I have had 3 injections for immense pain radiating from elbow to wrist/hand and shoulder. First injection was a god send with no side effects and next-day relief. With my second injection I experienced absolutely horrible pain in the entire arm the day following injection. Once that subsided I was again pain free for about 6 months. I just recently received my third injection. I was dreading this one having experienced the day-after pain from previous one, but I had mild discomfort the day after and much improvement since. I did run a 101 fever the following day which I am not sure was related to injection or not. The injections themselves have not been painful; I credit that to the physician's ability.
Comment from: Ms pain in the neck, 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: August 14
In one month my orthopedic surgeon insisted on injecting me with cortisone. First time in his office and then again under sedation in the OR. Each time he insisted that my pain in my SC and AC joints (collar bone) would be gone. In both cases, he was wrong. I felt no relief. Now he is saying that I need more. I have refused. After dealing with this pain for five months, he then ordered a CT scan and a MRI. I am still waiting for the results. But cortisone did not help me in any way.
After reading viewer comment dated July 29th regarding excessive sweating after getting cortisone injections, I was compelled to share my mother's experience. She had 2 injections in her right shoulder about 3 weeks ago. She now has major bruising and also is experiencing sweating. I had to take her to the emergency room last week due to her losing a lot of her sodium and potassium. I told 3 doctors about her cortisone injections and no one listened to me. They have her now on prednisone 5 mg to help her retain salt. Has anyone else experienced excessive sweating after cortisone injections and what has been your resolutions?
I have been experiencing pain in my lower back radiating down my left leg. It got to the point that it was uncomfortable to walk. I got a cortisone injection in the lower back this afternoon and just returned from a one-hour walk that was relatively pain free. My doctor recommended physical therapy as a longer term solution to the problem.
I had 4 cortisone injections today into the cervical spine (neck). I am in more pain now than before. The doctor almost insisted I do this, while I was very upset and scared. I will never do this again. I did have a cortisone injection (2) between two toes a month ago. It did hurt, but it also took away the pain. I am not sure why I had such a horrible reaction today. My head hurts, my neck, shoulder, arms, hands and head hurt. Just like before the injections but far worse.
Published: July 30
I had pain in my left knee that ached all the time. The doctor diagnosed me with a meniscal tear. I opted to try the Celestone shot first before having surgery. It was the best decision for me. I was pain free for over two years and have just begun to experience a little return of pain. My right knee was bothering me recently more so than my left, but I asked the doctor if I could try the shot again and I got the shots in both knees today. It has been a couple of hours and I feel slightly better already. I can't wait for the full effect to set in.
Published: July 29
I received a cortisone injection for shoulder joint pain. The injection was not a problem and the doctor was able to move my arm in ways I had not been able to move before the injection. The doctor left the room and a nurse came in to give me papers to take to the front desk. Suddenly, I became dizzy and very short of breath. My eyes began to water and I couldn't breathe for about 30 minutes.
Published: July 25
I have had two cortisone injections, approximately nine days apart, for a sprained ankle. By the time I saw the doctor and received the injections, the pain was 99% gone. The two shots not only resulted in moderate pain but also apparently caused serious insomnia on the nights following the injections. In summary, the insomnia and injection pain were not worth the dubious benefits of the injections.
Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on MedicineNet. The opinions expressed in the comments section are of the author and the author alone. MedicineNet does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Suggested Reading on Cortisone Injection by Our Doctors
There are many causes of back pain. Pain in the low back can relate to the bony lumbar spine, discs between the vertebrae, ligaments around the spine and discs, spinal cord and nerves, muscles of the low back, internal organs of the pelvis and abdomen, and the skin covering the lumbar area.
Night sweats are severe hot flashes that occur at night and result in a drenching sweat. In order to distinguish night sweats that arise from medical causes from those that occur because one's surroundings are too warm, doctors generally refer to true night sweats as severe hot flashes occurring at night that can drench sleepwear and sheets, which are not related to an overheated environment.
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation of the joints, the tissue around the joints, as well as other organs in the body. Because it can affect multiple other organs of the body, rheumatoid arthritis is referred to as a systemic illness and is sometimes called rheumatoid disease.
The knee joint is composed of three compartments and ligaments which stabilize the joint. Causes of knee pain may include injury, degeneration, infrequently infection and rarely bone tumors. Although routine x-rays do not revel meniscus tears, they can be used to exclude other problems of the bones and tissues. The knee joint is the most commonly involved joint in rheumatic disease, as well as immune diseases that affect various tissues of the body.
Acne is a localized skin inflammation as a result of overactivity of oil glands at the
base of hair follicles. This inflammation, depending on its location, can take the form
of a superficial pustule (contains pus), a pimple, a deeper cyst, congested pores, whiteheads, or blackheads. Treatments vary depending on the severity of the acne.
Bursitis of the hip results when the fluid-filled sac (bursa) near the hip becomes inflamed due to localized soft tissue trauma or strain. Symptoms include stiffness and pain around the hip joint. If the hip bursa is not infected, hip bursitis can be treated with ice compresses, rest, and antiinflammatory and pain medications.
Fibromyalgia, formerly
known as fibrositis, causes chronic pain, stiffness, and
tenderness of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation. Fibromyalgia patients have an unusually low pain threshold. Symptoms of fibromyalgia include fatigue, abnormal sleep, mental/emotional disturbances, abdominal pain, migraine and tension headaches, and irritable bladder. Treatment of fibromyalgia involves patient education, medication, exercise, and stress reduction.
Elbow pain is most often the result of tendinitis, which can affect the inner or outer elbow. Treatment includes ice, rest, and medication for inflammation. Inflammation, redness, warmth, swelling, tenderness, and decreased range of motion are other symptoms associated with elbow pain. Treatment for elbow pain depends upon the nature of the patient's underlying disease or condition.
Neck pain (cervical pain) may be caused by any number of disorders and diseases. Tenderness is another symptom of neck pain. Though treatment for neck pain really depends upon the cause, treatment typically may involve heat/ice application, traction, physical therapy, cortisone injection, topical anesthetic creams, and muscle relaxants.
Sacroiliac joint (SI) dysfunction is a general term to reflect pain in the SI joints. Causes of SI joint pain include osteoarthritis, abnormal walking pattern, and disorders that can cause SI joint inflammation including gout, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Treatment includes oral medications, cortisone injections, and surgery.
Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, warmth, swelling, redness and pain. There are over 100 types of
arthritis including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, gout,
and pseudogout.
A Baker cyst, also called a popliteal cyst, is swelling caused by knee joint fluid protruding to the back of the knee (popliteal area of the knee). Not uncommon, baker cysts can be caused by virtually any type of joint swelling (arthritis). They are often resolved with removal of excess knee fluid in conjunction with cortisone injections.
Learn about osteoporosis, a condition characterized by the loss of bone density, which leads to an increased risk of bone fracture. Unless one experiences a fracture, a person may have osteoporosis for decades without knowing it. Treatment for osteoporosis may involve medications that stop bone loss and increase bone strength and bone formation, as well as quitting smoking, regular exercise, cutting back on alcohol intake, and eating a calcium- and vitamin D-rich balanced diet.
Bursitis is inflammation of a bursa. A bursa is a tiny fluid-filled sac that functions as a gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body. There are 160 bursae in the body. The major bursae are located adjacent to the tendons near the large joints, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees.
Asthma is a common disorder in which
chronic inflammation of the bronchial tubes (bronchi) makes them swell, narrowing the airways. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath, chest tightness,
cough and wheezing.
A keloid is a scar that doesn't know when to stop. When the cells keep on reproducing, the result is an overgrown (hypertrophic) scar or a keloid. A keloid looks shiny and is often dome-shaped, ranging in color from slightly pink to red. It feels hard and thick and is always raised above the surrounding skin.
Shoulder bursitis is inflammation of the shoulder bursa. Bursitis may be caused by injury, infection, or a rheumatic condition. Symptoms include pain, swelling, tenderness, and pain with movement of the shoulder joint. Treatment may involve ice compresses, rest, and antiinflammatory medications and depends on whether there is an infection.
An allergy refers to a misguided reaction by our immune system in response to bodily contact with certain foreign substances. When these allergens come in contact with the body, it causes the immune system to develop an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to it. It is estimated that 50 million North Americans are affected by allergic conditions. The parts of the body that are prone to react to allergies include the eyes, nose, lungs, skin, and stomach. Common allergic disorders include hay fever, asthma, allergic eyes, allergic eczema, hives, and allergic shock.
Bursitis of the knee results when any of the three fluid-filled sacs (bursae) become inflamed due to injury or strain. Symptoms include pain, swelling, warmth, tenderness, and redness. Treatment of knee bursitis depends on whether infection is involved. If the knee bursa is not infected, knee bursitis may be treated with ice compresses, rest, and antiinflammatory and pain medications.
A herniated disc may be caused by injury or degeneration from age. Symptoms depend on the location of the herniation and whether nerve tissue is being irritated. An MRI or CT scan is performed to diagnose a herniated disc. Treatment may involve physical therapy, cortisone injection, pain medications, antiinflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, and surgery.
Coccydynia is an inflammation of the bony area (tailbone or coccyx) located between the buttocks. Coccydynia is associated with pain and tenderness at the tip of the tailbone between the buttocks. Pain is often worsened by sitting. There are many causes of tailbone pain that can mimic coccydynia including: fracture, pilonidal cysts, infection, and sciatica. Treatment methods include medication and rest.
Erythema nodosum is a skin inflammation that results in reddish, painful, tender lumps most commonly located in the front of the legs below the knees. Erythema nodosum can resolve on its own in 3 to 6 weeks, leaving a bruised area. Treatments include anti-inflammatory medications and cortisone by mouth or injection.
A frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis) is when the shoulder joint experiences a significant loss in its range of motion due to inflammation, scarring, or injury. Treatment involves anti-inflammatory medication, cortisone injections, and physical therapy.
A Morton's neuroma is an inflamed nerve between the bones at the ball of the foot. Symptoms include a burning, sharp pain on the bottom of the foot. Treatment involves resting the foot, wearing better-fitting shoes, ice packs, and cortisone injection.
Chronic pain is pain (an unpleasant sense of discomfort) that persists or progresses over a long period of time. In contrast to acute pain that arises suddenly in response to a specific injury and is usually treatable, chronic pain persists over time and is often resistant to medical treatments.
Pseudogout, a form of arthritis, results when deposits of crystals collect in and around the joints. Symptoms of pseudogout include pain, stiffness, warmth, and joint swelling of the knees, ankles, hips, shoulders, and/or wrists. Treatment for pseudogout aims to decrease inflammation through the use of nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, ice, and rest.
The hand has several bones to include the wrist, palm, and fingers. Fingers are the most commonly injured part of the hand. The most common causes of broken fingers are a traumatic injury to the finger or fingers such as playing sports, injury in the workplace, falls, and accidents. Treatment for a broken finger may be as simple as buddy taping the broken finger to the adjacent finger, or if the fracture is more serious, surgery.
Calcific bursitis is the calcification of the bursa caused by chronic inflammation of the bursa. Calcific bursitis most commonly occurs in the shoulder. Calcific bursitis treatment includes medication for inflammation, ice, immobilization, cortisone injections, and occasionally surgical removal of the inflamed bursa.
Fibromyalgia causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness
of muscles, tendons, and joints without detectable inflammation.
Fibromyalgia does not cause body damage or deformity.
Fatigue occurs in 90% of patients with fibromyalgia.
Irritable bowel syndrome can occur with fibromyalgia.
Sleep disorder is common in patients with
fibromyalgia.
There is no test for the diagnosis of fibromyalgia.
Fibromyalgia can be associated with other rheumatic
conditions.
Fibromyalgia treatment is most effective with
combinations of education, stress reduction,
exercise, and medications.
What is fibromyalgia?
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition that causes pain, stiffness, and tenderness of the muscles, tendons, and
joints. Fibromyalgia is also characterized by restless sleep, awakening feeling tired, chronic fatigue, anxiety...
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Arthritis RSS
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the
I have had 3 injections for immense pain radiating from elbow to wrist/hand and shoulder. First injection was a god send with no side effects and next-day relief. With my second injection I experienced absolutely horrible pain in the entire arm the day following injection. Once that subsided I was again pain free for about 6 months. I just recently received my third injection. I was dreading this one having experienced the day-after pain from previous one, but I had mild discomfort the day after and much improvement since. I did run a 101 fever the following day which I am not sure was related to injection or not. The injections themselves have not been painful; I credit that to the physician's ability.
Related Reading: fever