cervical epidural injection and side effect

30 yrs old male. I have neck pain for the last one+ year. After 2 MRI we saw I have very small bulge in c5,6. I have scheduled appointment for epidural injection. After reading this, I think I will stick to regular pain killers (even though they dont work), and cancel Epidural injection. I tried yoga, swimming, massages, trigger point therapy, etc. Noting helps. I will try inversion table, and whatever else might help. I am taking glucosamine pills. There is a study that in long period rebuilds cartilage. We will see I am in my second month of glucosamine, and will take it for a year.

I just had six cerevical steriod injections on Wednesday in my neck area.  I have had the following complications ever since.

1) Headaches

2)Broncitis

3)Asthma

4)Tiredness

6) Muscle Cramps

7)Tingling in tongue

8) Stingers all over my body, even in my eyeball on the right side

9) Spasms

10) Moody (normall very easy going)

11)  Heart skipping beats

12)  Stomach cramps

 

This is my second set of injections and my last.  The first time I had to see a heart specialist, neurolight and had stingers and bruises appearing on my feet.  I had blood pools 3" long on my right arm if I picked up anything heavier than a milk jug.  Heart started skipping beats and sounding like it was going into reverse beats.  I explained all of these side effects to my many doctors and everyone said it absolutely was not connected to the steriod injections.  Therefore,  instead of doing the neck surgery, they did more injections into the neck.  I'm sitting here with the same reactions going on this time plus more and they are much worse.  Seriously, do you think I will ever listen to a doctor that says these are not reactions to the steriod shot.   After experiencing it twice, I think I will believe my body instead of medical professional that seem to have the answers.  Don't get me wrong, i'm thankful for my doctors but I feel they need to list some of these side effects for this treatment becuase I am not alone in having these type reactions.  The doctors actually look at you as if you have a mental issue but when you have the bruising, stingers and reports to show your body is falling apart then you know it's the steriod, not a mental issue. 

I had a severe car accident, 11/11/08 and went through hell with their rotten Cervical injctions. I finally learned that Botox helps much better, does not last too long, but NO side effects, even not gaining weight. Don't have any more injections, listen to your body.



Another case, not related, but neurological, I got messed up by an bladder suspension and "needed" close to 30 surgeries; every doc KNEW what was wrong. Finally, I learned on Internet about "TIPNA.org" went to France, and got fixed. Don't trust so easily the doctors. My sister had last year a failed back surgery, and now she cannot walk, pain run down her legs, did NOT had before. Try Botox and forget the steroid injections. Besides, sometimes, it depends ONLY on the skills of the doctor. One time, I had a good one, but he retired, the rest.....never, never again.



Much luck and get better soon.

Has anyone experienced an itchy rash? My doctor advised of a rash of site of injection that was supposed to go away. In me, it increased and spread.

ok, I have read ALL the posts and am summarizing that...there are less folks hapy with their Cervical injections and more folks happy with their lumbar injections. I had 1 lumbar injection and was happy with the results. I have a cervical injection scheduled for Wednesday but think I will reschedule and have the lumbar done again.

It sounds like you developed Cushing's disease from the corticosteroids. I understand that the symptoms usually disappear after a year.

I have had two of my three scheduled cervical epidural injections, with my third being less than 12 hours away. Despite the fact that I have had some relief, I have also had many of the side effects listed here.
After the first shot (3/12) I had severe naseau and dizzyness, I was lightheaded and extremely tired, I felt lifeless. I was so sick with diarrhea and naseau I ended up in bed for more than a week. Doctor just kept suggesting extra caffeine, rest & heating pads.
After the second shot (4/12) not only did I have no side effects, I had no releif either.
I am still dizzy everytime I bend down, and my stomach feels like a bottomless pit. I didn't put that together with the shot until I read this board.
Wish me luck tomorrow morning!

I have had two cervical epidurals - one in feb 2012 and the second in march of 2012. my doctor wants to a third and NO WAY. i started out as a 98 pound 5 foot one inch female and ended up 115 pounds ALL IN TUMMY!!! it started like 3 weeks after my second - i was gaining 1/2 pound to a pound a day. this is a very big deal to me because none of my clothes fit and i have been the same weight for about 20 years. i also can't control my body temp, have VERY frequent urination (four times an hour), muscle soreness and a whole host of other delightful s/e. i got a tiny bit of relief but honestly, he s/e aren't worth it!!!

did you lower leg and foot swell up

KARENSUE404 wrote:

marteeny wrote:

I keep hearing how rare these side effects are, and when they are mentioned, only a few are listed. I guess I'm weird or special because I have a long list and it's been 5 weeks since my 2nd (and last) cervical epidural corisone injection and they aren't getting better, here's what I'm going through, if any of you can give me any advice of what to do to ease some of these symptoms it would be much appreciated (I'm going through an unfortunate change in doctors and can't get in to see anyone for a month)

These symptoms became present within a couple weeks after the first shot and have still persisted:
-Weight gain / water retention - 17lbs (that doesn't sound like much but I was only 114lbs, 5'3" to begin with!)
-rounding of face
-Frequent urination, especially at night (without the follow up feeling of relieve after urinating)
-tenderness, soreness to the touch all over my body
-cramping / charlie horses - muscles will contract and then not want to relax - this has been subsiding thankfully
-appetite increases
-unusual craving for sweets
-more / faster growing unwanted hair on face
-sensitive skin
-arms / hands falling asleep in the middle of the night
-darker than normal bruising
-general discomfort

these symptoms are also present but have started occurring more recently:
-irritable / emotional
-headaches
-weakness
-lethargy / lack of energy & motivation
-difficulty concentrating
-upset stomach / nausea
-Tiredness / don't feel rested
-Feeling "off" not myself

did you lower leg and foot swell up

Dear Sufferer:

Went through all that c**p you described. Got hurt in an car accident and damaged my neck, protrusion, and torn shoulder and headaches. I do NOT want to appear negative, but NOTHING had helped me, to hell i went through, be aware of RAF, won't work either. I finally switched to Botox, NO side effects, no weight gain, and helps superior. Does not even hurt, when he injects in the neck, shoulder and where your hair line by the neck. Wonderful, and last the same then the stupid Strroid, what is fattening, does not last and has 100 times more side effects, It is MY Experience and my neighbors. Nobody will ever give me a steroid injection (had also once a moon face). I have good insurance, so it is covered, Medicare does not cover it. Wish you much Luck, dear poor sufferer, I am doing so much better with Botox, try it...

Hi, I was reading on line regarding side effects and you have had the same ones I have! I I am worried as the Dr. that gave me the injection is running me around. I am afraid to get the second one. Please let me know if you still have the symptoms or update me how you are. I hope you found a solution. Our health is everything.I was worse with the symtopm

WOW It has been about a week since my first injection and I am having the same problems you are. I am also getting depressed and have racing thoughts. Please let me know on your progress. If anybody out there can offer some help it would be most helpful.



Thanks so much.

I have all the same symptoms you have listed on the bottom ESP nausea my stomach just don't feel right I'm so tired and spacey like in another world and I feel like I'm talking slower. I've only had one shot.

I feel the same way. Word for word. I had my shots in January , this year Then I started taking a pill called Baclofen to help calm down the twitches and jerks in my arm/hand. Someone asked me if I was being tested for MS ,wow, it's what they prescribe for ms patients and due to ALL my side effects. I am searching for a Dr this week. How is all of your side effects now ?

I have only had two of these epidurals in the last several months, my first was November 30th and my second on march 28th. I have Hypothyroidism and wasn't told of any problems that may come from these shots. I got really ill a few weeks after the first one, short of breath and could not shake it, cough and nothing would move, there was a bug going around at the time and I just assumed I had it, after several rounds of antibiotics it never got any better, Then all of a sudden about 10 to 12 weeks later it was over. So I then started noticing that the pain from my pinched nerves in my back due to disc disease, bulging, degenerative, and stenosis I had another shot the end of march, Two weeks after I got bloated, my feet and ankles swelled, I have gained about 15 lbs of what I assume is water weight, I am having difficulties breathing at times when my ankles and feet are swollen, but when they are not my chest feels fine, I have had a stress test, breathing test, blood work, and an echo and all checked out fine, However when the radioligist read my xray he said he seen pulmonary hypertension. I think it was water retention around my lungs, to boot I had esophageal rupture in 2006 and have a hernia patch (glock) in my chest I feel the radioligist may have jumped the gun without all my medical history and all the facts, however after 10 weeks I am still experiencing some shortness of breath and feet and ankle swelling, I think the weight gain has stopped for now, Is it possible what I am experiencing is still side effects of this last injection, I am being told the medicine should have been out of my system after 2 weeks?