cervical epidural injection and side effect

I am a 53 year old female who is in this site to find out just what I'm finding out- Doctors lie- and they dont really care about weight gain because that's not what they are treating. Its not important- but to add weight gain to an already upsetting situation, is devastating for a woman-

I exercise every day at a ladies health spa, walk on treadmill, do yoga and eat a lot of fiber and fresh vegetables daily- not a lot of bread or meat at all, but am gaining weight over my entire body- pants fit tighter, not looser, even with all the exercise- It is very frustrating and if I could take something to counteract this 2nd injection I just had yesterday (cervical epidural of C 4, 5,6) I would definately do it. I was a decent size 8 before my first injection in January and now in April am squeezing into 10's , arms larger, constipation is also more prevalent as well. Both the pain management doctor and the chiropractor told me that weight gain

was nominal if any. HA- Bet they dont give them to their wives.

I had an injection about 2 to 3 months ago ang haven't been the same since. M yneck is still sore and hurts sometimes when I cough and/ or use the bathroom(BM). I very rarely had headaches pryor to this but lately I had a terrible headache that lasted about 3 weeks. my main concern now is that when I bend my neck towards my chest I feel a shock going down through my left leg and also at other positions. My stomach for weeks felt as if I was doing a situp and holding it and even now I still get that feeling. As others have said, I do feel as if I'm urinating more now. I wake up constantly and have to use the bathroom. But my main concern is the shocking feeling.

I do not plan to get another injection at least the way I feel about it right now and real bad that I ever got the first one. To top it all off I had it because my shoulder was hurting and it hurting now just as bad or worst than it hurt before. Has anyone else had this shocking sensation?

Have you had all 4 components of your thyroid tested? I am petite and had unexplained weight gain that doctors dismissed but I persisted and detailed tests revealed sudden hypothyroid. Internet medical sites say that 30% of thyroid problems are undiagnosed. Good luck. I have my first epidural tomorrow.

I too was very active and eat very healthy, lots of fresh veggies and fruit, no simple carbs, very little red meat and I have gained 16 lbs in 9 months since getting cervical injections; now I am getting the injections in my lumbar and gained another 10 lbs in the last 5 weeks, had all my thyroid tests, all normal, since the injetions have a voraious appetite, no amount of exerise and salads will drop even 1 lb...gaining 1-2 lbs weekly! I am quitting the shots, I need to have my body back and I am seeking laser spine non-invasive surgery..DO NOT GET THE SHOTS!

Wow! I had my first injection back in 2001 for discogenic disc disease C-4 thru C-6 and had no side effects whatsoever and I was pain free for over a year.
Now 7 years later it is on the other side down to C-7 and I have been on several anti-inflammatories with no relief. Just started taking some pain meds that help some but don't want to continue with daily meds. Pain is also in my shoulder, left arm & hand tingle continuosly,
I just scheduled another one for next month and hope I have the same results. I too am always tired but was tested for Epstein-Barr (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) which came back positive so I don't think mine was a result of the injection.

Prior to having my first injection, I learned that I was in between hypoglycemic and insulin resistant. I was told by both my doctor and the radiologist that having these injections can mess up your insulin levels. If you have too much insulin floating around in your body because your cells are not accepting the insulin, it stores in your fat cells, thus creating a lot of fat - especially in the belly area. I have always been a petite person and have never had a weight problem. Fortunately I had started on an eating plan that was keeping my blood/insulin levels balanced, so I didn't experience any weight gain with my injections. For those of you who have experienced weight gain, you might want to consider having the insulin challenge test (2 hour sugar test). I wasn't off a whole lot, but enough to not make me feel well, not to mention the horrendous headaches that accompany hypoglycemia and insulin resistance. Make sure the test is not given within a close time frame of your injection. I've had two cervical epidural injections, my most recent was last week. Both times, I experienced heaviness in my chest/back area, but it went away, plus I was given a list of possible side effects from the injection. For two years I have conservatively treated my neck/back/shoulder/arm (basically the whole right shoulder girdle area). Last month my MRI revealed small bulges in C4-C5, C5-C6 with each having annular (ligament) tears, one has formed a cyst. After my first injection, I ended up with tremors in my right arm/hand - whether or not it was a coincidence or injection related, only time will tell. I feel bad for those of you who have had bad experiences with injections. I had a horrible injection experience on my lower back ten years ago and swore I would never ever have another injection. Having enough pain changed all that for me. In addition to my injections, I am currently seeking rehab from a phenomenal chiropractor who once was a massage therapist (no bone crushing adjustments here) He also has an outstanding trainer who works for him and is helping to wake up all the little muscles (without weights) that haven't been used in a while so they can assist the bigger muscles and keep them out of constant spasm. It's going to be a bit of a journey because I didn't get to this point over night. For those of you who have had bad experiences and side effects, don't give up hope. There is something out there that will help you. Every experience is different and will react differently to each treatment, hopefully you will find what works for you. I wish you the best.

To all of you who have been brave enough to tell the truth!!!
I applaud you all for telling the truth about your experiences. I have just gone through my second lumbar injection and am scheduled for my first cervical injection in four weeks. I am also one of you who have experienced those horrible side effects that the doctors say "well I haven't seen that occur". Well if it is a one in thousand chance it is going to happen to me.
My symptoms are:
weight gain - yes they thought I was crazy too
tired all the time
very flushed and feverish
upset stomach
diarrhae (spelling)
bloating
urinating frequently at night
and so on

I am wondering if it is all worth it in the end. I did receive pain relief from my first lumbar epidural but the side effects are so depressing. It is like you have to choose which one makes you feel worse. For me the weight gain was horrible, because of the pain I couldn't do much to keep my weight where I wanted to be but I was at 169 and went up to 182 in a matter of weeks and I wasn't eating any more.

I think they should do longer studies with people who are getting these shots and tell you more about the 1% of things that could happen.

It is nice to know I am not going crazy, but I am sorry that we all have to be in this group, but atleast I don't feel so alone anymore.

HI, Four days ago I receiver my first lumbar cortisone shot, About 30 minutes after the shot I had horrific low back pain and that night I had he worst headache I ever had in my life. I ended up at the week end medical care center and was given oxycontin for the pain.A call into the doctors office this morning got me no where. I was told to drink water, lie flat on my back and was perscribed a headachr medicine. I am being told this is very common. Has anyone else had a simular reaction? thanks

I am a 44 years old man. I've been very healthy all my life, but suddenly two months ago I had such a severe pain in my cervical and chest that I thought I was having a heart attach; going to Emergency. After so many expensive tests they told me: "your health and organs are in better condition than a baby", but my pain which came without previous symptoms was there, making my life miserable.

I decided to visit an orthopedic and he told me, after taking a RX that I had a damaged disc between vertebras C6 and C7, and mostly on the left side, and that is why my pain goes all the way to my left shoulder, arm and hand, where some fingers has lost sensitivity. Also with chest pain, left side.

I went to Northside hospital in Atlanta and they did a MRI, and yes, I saw it, the disc is damaged on the left side, compressing my nerves and so, that terrible permanent pain.

I had my first epidural 20 days ago. It helped me a lot, as from scale 1 to 10 my pain was always 9-10, now I have it 4-5. I did not have any of those symptoms you had experienced. I had feel inclination to gain weigh, but I've eating mostly vegetables and soup, taking vitamins on the side, to avoid eating much, because I feel sometimes (actually I always had) very good appetite. I weigh 185 pounds and I am 5' 10''. However I do not look fat, always when I wanted to lose those extra 10 pounds I have it was easy, just eating less, now after the Epidural injection, it seems to me it has become hard to lose even 1 pound.

Yesterday I had the second shot and they want to do a third one. One of the doctors that attend me in the Spinal Cord Center in Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA, told me first that probable I will need surgery (I really was shock, how somebody's life can change so drastically, mostly for me that at my age I have not yet even any filling in my teeth, they are all there as if I was yet a boy). I’ve been very sad. I thought I would have time enough to get into my future senior years without terrible pains.

I hope this one will help. I'm not sure if I will let them go to the third one injection in 2-3 weeks as they said. I do not want to become a super-size man, after I have heard all what has happen to all of you. I lifted weights for years and probable that, among other sports I played, helped to this awful situation now.

One thing I have decided is that if this does not take my pain at all, at some point I will go to surgery. I can't live the rest of my life with this pain. I am a teacher and I walk and stand mostly the whole day. It hurts, it feels miserable.

The hard part will be to find a real good Neuro-surgeon whom I can trust my cervical, without leaving me handicapped.

Hopefully this help. I know the pain is horrible.

Alejandro. (esvipron@yahoo )

__

I am a 44 years old man. I've been very healthy all my life, but suddenly two months ago I had such a severe pain in my cervical and chest that I thought I was having a heart attach; going to Emergency. After so many expensive tests they told me: "your health and organs are in better condition than a baby", but my pain which came without previous symptoms was there, making my life miserable.



I decided to visit an orthopedic and he told me, after taking a RX that I had a damaged disc between vertebras C6 and C7, and mostly on the left side, and that is why my pain goes all the way to my left shoulder, arm and hand, where some fingers has lost sensitivity. Also with chest pain, left side.



I went to Northside hospital in Atlanta and they did a MRI, and yes, I saw it, the disc is damaged on the left side, compressing my nerves and so, that terrible permanent pain.



I had my first epidural 20 days ago. It helped me a lot, as from scale 1 to 10 my pain was always 9-10, now I have it 4-5. I did not have any of those symptoms you had experienced. I had feel inclination to gain weigh, but I've eating mostly vegetables and soup, taking vitamins on the side, to avoid eating much, because I feel sometimes (actually I always had) very good appetite. I weigh 185 pounds and I am 5' 10''. However I do not look fat, always when I wanted to lose those extra 10 pounds I have it was easy, just eating less, now after the Epidural injection, it seems to me it has become hard to lose even 1 pound.



Yesterday I had the second shot and they want to do a third one. One of the doctors that attend me in the Spinal Cord Center in Northside Hospital in Atlanta, GA, told me first that probable I will need surgery (I really was shock, how somebody's life can change so drastically, mostly for me that at my age I have not yet even any filling in my teeth, they are all there as if I was yet a boy). I’ve been very sad. I thought I would have time enough to get into my future senior years without terrible pains.



I hope this one will help. I'm not sure if I will let them go to the third one injection in 2-3 weeks as they said. I do not want to become a super-size man, after I have heard all what has happen to all of you. I lifted weights for years and probable that, among other sports I played, helped to this awful situation now.



One thing I have decided is that if this does not take my pain at all, at some point I will go to surgery. I can't live the rest of my life with this pain. I am a teacher and I walk and stand mostly the whole day. It hurts, it feels miserable.



The hard part will be to find a real good Neuro-surgeon whom I can trust my cervical, without leaving me handicapped.



Hopefully this help. I know the pain is horrible.



Alejandro. (esvipron@yahoo )

For those who have posted side effects including edema (swelling) weight gain, swollen face, irratibility etc sounds like typical side effects of cortico steriods (like prednisone). These effects mirror Cushing's syndrome and can be severe and bothersome.
I have serious asthma and have had to use steriods as an anti-inflamatory for several years. The effects of Cushing's syndrome (which can occur naturally if the body produces too much steriod) are hard to get rid of and are hard on the system.
I would reccommend patience for the weight gain (it can take several years to loose weight gained because of steroids) and continue to speak to your doctor.
Because steroids are naturally occuring in your body, when the doctor administers additional steroids your body naturally amps up production to match what is introduced. This is why it can take some time to loose excess weight gained because of the steroids.
Sorry to be the barer of bad news,
fellow chronic back pain sufferer,
Beth

HATE TO SAY IT DARLIN BUT YOU SOUND PREGNANT! :0) GOOD LUCK!

Marteeny - your post sounds like you were writing about ME! I unfortunately have gained 50 lbs and my headaches/migraines have worsened the past 2 months.



I have had about 18 injections in the past year and half. I am a 41 yr old female and I suffer from severe pain due to WEST NILE POLIO from a mosquito 3 and half years ago. I was paralyzed from the waist down for several months at the beginning but have suffered for SEVERE pain since the beginning. This disease has ultimately cost me my career (now on disability) and my marriage. My husband of 10 couldn't continue with all of my Dr visits, weight gain (he called me fat and lazy). I have 3 very active kids (14, 8 and 4) and my 19 year old step daughter so I am always on the go and I volunteer at the school too. I have been depressed because of the weight gain and my husband hasn't helped either. My drs just tell me to eat right - which I have been eating fewer calories than I need. They also tell me to exercise - well hell, I can barely take care of the house, kids and their activities etc - let alone, freakin work out!!! I did just start seeing a HYPNOTIST. So far he wanted to work thru past issues to get those out of the way and it has helped a bit with all of my crying bouts I was having. I go on Dec 10 to have NEUROFEEDBACK done. That retrains my brainwaves on how to deal with pain and NO NEEDLES involved!! My mom had Biofeedback done years ago and it worked for her. It is hard on the pocketbook - I am not sure if insurance covers it or not but my dr doesn't take Medicare but he is worth every penny! Hell, I've spent tons of $$ on Drs, meds, therapists, chiropractors, acupuncture - you name it I've probably tried it.



Ok hope I haven't bored you to death (which I've wished for death many a times - my kids are the only reason I am here). I send you all well wishes and pain free days!!



Oh GUEST 11/22/08 - the audacity to say that to Marteeny... you obviously don't have the issues that she/we have and shouldn't be here. No, she is not pregnant - pregnancy isn't this miserable!



PAIN FREE WISHES FOR ALL!!

Janie

Well, thank you all for your information. I was considering having these injections for chronic pain, which is getting quite unbearable. But after reading about all these side effects, I'd rather deal and use rx to help with the pain.

I had my first one yesterday. I have disc herniation on 5/6/7 and the 7 is on my nerve. The procedure went fine there was a lot of pain when they injected the steroid and it lasted about two hours and then I took my vicaden pills and have been feeling like I was before the shot. Today has actually been a less painful day. The pain going down my arm has really lessend. I read all these comments before I went and almost did not have it done but then thought everyone is different and it seems positive result people don't really post.