Steroid shot reaction???

[Bucky]

Not sure if this post goes here or under Joints, Muscle, Pain . . .

Wednesday I went to see a Workers Comp. doctor for some lower back pain I've had in my back from an injury at work four weeks ago.  Well, the doctor gave me two steroid shots in my lower back.  Ever since then my back has hurt in the spot where the shot was put.  It's very tender and riding in a car makes it hurt worse.   Forget about laying on my back - too painful.  I'm almost in more pain NOW than when I went in to see the doctor.  Could I be having a reaction to the shot??  I go back for a follow-up app't. this Wednesday.  I've used an ice pack, heating pad and taking Advil.   Any suggestions?

Bucky

[Reenie]

Hi Bucky,

Sorry to hear that you're having pain. 

I had a steroid shot in my neck last Winter.  The doctor warned me that some people "flare" for about a week to ten days afterward, mostly because of the pressure on the nerves when the injection goes in.  He said, "You might get worse before you get better", and he prescribed pain pills and muscle relaxers to get me through a potential flare.  Boy oh boy did I ever get a flare!  My neck was very painful for about a week, and very typical of one of my BAD flares (pain radiating down the arm, etc).  By day 10, the pain completely subsided and the steroid was doing its job.   

I would guess that you might be one of the unlucky ones, like me, that does get an initial flare from the injection. Still, I think you should call the doc who did the injection and let them know about your pain. Usually with a reaction, there would be redness and swelling around the injection site.  Do you have redness or swelling?

Reenie

[Scottietottie]

Hi Bucky

I'm orry you're in so much pain. This is something I don't know much about  but someone will. A friend of mine reacted very badly to a cotrisone injection in he hel once. She's never had one since. I don't know if that's the same kind of thing or not.

Take care - Scottie