Side Effects Of Cortisone Injections

I have had shoulder and and elbow injection in the past without any odd reactions, however last November I had a hip injection and before even leaving the recovery room my blood pressure was up and my face was flushed and felt like it was on fire. I had a head ache that night, took some meds for that and it was gone in the morning. I had hot flashes for days and felt the depression and anxiety more than usual. The strangest thing that i experienced was 5 days after the hip injection I broke out in a rash all over my stomach, low back and tops of my legs...they looked like pimples and itched like crazy. It took a good 2 weeks for them to completely go away. My doctor said that this is a common reaction to the shots. I am getting ready to have injections in my neck and am concerned if the rash and other symptoms will appear again and if so will they be worse. After reading these other posts and knowing my own experience, I am not sure if this will be a good idea or not.

I wish someone who when through these side effects would return to the forum and let us know how long they lasted.

I went in about 2 and a half weeks ago and had 2 cortisone shots into Keloid scars. I felt a little anxious the first day but one thing I did notice right away was the feeling to my face when it was freezing cold. I did feel pain in one of the injection sites for the first day or so, the scars only started to go down in size when the peak of my symptoms were happening. It was about a week after the shots that I started to get major anxiety attacks through the day as well as cycles of lightheaded feelings. The feeling is really hard to describe... but as I would sit at my computer I would feel this wave come over me, I would get hot and sweaty and then my heart would race. The mood swings have been terrible and the past week has been filled with me getting set off by stupid little things. My blood pressure went through the roof this week and fluctuates rapidly.. I have had to start taking BP pills. I have had vision issues, at times thinking my prescription glasses must need to be updated. I have always been really regular with my menstrual cycle but this time I started spotting 10 days early, spotted for 3 or 4 days and have now stopped spotting. I feel like some of the things are slowly starting to get better. I don't feel as anxious but still get waves of anxiety a few times a day (as apposed to 20 or so times at the peak of this). I am moody but seem to be getting a bit better. The worst for me is I still feel unsteady and lightheaded. Today my spouse walked up to me to give me a kiss and as I closed my eyes, I lost my balance and fell forward.. I was able to catch myself, but this unsteadiness and lightheaded feeling has not gone away. I am still getting the hot flashes but they are further apart than they were before.

Anyone who has gone through these things, could you please visit again and tell me how long it lasted. I read through so many posts and have yet to find someone who came back to talk about how long the side effects lasted.

Thanks!

I had a cortizone shot in my cervical spine last Wednesday, felt fine that evening on Thursday I started feeling what a thought was just "strange". Anxiety through the roof and very dizzy (lightheaded). Friday was even worse could not focus and felt all out of sorts. Saturday & Sunday were a little better but still waves of lightheaded and heart racing. Monday morning I woke up with a terrible sinus infection the entire left side of my face and throat hurt and lightheaded in full force. Went to the walk in clinic and they gave me antibiotics, but said that they did not think this is releted to the injection... Not sure what is going on but having a history of panic attacks these strange feelings don't help matters.

I had a cortisone shot in my c5 c6 two weeks ago . I came out of the shot and had a very low pulse around 40 and my left arm was numb . It started out having horrible horrible headaches ,dizziness ,low fever , facial flushing , stiff neck and other horrible symptoms . I had these for a week before i finally got a hold of my doctor that did it . They acted like they never heard of such a thing then later on i talked to another doctor from the office and said it was could be a "flare" finally someone that admits it. ANyway its been two weeks and I still have all my side effects but , slowly less frequent I found out to stay away from any thing with caffeine or a stimulant . It will make things worse and also i found out on my own because the doctor that did my shot I could never get a hold of that it might be something called Cushing syndrome . People that are experiencing round face and facial flushing and weight gain read this .


Exogenous means caused by something outside the body. Exogenous Cushing syndrome occurs when a person takes human-made (synthetic) glucocorticoids, such as prednisone or dexamethasone, for treatment purposes (for example, to treat asthma).

In Cushing syndrome, the adrenal glands produce too much of certain hormones, such as cortisol.

Symptoms usually include:

* Upper body obesity (above the waist) and thin arms and legs
* Round, red, full face (moon face)
* Slow growth rate in children

Skin changes that are often seen:

* Acne or skin infections
* Purple marks (1/2 inch or more wide) called striae on the skin of the abdomen, thighs, and breasts
* Thin skin with easy bruising

Muscle and bone changes include:

* Backache, which occurs with routine activities
* Bone pain or tenderness
* Collection of fat between the shoulders (buffalo hump)
* Thinning of the bones, which leads to rib and spine fractures
* Weak muscles

Women often have:

* Excess hair growth on the face, neck, chest, abdomen, and thighs
* Menstrual cycle becomes irregular or stops

Men may have:

* Decreased fertility
* Decreased or no desire for sex
* Impotence

Other symptoms that may occur include:

* Mental changes, such as depression, anxiety, or changes in behavior
* Fatigue
* Headache
* High blood pressure
* Increased thirst and urination


It says it can be caused by too much of a steroid



I hope this helps you guys and i hope i feel better soon .


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i had a cortisone injection about a two and a half ago in my right shoulder...it did not end well.
After i left the office i had the usual explanned discomfort from the shot but withing three days i hadaburnng sensation in my shoulder that i can not explan the pain it caused. It was almost as if i was suffering from third degree burns on the inside of my body my skin was eminating heat like a furnace and i could not stand anything to touch my skin, it was physicaly painful formypartnerto runhis finger on my shoulder. this persisted for weeks and the original symptoms of my injusry persiste along with some new ones. i have not been able to find any medical explanation for theses symptoms but the headache and nausiau that accompanied it were not pleasurable in any sense. It has now been ovr two months and my skin is still pained from touch the inflamation and swelling persists and m pain feels as if i have just re-injured my shoulder. none of these symptoms were explained to me before the shot but they seem to be fairly common i am worried it might have donemore damage then good. If any one isable to find relief please let me know since i hve been unable to myself. my doctors have been unable to help and i am working with this pain on a daily basis thank you

epidural on monday bp 129 over 78 three days later bp 195 over 102 no moore epidurals for me

Had my second cortisone injection about 10 hrs ago, for a right-side frozen shoulder. My first one was given through the 'Breesmont' procedure in the x-ray tech lab in Nov 2010. After the 1st one, I had no side effects other than the typical soreness at the injection site. Milocaine (or something like that, but not lidocaine) was also injected with the cortisone during the Breesmont.


With this second injection I felt fine during the procedure and when leaving the dr. office. There was pain, of course, during the injection...that's a given. However, I noticed when I was walking to my car that I felt dizzy & lightheaded. When I got to my car I sat there a few minutes to make sure it would be safe to drive, it's a 20 min drive to work. Then as I was driving to work, I noticed I was getting very tired...downright sleepy and I was having to fight the urge to sleep, while I was driving! I made it to work safely and because work keeps me very busy, I stayed awake all day but had trouble truly focusing. I didn't have any trouble driving home but did take a short nap as soon as I got home.


I have been tired all evening and am feeling somewhat warm, and I'm typically cold-natured though it is about 80 in the house. I have felt pain down my arm, but not constant and not burning or searing pain. The injection site is quite sore too. So far I have not experienced any nausea, dry mouth, rashes, insomnia (it's still early), fever, or headaches (and I am a migraine sufferer).


Fortunately my dr did tell me if I experienced any problems whatsoever to call him. If I ran a fever, felt bad...whatever but especially a fever. I haven't called him yet, not for tiredness. We'll see what tomorrow brings.


The jury's still out on whether this treatment is effective or not. Or whether the length of time of effectiveness is worth the side effects. For me, the previous pain wasn't horrible. My doctor was/is trying to encourage more ROM from the frozen shoulder and thus speed up the 'cure', and prevent decreased ROM due to the sudden return of pain that I didn't have before.


My thoughts are with those of you who are suffering with extreme side effects.

I've had a few shots in my life and I have to say, I don't like them at all. While the one I hated the most was in my ankle (for plantar fascitis), it had the least side effects, but the shot itself was excruciatingly painful.

I have severe arthritis in my knees and the ONLY thing the doctor will do for me is inject me with cortisone (though I am hopeful for synvisc the next time I need an injection). Unfortunately in order to get the synvisc, you have to prove that cortisone does not work for you. So after already remembering that the shots do NOTHING for me, I went ahead and let the doctor inject my knee today. Well now I feel HORRIBLE and I remember the last time he did my other knee, I felt just as bad. I'm achy like I have the flu. Everything from my knees up ache something terrible. It's like a flare, only it's hitting my whole body. I can't find a single comfortable way to sit/stand/lie down, so I already know it's going to be a dreadful night. I just hope it's better by the morning or I will likely go insane!!!

I had my first cortisone injection last week for golfers elbow that i have been trying to allow it to get better through therapy, laying off it, bandaging it, icing it, heating it etc, etc. and ibuproben for like 6 months...but finally had "enough".

Well, besides a small area that black & blue on my forearm, and a slightly sore chest, after about 5 days, the pain that I had in my right elbow is almost non-existent.  So far, I am a happy camper, and off to the links for me! Based on the above commentaries...I must be the lucky one.  GLTA!

I had my first shot yesterday in my right knee I'm in more pain now then I was before my doctor said after I receive the shot in 15 min I will be dancing in the street... No I'm not dancing I'm screaming with pain

I too had reactions to a cortisone injection. Had an injection in my elbow on a Monday. That night the sight was very sore to the touch. Tuesday the pain had decreased and was beginning to feel better. Wednesday I started to feel bad but was not sure what was wrong. Thought I might have indigestion. Thursday night I took sinus medication and by Friday morning I was feeling very funny. Woke up very light headed, heart racing. And body was hot to the touch. Anxiety set in and I was rushed to the ER. Needless to say my blood pressure was high and my body was tingling from head to toe. The ER doctor said I was experiencing an episode from having too many stimulants in my body. It took 2 shots of Ativan to counteract the problem. I was NOT told to stay away from stimulants. It has been a week and a half since the shot and still experiencing problems when I have anything with caffeine. Can anyone tell me how long this is going to last?

In the original thread someone said "You can not be allergic to cortisone" and that is an inaccurate response. 

Hello, I had a steroid injection 3.5 months ago and I am struggling greatly with anxiety..and a little depression. The first few weeks my heart was going crazy with palpitations, etc....but most of that has subsided...but the anxiety is severe. I was hoping you could tell me how your recovery went.



Thanks!

How are you doing now? I'm at 3.5 months since the steroid injection and suffering greatly from anxiety.....

silversun1978 wrote:

Kelli wrote:

I too had reactions to a cortisone injection. Had an injection in my elbow on a Monday. That night the sight was very sore to the touch. Tuesday the pain had decreased and was beginning to feel better. Wednesday I started to feel bad but was not sure what was wrong. Thought I might have indigestion. Thursday night I took sinus medication and by Friday morning I was feeling very funny. Woke up very light headed, heart racing. And body was hot to the touch. Anxiety set in and I was rushed to the ER. Needless to say my blood pressure was high and my body was tingling from head to toe. The ER doctor said I was experiencing an episode from having too many stimulants in my body. It took 2 shots of Ativan to counteract the problem. I was NOT told to stay away from stimulants. It has been a week and a half since the shot and still experiencing problems when I have anything with caffeine. Can anyone tell me how long this is going to last?

How are you doing now? I'm at 3.5 months since the steroid injection and suffering greatly from anxiety.....

I truly understand what you are going through. I continued to have problems of depression, anxiety, and lack of energy for a month after the injection in my elbow. I also was dealing with menopausal issues. (I am 52 years old). I went back to the doctor a month after the injection and he prescribed HRT (Premarin & Prometrium) on a 25 day cycle. I felt like a new person after a month on the meds. The depression, anxiety, and lack of energy all gone!!! The issue I am having now is no periods and I am wondering if it is related to the injection. This is my third month on the meds and if I don't have a period this month I will have to go back to the doctor. As far as my elbow, the pain is returning but I WILL NOT get another injection. Not sure my post will help but I sincerely hope you start feeling better soon!