Can one cortisone injection in my knee cause weight gain?

I got my first injection four years ago in my foot and then I've had 3 in the past year, and I have gained a lot of weight. I didn't even realize that the shots could do that, but seems like weight just goes on overnight, even when active. they were a relief for awhile, now I'm having more pain in the ankle area.

Since February, I have been on a healthy carbohydrate/sugar nutrition kick. I have lost 40 pounds and it has not been easy. Monday morning I received a cortisone shot for my shoulder (rotator cuff). Continuing my new and good eating habits, I have gained FIVE POUNDS in just three days. Oh my God!! (That was a prayer!) Last night I woke up at least a half dozen times thinking "I am so hungry!!" Praise God - my shoulder is not hurting anymore. I am hoping this weight gain does not last and the shoulder pain is gone forever!

This may sound stupid but has any ever had lower leg Shin area pain from a steroid shot in the knee.

Hi,

I had an injection of cortisone yesterday for pain in my back.  I asked the doctor and nurse if it would cause me to gain weight.  They both said that it was such a low dose that it would not have that effect on me.  The nurse said after I quizzed her that it was a anti-inflamatory and would stop swelling also.  I have kidney failure stage 3 and the doctor said that it would not hurt my kidneys and I have had breast cancer 20 yrs ago and it was estrogen fed so the cortizone has hormone in it and I am so worried.  After reading these comments, I wish I had not let them give me the shot.  They want me to take it by pill for 10 more days and I will not do that.  I was unable to sleep last night and feel nauseated and having breathing problems this morning. 

I am so upset that they lied to me about the effects on gaining weight because I have fought a long time to down to my 103.5 pounds and try to keep it down because of my having had cancer.  My twin sister and I had breast cancer at the same time and know that we have to keep our weight down.  I cannot take hormones and I was never told that this was a hormone shot.  I am SCARED TO DEATH!

Does anyone have any encouraging words?

 

Sharon Bridges

 

 

I had an injection in my rotator cuff Wednesday and have gained 6-7 lbs in these two days, plus my face is flueshed and bright red. . 

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I started cortisone injections in my lower lumbar about 6 weeks ago. I just had my third - and FINAL - shot yesterday. I've gained 15 lbs since the first one. I asked my Dr. when I went in for my 2nd shot if it causes weight gain (because I was already up 5-10 lbs by then) and he said no. I knew this much weight in such a short period of time was not normal, though. I'm really upset now, reading all these stories on here. Apparently everyone's doctor is refusing to believe the weight gain is caused by the steroids. I'm uncomfortable constantly because everything I own is tight on me. I'm never doing another shot ever again. The back pain was more tolerable than this.

The shot helped me so much and after all the pain I have had,about 5 or 10 lbs wont kill me!! I am very thankful for the shot!!

I had a cervical epidural on 11/22/2013 for shoulder and neck pain on the left side and what we thought were headaches caused by a compressed nerve.  Now I have leg cramps, sensitive teeth, a constant headache and problems with my eyes - not being able to focus, kind of like when you daydream.  I need to eat everything that is not nailed down.  I had some of these symptoms after an injection two years ago for allergies and never put two and two together.

Short term side effects were insomnia, anxiety and flushing.

The shot did not help my pain and I will never have these injections again.

Karen from Arizona

I had a single cortisone shot to my wrist just over 3 months ago. The injection site is red and itchy with a white vein-shape about 3/4" long in the center. Sometimes, the area is very hot. I used to be a very high-energy person who slept about 7 hours a night, but now am tired ALL of the time and can barely function on 9-10 hours of sleep. I have no energy, cry too much, and get irritated or upset very easily. I called to see my doctor (due to my husband's urging me) and the nurse was insultingly skeptical, but reluctantly gave me an appointment today. I have read enough horror stories to believe this is all due to the shot.

I hate to be the bearer of bad new to those of you who had a shot (or more) recently and are hoping the symptoms will go away soon.  It has been almost 2 years since I got 5 shots in my back and I had almost every symptom many of you claim to and while many of mine have gone away, some remain.  I was not told by my neurologist of ANY side effects and at the time I was in so much pain I didn't think to ask about side effects from the treatment, I just wanted treatment.  Anyway the shots were extremely painful. I didnt get a full moon face but I woke up the next day and noticed my face was really puffy.  Then a few days later I noticed the doubel-chin and the neck hump.  Then the weight-gain.  Over time the double chin turned into the beginning of jowels. Then I noticed my upper arms got fatter - like little-old-lady kind of fat.  Sorry little old ladies but I was only 34 so WTF?  My DR also played it off like it was not the shots.  Anyone afraid of being responsible always points the finger elsewhere.  Without ever taking my calls, the DR had a nurse tell me sure, the symptoms will go away in about a year.  So apparently he knew what it was from but hoped I would stop asking.  Fast forward a year, the hump is smaller and I got Ultherapy to help with the jowling and double chin though I can't be sure how much if at all it has helped vs. diet and time.  I was starting to see the inflation of my face and stomach go away and I was getting back down to my normal wight when one morning I had dark shadows running down the middle of my cheeks and nasolabial folds.  DID NOT have these before, just woke up with them and was hoping I was just swollen from carbs the night before.  After reading about mid-cheek hollows and nasolabial folds on realself and plastic surgery sites, it seems that while my face was made fatter and my skin elasticity was attacked by the corticosteroids, when I went back to my "normal face" the skin did not go with it so I aged about 10 year in 1 year.  My massage therapist says he can still see discoloration and indentations in the spotw I was injected.  Still!  I am not getting younger so my hope of repairing the damage done is pretty much nill unless I spend thousands more on trying to undo the damage done by the shots.  And to think all I had to do was ask the DR for a muscle relaxer that day but I am always aftraid DR.s assume you are a druggie if you ask for meds like that so I let him stick me with syringes full of poison.  I'd tell you never to take these shots but in most cases, you don't even know to look for fourms on the topic untill after it is too late so I'm sure the cycle of medical abuse will continue.  Will never forgive my DR for not telling me about the risks and then lying afterward to save face or litigation!!

Well, now I know why I can't lose that 8 pounds I've gained. I thought it was due to pre-menopause. I didn't consider the two cortisone injections in my shoulder. I am extremely active (avid bicycler) and I upped my extra workouts on the treadmill and the eliptical and cut back on calories and couldn't lose an ounce. Now I know! Thank goodness I'm having surgery. I wouldn't have another shot. Nobody warned me that a cortisone shot would cause weight gain! Crazy!

I totally agree. I have a shoulder injury. I had one shot and have packed on the pounds. I'm more like a blimp then a 6 ft size 8 lady. I'm constantly hungry, now more depressed, my cycles are horrible, no sex drive , and feel like yuk. I was in so much pain with my shoulder I was willing to try anything. However, going from size 8 to size 12 to almost 14 was not in my plan of getting well. The doctor totally lied to me. He said, one shot will help my shoulder with no worries of extra pounds. I'm constantly frustrated, ill, can't stop crying. It's affecting my marriage because I'm always bitching. Never take the shot. I will never do it again. I'm going next week to a weight doctor to get help for this horrible mess.

I am just now realizing this has been my problem for eight years! I have been getting the cortisone injections--in BOTH KNEES ,and constantly been gaining weight ,40 pounds ,I don't eat hardly anything and the weight keeps coming on! I will be going for surgery that is the only alternative I know.I too have all the sweating,tiredness,and bloating.

I have has two neck injections over the last two months along with an injection into my shoulder joint and one round of trigger point injections. None of them really helped too much. But over the last two weeks I have gained almost 20 pounds. I thought I had a tumor or something. I feel like c**p. I am up to 170 and it don't look to be slowing down. I feel swollen all over. It is uncomfortable to walk or exercise. The headaches are awful and are now everyday. I had no idea it caused weight gain.

I have been getting the shots for a year now in my left shoulder. I was in a bad car accident and tore my rotor cup, They did want to do surgery but it was just before the holidays and i am the one who cooks for a large family so i decided to get the shots and they worked awesome for me i actually forgot about my pain and could use my shoulder. But i did gain weight also and suffered from many other things, like menopause but i am 41 and was already suffering from pre menopause, and i think i am depressed as well but i think alot of our symptoms come from chronic pain and we look for something to blame for it to make since, i used to blame my shots on all my symptoms but now i realize that it is up to me to make positive changes... good luck ladies and God bless