Comments for Dia DiCristino's Blog

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by Anne

Anne — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 02:47:59 +0000

I have had a number of cortisone injections–not that many, because I want to space them out a lot, but I have had several orthopedic problems. I always get a flush, that may last for several days. My first injection, for knee bursitis, produced a mammoth corticosteroid flare-pain definitely a ten-I was at lunch with a friend and the restaurant brought me ice. It was a shock, but you just ice until you recover a few hours hence. Have had injections in both shoulders for frozen shoulder and rotator cuff tendinitis. A few days ago I had a hip injection for arthritis/labral tears, and for the first time experienced heart palpitations–on and off for five days, then they disappeared. Quite disconcerting!!
I feel that these side effects are worth it because the shots have worked, and allowed helpful rehabbing to take place. My hip pain is already very greatly diminished, and I have a lot more flexibility in my hip.
I strongly encourage everyone to have shots done only by an orthopedist or a physiatrist who has performed many. For an injection into a hip or SI joint, choose a hospital with highly experienced interventional radiologists who will do it under a fluroscope. My interventional radiologist last week does nothing but hip injections, and it was so smooth it was as if nothing was happening. I am grateful for the shots (my shoulders, for example, have full function now and have not needed more shots), but I know the side effects can be disturbing–mine were thankfully only for a short while. Good luck, everybody, and I hope that your future experiences can be as excellent and helpful as mine.

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by Eugenia

Eugenia — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:58:42 +0000

Each time I’ve had a cortisone shot, I’ve started coughing. I had one two years ago and noticed the cough the next day. Then had one about two months ago — again the cough. Had another one two days ago. Within two hours, I had intense stomach pain. Now I am coughing uncontrollably. I know I have acid reflux, but this is terrible. I don’t know when it will go away, and the shoulder pain is still there.

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by Peter

Peter — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 18:31:46 +0000

Got a first time Cortisone shot (Depo) on 11/5/09 in knee after scope surgery in June and 2 falls which re-injured knee. Started getting nauseaous on 11/6/09. Today is 11/10/09 and I still have very little appetite, stomach issues including bloating. Knee feels better but don’t like side affects.

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by Angela

Angela — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 20:40:14 +0000

I’m into the 5th week after cortisone injections and symptoms are still with me. I now have intermittent rapid and pounding heart rate. Brain fog and disconnect has changed to a constant slight buzzing in my head. My right eye seems to have a pulse at times also. The numbness and tingling in my mouth is not as bad but still present. Flushing had disappeared but returns now and then. Fatigue is better but not gone. I’m going back to my primary physician next week. She wanted me to see a neurologist 2 weeks into this but I declined. I’m thinking I better proceed with it now. At least if that checks out they will have to give more attention to this being related to the injection

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by Ruth

Ruth — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:18:32 +0000

Last Tuesday I had a cortisone shot for a bad back. It was agonizing but the worse came after the shot the next day. In the morning I woke up to a feeling that the room was spinning around in circles and each time it spun I threw up. Had a ten hour visit to the local emergency room and although my blood pressure was astronomical they could not find anything else wrong with me. I was told that my spinning and throwing up had nothng to do with the cortisone shot. The following two days I woke up spinning around but on the third day the vomiting stopped. On the fourth day the spinning stopped but I do not know if it is permanently over. I cannot drive because I would be unable to control the car if I had a spell like this. On many of these blogs I have had others complain about this extreme dizziness. Have any of you had this same experience? Although I am a senior citizen I never even had a headache before. And by the way, my backache is just as bad as before.

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by Angela

Angela — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:12:37 +0000

I had cortisone shots 7 days ago in bilateral sacro iliac joints. Felt drugged as I left the doctor’s office but okay in the car. Drugged feeling returned when I got out of the car again. Next day I was flattened, no energy, general weakness, spacey, facial flushing but no fever. Four days after shot I began having slight numbness and tingling in mouth, lips and chin. I had this side effect with Flonase, a nasal steroid. That’s when I put together the fact I was having a reaction to the cortisone shots. Also am having to take ambien every night to sleep. Everything I read in medical articles stated that there are no side effects because it is a naturally occurring substance in the body. I’m a nurse and I know that sometimes the doctors just don’t know everything! Day 6 I had a new and scary symptom which only lasted about 15 or 20 minutes. I began seeing bright white patches scattered across my vision field. These were apparent brain zaps and fortunately they haven’t returned. Finally called the doctor who gave the injections and he said the symptoms could last from 1 week to 4 weeks. So, I guess that means he has heard of them before and acknowledges it is a reaction. Will see my primary care physician tomorrow to talk about it all and make sure nothing else is going on. I had these same injections last March with no side effects at all.

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by mrs

mrs — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 21:34:06 +0000

it has been 3 weeks…and the above symptoms are intermittent….but still have the facial flushing-burning off and on and headaches….this was my 3rd injection in 3 months..no more for me….how long have the side effects lasted for some of you?

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by michael

michael — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 17:08:56 +0000

i had a scope done on my right knee of march 08,after the procedure i went through therapy,but i still had knee pain,i have had about 3 cortisone shots since then,in the last 2 weeks i have had so much pain in my knee that i could barely walk,much less sleep at nite,aweek ago i had a cortisone shot,it had no effect,yesterday, i went to a walk in clinic,they gave me an injection of steroid in my right arm,today i have no knee pain whatsoever,its almost unbelieveableand i have had no side effects at all

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by Boatlady UK

Boatlady UK — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 09:04:53 +0000

1 week on and the pain has improved so much i can’t believe it. Hopefully this will continue for some time and delay the hip replacement. Would i have another one? yes i would however i would take time off work for the following week.
Lesley

Comment on Cortisone Injection Reaction by Boatlady UK

Boatlady UK — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 07:52:34 +0000

Oh how glad am I that I found this thread. I had a injection into my hip 3 days ago, and yesterday started with what can only be decribed as having had my face in the micro wave oven and it looks like it as well. I also have a mild headache and slight temp. increase. As i work in a busy medical ward I thought have I got Swine flu or what?.
Now I have seen this thread I can hopefully conclude that I am having a reaction to the injection which was done by a orthopedic surgeon under xray imaging in a sterlie theatre ( i was awake). Initially I was ok, but 6hrs after i started with shaking and palpatations and it felt like my heart was trying to get out of my chest. Yesterday i spoke to the pharmacist at work and she said that that was a reaction to the injection and it would pass. So all in all today i feel like you know what, but hopefully things will subside, the pain in my hip is much improved and if it was not for the temp. and flushing i would have slept the best i had for a while. In addition having read this thread i feel slightly better in myself knowing that its not uncommon.