. Someone please tell me actions you have taken that have worked, both legally and physically. Will this go away?!?

In July of '06 I received a Kenalog shot in my buttocks because of asthma problems. I never knew why my skin was sinking in, at the same place where I received the shot. Now, nine months later, I can almost sink my fist in my butt because the dent keeps getting larger. I just learned a few days ago that it was because of the Kenalog shot. Is the dent going to keep getting larger or is there some way that I can stop it. Somebody please help me.!!!!

I have large dent from an injection. I was NEVER informed of any possible side effects. And like many others on here am living with a scar and a dent.

I am shocked. Several days ago, I noticed the indention on my hip (egg like). I couldn't figure out what caused it. It really freaked me out. Then I remembered that I had a nasty rash in Nov 0f 2006 and my doc gave me a shot. In addition, I have had bleeding in between my periods. I have been thinking that something was ghastly wrong with me.

Now, after finding this site I learn that it's all about a shot that I had several months ago!!!

I already had a huge scar from past surgery. I would never have agreed to further disfigurement.

Is there anything that can be done to minimize the indention? This is horrible!

I had a Kenalog shot for my C-Section scar/keloid. I asked my OBGYN are there any side effects to this shot, he replyed absolutely "no side effects whatsoever". Since the shot I have not stopped bleeding, everyday for almost 2 months now. Also I was rushed to emergency for projectile vomiting black vomite which turned out to be blood.(I also collapsed, right after the Kenalog shot and a nurse wheelchaired me to my mom's car). Anyway I the most scary thing is the vomiting blood, which has been in my stomach since the Kenalog shot. After seeing dozens of doctors, I read the microscopic print on the drug (which was never disclosed at the time I had the shot) Kenalog creates Peptic Ulcers and Gastrointestinal Bleeding in addition to the irregular periods. Anyone with me for a class action lawsuit to stop this drug from hurting and in some cases killing people?

I had a total thyroidectomy last year...long story short, after about 4 months my surgeon said the scar was turning into a keloid ( I now wish I would have just left it alone) So he recommended kenalog injections. I had 3 total over a 3 month period. After a few months the scar had severly indented & it looks horrible...when I swallow it looks like my throat is mangled inside. I hate it & I don't think there is anything I can do about it. I wish I would have been advised about the possible side effects!!! I can 't stand that people stare at my neck when I talk to them...it's very depressing. Not to be so vain, but I'm a young woman!!!

I feel so much from all of you guys. I am 20 Year old female in Los Angeles. 3 weeks ago I had a Kenalog shot for my C-Section scar/keloid. The point is this, I have had my periods ever since. It doesnt stop. The bleeding is getting heaver each day, and darker. I asked my doctor before the shot, he said absolutely NO side effects from Kenalog. I agree with a class action lawsuit. I am an emotional wreck too.

I would never have agreed to this shot had I known of the side effects.

I am 70 years old. I got bursitis in my right hip after climbing up and down a ladder during a kitchen remodel. The doctor gave me a shot of Kenalog in my sore hip and within a week I had a small lump at the injection site. Within a month it was the size of a walnut. The doctor gave me 2 different doses of antibiotics followed by surgery to remove the lump. I went into shock during this simple surgery and was in bed for a week. Less than a month later I started experiencing severe hot and cold flashes. After $250 blood/urine tests, the doctor said I was going through the 'change' again and I am now on Premarin (hormone) At 70 years old??? Why? In addition, the scar from the surgery is still red and inflamed and it's been 6 weeks.

/my surgery

In 2000 I had a cyst injected with Kenalog-10 in my right cheek (face) by Dr. Boyd at University of Michigan Cosmetic Dermatology in Livonia, MI. The cyst shrunk a little bit but a week later I still had the cyst and the Kenalog had created a red circle around it about .5" in diameter. 3 weeks later it looked like the cyst was ready to be drained (redness was still apparent) so I tried to squeeze it out. What a dumb idea. Now I'm left with 2 line scars, one above the cyst and one below it. To this day I still have the line scars and the bump from the cyst is still there, but I can't feel it anymore. I've tried glycolic peels, Retin-A, pulse dye-laser since the injection. I'm convinced now that I'll have these scars the rest of my life. I wish Dr. Boyd would've warned me ahead of time. I've squeezed pimples before in that area and have never gotten a scar. I believe the Kenalog thinned the skin, weakening it. It still looks somewhat depressed compared to the surrounding skin, and it turns pink if I don't cover it with moisterizer. If I just would've waited for the cyst to go away by itself I could've avoided a lifetime of suffering.

I had a kenalog injection in a sternal scar from a previous surgery. This caused a serious cellulitis infection I had two emergency room visits and a four day hospital stay with intravenous antibiotics before the infection cleared up. I will never take this steroid again

I received a shot of kenalog at the top of my left buttox after going to the emergency room because my throat was nearly swollen shut when I had mono. It was about 2 months after I had the shot that I noticed a weird dent where the shot had been given, the dent continued to grow in diameter and get deeper over the next couple of weeks. I went to the medical facility my college had on campus and after 2 NP's and 2 doctors came to look at it, 1 person asked if I'd had a kenalog shot at any time. He explained it to be a tissue atrophy caused by the shot and then told me that before a doctor administers that shot, they are suppose to explain the possible side effect to the patient and have a waiver signed. I went back to the hospital that I'd had the shot at and explained the situation to them and asked why I wasn't instructed about side effects and why I did not have any type of waiver presented either. They took a few days to get back to me, but the facility had aggreed to do reconstructive surgery on it at no charge. The only problem was that between my school/work schedule and the time it would take to have the surgeries/recovery time I was not able to have it done. However I would strongly suggest anybody else who's had this problem make this point to the facility they received their shot at. I was 19 at the time of the shot, and am 24 now. A minimal amount of tissue has regenerated on its own, however there is a scar-like marking about 2 inches long and about 3/4 of an inch high in that spot along with a small dent that still remains. The spot is very tender still and by this point, I'm assuming it will always be with me. Hopefully this helps anybody that's had a similar problem. Laws on the shot/procedures could vary by state so I would check with someone who is 100% familiar with medical laws in your state/area.

I had moles removed from my face, one scar was raised, so the plastic surgeon gave me a shot of kenalog in my face. I have a crater on my face under my eye from collagen atrophy that was the result of the side effects of kenalog. After consulting with two other plastic surgeons, I was told that collagen atrophy was indeed a side effect of kenalog injections. Treatment includes injections of Restylane( a facial filler) or injections of fat removed from other areas of the body. I am trying the body fat injections. If this does not work, a lawsuit is in the game plan for this freak show DR.