I received shot in my hip on 8/29 and have slept only 2 hrs, a nite since then. I cannot even work now, job is very physical. Am nervous, shaky,whole body twitches. Finally decided to take Dr. advice and take Xanax last nite ( only 1/2 pill) It did calm me down and help me rest, but now feel out of it, and still shaky. How long does this anxiety, nervousness last? This was my 1st shot. Also am afraid to drive much. Never really took any med but aleve. Just want to know how long these effects typically last.Also, don't have much appetite, just nervous eating. All my doctors tell me they have never seen this happen before. ( I really don't believe them) Also, should I go to cardiologist or neurologist ? ( having some chest pain and numbness in left arm) I don't want to take much of the Xanax, says it may be addictive, and don't need more side effects. Help
Corisone shot injection side effects, how long do they last? 9 days now?
Question posted by eice on 7 Sep 2011
Last updated on 10 April 2024
136 Answers
In February, I was given an incredibly strong dose of a strong steroid (I didn’t know all of that until afterward). within an hour, I was having adverse reactions (sweating, racing heart, anxiety attacks) and in the hospital. From that day on, I had severe panic and fear nonstop. I was diagnosed with “steroid-induced panic disorder”.
it was 24 days of what felt like hell on earth. I couldn’t be alone, I was crying, I couldn’t eat. I was in constant fight or flight mode. The whole process was excruciating. I wasn’t able to be a present mom. I had to have my family and friends kind of take turns babysitting me. Finally with a combination of medicines (Buspar and hydroxyzine) I was able to break out of that excessive panic and my doctor is confident that that part is over and won’t come back. Now I am just dealing with what I would consider regular anxiousness/nervousness.
Some days I feel fine and some days I don’t. It truly has been the hardest thing I think I have been through. It has been a little over 6 weeks since I had the steroid, and I wonder how long I will be dealing with this. My prayers are with everyone on this forum who is struggling. Don’t give up, keep seeking answers. Regular MD doctors have not really heard of these things. But my psychiatric doctor knew right away what I was dealing with.
Let me just start by saying I am so so sorry you had to go through this too. I went through exactly what you did. It’s as if I am reading my own story. I lost everything including my job because I could not show up. I got it under control with Zoloft but I came off of it last year and everything came back. Some of us recover quickly but some like me struggle for years. It’s been almost two years and I am still struggling with left over side effects including tremors , panic , stomach issues etc. I know this is a lonely thing to go through but all of us on this thread know how you feel. Please reach out if you need anything. I pray you find relief soon & you can put this behind you.
Sorry to hear you are going through this. I am going through something similar as I did a lumbar nerve ablation at the end of October last year, not sure if I've reacted to the cortisone or the nerve ablation itself but I'm still seeking answers and have been off work since as my job is also physical.
I am experiencing all the symptoms you are. I've been hospital over a dozen times for chest pains/palpitations and everything always comes back clear. I've followed up with a cardiologist and had a stress test done, echo and wore a holter monitor for 1 month to track palpitations and although I had a few palpitation episodes, the "sinus rhythm was normal" so the cardiologist was happy to discharge me.
My pain specialist who done the procedure said these symptoms were normal for up to 2 weeks, I'm 4 months in and he likes to insist it's "stress". I've had a cortisol test done to prove to him that physiologically im not stressed and to that he had no answers for me. He trialed me on Catapres and Sertraline but nothing worked.
I've seen multiple GP's and they do agree it's some kind of neuropathy going on. I've saw one neurologist who pretty much told me it was all in my head and to see a psychiatrist. I was recently referred to another and he gave me the time of day and was willing to listen to my story, although he doesn't have a diagnosis yet, he's given me Propranolol to help with some of my symptoms. So far, I've noticed it's only helped with the tremors but I am still getting all the other symptoms. I've got a follow up with him in a few weeks time.
It's been quite literally HELL the last 4 months. I'm praying everyday, doing mindfulness meditation exercises to help me mentally and spiritually. I'm hoping this will one day just go on it's own, but as I've read on here, for some people it never has.
At this stage of my journey I've kind of accepted that these are normal symptoms happening to me at the moment even though they aren't and I'm learning how to best accept and manage my episodes and symptoms the best way I can
Jay Kay I’m so sorry you are going through this. It is from the injections. Especially since almost everyone on here was healthy before they got the injections, except for whatever pain they got them for. The mental health and physical symptoms are definitely hell. I’m in my 7th month post injection. I am much better than the first 4 months, but the full body tremor and anxiety still severely limits my once full life. I’m also on propranolol for the tremor but can only take a small amount because my heart rate drops too low. Everyone on here says that it does come to an end eventually. I hang on to that. We will get through this!
I’m 8 months in and still experiencing shaking, anxiety, nausea and some insomnia. I have improved so much from where I was in the fall but not even close to normal. There is a great support group on FB. Just search Kenalog.
KIMDS, glad you have made noticeable improvements with your health. Prayers that it's only upwards from here.
I'm 5 months now and no improvements. Still having heart palpitations, nausea, dizziness/lightheadedness, tremors, and nervousness. I'm taking a few supplements at the moment - a methylated multivitamin, magnesium glycinate, curcumin and theanine.
I've had another follow up with my neurologist and he's agreed it's not a coincidence that all this began to happen as soon as I done the procedure. He said something is triggering the sympathetic nervous system. He prescribed me an SSRI to help settle some of the symptoms and the nervous system. He recommended things that I'm already doing such as mindfulness, deep breathing, meditation and getting good sleep which can all help.
Unfortunately there's no magic pill to take to rid this. I've been off work 5 months and the financial strain is taking its toll and have had to relocate with my wife and 2 young kids to a family members place for the meantime.
I got put on generic lexapro 10 mg and it’s helped me tremendously. I’m on week three of it and there’s been ups and downs but I think I’m finally starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel. I’m also happy to say I’ve been off the benzos for almost three weeks. I’m also on gabapentin, a very low dose and it’s been helping me sleep. I want to get off the gabapentin as soon as I can though. I hope you all can find something that works for you to get out of this torment. It’s honestly one of the worse things I’ve ever had to go through and I pray it’s truly reaching its end. I wouldn’t wish this on anyone.
I’m glad you found something that works. Antidepressants just made me much worse. They gave me Trazodone for sleep and it doesn’t really help. I’m also a month off Ativan-that withdrawal was horrible. Finished Seroquel taper almost 3 months ago and now tapering off the trazodone. My gut tells me that trazodone is making symptoms worse but getting off it is no picnic. It will take me way longer to taper off it than I was on it. I wish I would have never gone on it. I was on no meds before this all started! I’m 9 months in now and have started to see light at the end of the tunnel.
I’m really sorry the pills have been making it worse for you. They gave me gabapentin to help with coming off the benzos, I don’t think I’m to be on it long term. I hope your doctor is considering withdrawals when suggesting you things. It’s been really hard starting lexapro and my anxiety was still off the charts the first couple weeks. Now I have some good days, some bad days but I’m not like I was which I am grateful for. Sometimes with SSRIs you feel way worse before you feel better. It’s just the sad nature of it. I was dry heaving and having all kinds of terrifying side effects but they are mostly away now. They say lexapro has its own horrific withdrawals but that’s a worry for another day. I’ll be thinking about you and everyone here and hoping you all find something that works for you
That’s great you are having some better days! I won’t be trying any more meds. The doctors have tried so many and too many side effects. I just have the trazodone to get off of and then a little bit of propranolol. I’m going to stick to natural stuff and hope my body can right itself. I pray for everyone every day that is going through this!
I know this post is old but I had to share my experience...
I'm a 30 year old female from Canada. I have had an ongoing discomfort in my right hip for a little over a year now (likely just a case of stubborn tendonitis). My doctor suggested a cortisone injection to try and get the inflammation to come down.
I had that injection on January 10. Everything was fine until January 16. I was hit out of absolutely nowhere with the most intense sense of impeding doom and fear that something bad was going to happen. It was so sudden that I can remember the exact day, time, what I was doing, etc. when it happened.
From there, all hell broke loose. I spent about 2 weeks in a heightened state feeling completely out of control of my body. I had the most intense health related anxiety and was convinced I was dying. The anxiety and my own mind manifested physical symptoms - headaches, loss of appetite, body aches and pains, hyper awareness of my body, etc. I was so emotional, I couldn't get through the day without crying. I couldn't show up for my child or my family in the way they needed me to. It was awful.
Finally, after about 2 weeks I started to feel a bit more even and like my rational brain was coming back online. I took about a month off work, started seeing a psychologist, dietician, chiropractor, etc. Once I had some clarity, I started to wonder if the injection could have caused this. I only found a small amount of information online. My pharmacist told me that 'psychiatric disturbances' were a listed side effect on the cortisone I had, but it was rare. I talked to my family doctor about my suspicions and he was pretty dismissive of the idea. He said if I was going to have a reaction like that it would have been in the first couple of days, not almost a week later. He said the anxiety must be from something else in my life, like my finances or relationship (both are totally fine).
Before this injection - I had not ever experienced anxiety or mental illness before. I had a manageable, normal amount of regular life stress. I have never felt like this before. I was convinced I was either going crazy or had a brain tumor.
Just over a month later - I am feeling much better, but still not quite like myself. I have moments of anxiousness that feel like they come out of nowhere. I still have some physical symptoms I can't shake (particularly an annoying awareness of my heart beat). I find myself having to remind my brain that a headache here or a stuffed nose there does not mean I am terminally ill. Thankfully, I have tools in place to help me manage all of this but it is still a struggle.
I do not wish this experience on anyone. I have not felt like myself for many weeks now and it is mentally and physically exhausting. I do want to share that there is hope though, and it does seem like the farther away I get from that injection date the better I feel.
The kicker to all of this - the injection didn't even do anything to help my hip!
Please consider your mental health before getting a cortisone injection. I was told to make sure I was physically well because it would suppress my immune system, but nobody ever said anything about what it could do to my mind.
Sending love to everyone dealing with this and not feeling seen or heard by their health care professionals. Thank you for sharing your stories on here, it has been such a reassurance to me that I'm not losing my mind.
I’m so happy you are starting to feel better. The average onset of symptoms is from 2 to 11 days or even longer. This is why most people don’t connect it to the injections. You are not going crazy! I am in month 7 post injections and still having symptoms that disrupt my once totally normal life. I look forward to the day I am on the other side of this. Don’t ever get another steroid injection.
I got bilateral steroid nerve block injections on the 27th of December. On Jan 4th I got a migraine aura for this first time in my life, and had scintillating scotomas every single day for a week and a half having previously never had one. Then on Jan 12th I was admitted into the ER overnight for what they said was a TIA but might also be migraine aphasia, I am still not sure.
About two days after I got home from the ER the true hell started. Out of nowhere I got the most intense panic attack of my life, and proceeded to get them over and over and over again for hours, day after day, week after week.
After nearly a month of that indescribable torture, it accumulated in a panic attack so bad my heart rate went into the 130s, my limbs and fingers locked up, and I became paralyzed on the floor of my room feeling this intense gravity and a full body intense vibrating sensation I’ve never experienced before and hope to never again, while the paramedics gave me oxygen and tried to calm me down. I had to go to the ER again where they gave me lorazepam and sent me on my way.
And now here I am a complete and utter mess, when I’m not panicking, I’m crying, and freaking benzos are the only solace I have in this unrelenting hell. Every day is a struggle and I can’t see the end of it. I wish it would stop. I want to go back to normal so bad. I can’t believe what my life has become and I can’t believe how hard this is. I’m completely traumatized. I keep hoping one day will be better than the day before but it never is. I’ve read every single comment on this thread and a lot of people find solace in others’ stories, and while I take comfort in knowing I am not alone in this, it scares me to my core that some of you have been dealing with this for months to years. I don’t know how much more of this I can take and thinking that it could still be months more crushes me in a way I can’t even describe. I feel like I’m teetering on the brink of my sanity and I really don’t know how much more I can take. On top of it all I’ve been menstrual bleeding for a month. My hormones are so messed up and it feels like nobody can help me.
I don’t know why I wrote all this, guess I just wanted to add some migraine and irregular menstrual symptoms in for the next people who might be reading this and looking for answers. My heart breaks for all of you who have been going through this for months. May God help us
I’m so sorry you are going through this! I totally understand the panic attacks that don’t end and happen for days in a row. I too ended up at the hospital for them several times. I also had post menopausal bleeding two times. I too have had to take benzos to stop the panic attacks. For the first time in my life I’ve been suicidal. Remember this isn’t you-it’s the steroids! Many people here get on an antidepressant that might help. I’ve never been on any meds in my life, and have cycled through too many psych meds to count. I hope you have a great support network. Don’t be afraid to tell people what you’re going through. Find a good therapist. Most of all take one moment, one hour at a time, one day at a time. Be gentle with yourself. Pray if that helps you. I never dreamed I would go through something like this but getting through each day puts me closer to getting to the end of this.
I have a ways to go, but I am much better than I was 3 months ago. Everyone on here says they got back to normal, hang on to that. I pray that you will be one of the short symptom time frame folks. Hang in there, get any help you need and don’t give up!
First I want to say I am so sorry you also had to go through this experience. It is a lonely experience and I cannot be thankful enough I found this thread when I went through it almost two years ago. Eventually I had 5150 myself because it was so extreme I just wanted to die. I lost everything …my job , friends , family ,sanity you name it. Benzos were my savor while going on an SSRI. It has been the only thing that helped me but I will be honest. With SSRIs it will get worse before it gets better. Use the benzos as much as you need. Tell your family. Lean on anyone you can. Many doctors will not believe you but it is real. I can’t give advice on how long it may take for because I am still dealing with anxiety almost two years post shot but I am living my life again. Many people get better faster but some of us suffer for awhile. My life is full despite the anxiety. I am back to work & completing my doctorate. Things will get better. I pray you find relief. Reach out if you need anything.
My heart really aches for you. I totally get it. The benzo made things so much worse for me. I was in utter hell but I feel they made it worse. I came off them very slowly. That itself was terrifying and made things worse. I shared my story with my family physician afterwards and I begged her to think twice about prescribing such meds to people. She apologized to me and started researching the drug more. The interpose withdrawals made me even worse. On the lighter side…when you finally come out of this ,and you will, you will be very awakened to life . It sounds crazy but it was life changing for me. I gave ankleosing spondylitis and although I deal with many symptoms , I am stronger. I will never again trust the system. Cortisone has never done anything to relieve my symptoms. Exercise and acceptance is far more peaceful than the hell of big pharma!
My heart really aches for you. I totally get it. The benzo made things so much worse for me. I was in utter hell but I feel they made it worse. I came off them very slowly. That itself was terrifying and made things worse. I shared my story with my family physician afterwards and I begged her to think twice about prescribing such meds to people. She apologized to me and started researching the drug more. The interpose withdrawals made me even worse. On the lighter side…when you finally come out of this ,and you will, you will be very awakened to life . It sounds crazy but it was life changing for me. I gave ankleosing spondylitis and although I deal with many symptoms , I am stronger. I will never again trust the system. Cortisone has never done anything to relieve my symptoms. Exercise and acceptance is far more peaceful than the hell of big pharma!
I know I will be stronger too when I finally get to the other side. I WILL make something good out of this. I’m writing an article about my experience and if it educates even one doctor or helps even one patient know they aren’t crazy, I will be happy. Anguish, do whatever you need to do to survive. I was hospitalized twice in a mental health ward because I was suicidal ( words I never imagined I would say in my life). There is no one easy answer to this. They call this steroid psychosis and it is real! As hard as it is advocate for yourself. You will get through this, don’t give up. I pray for all of us who are going through this.
How are you doing Trueanguish? I know exactly how you are feeling (I also was admitted overnight to the hospital back when this started because half my face went numb and they thought I had a TIA-it wasn’t). I hope you are getting some support from family or friends-I’m worried about you.
I am not doing well at all. I’ve been getting bouts of derealization more and more, along with the same hours long pure panic day in and day out. I fear I am going to go crazy and develop psychosis or something. I keep having to take Lorazepam every day but I’m worried about withdrawals from that and I’m scared at some point, what if it stop working. I’m starting to wonder if this is all from the steroid shot because the doctors that have heard of it, say it should be out of my system by now. But every day is just as bad as the one before it. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, and I feel like no one can help me. I think I might be dying. How have you been?
Trust me when I say I completely understand where you are. Unfortunately you need to get on an SSRI. It will help but things will be tough at first. Use the Benzo as you need. Slowly take yourself off it when you are ready. The withdrawals will
Sorry it cut off. But the withdrawal may be uncomfortable but you’ll be okay. Do not trust the doctors when they say it should be out of your system. My rheumatologist told me that again and again but it never happened. Hence why it can take about 6 months to feel the pain again that it treats. Everything is going to be okay. Just take it one day at a time and get an SSRI asap.
We know what you’re going through Truanguish! You may want to have your doctor refer you to a psychiatrist ASAP. I never thought I would have a therapist and a psychiatrist! Or look for a therapy practice that has a physician or nurse practitioner that can do medicine management. I didn’t want to take any medication, but it may have kept me alive to get through the worst of it. Your symptoms are beyond what most family physicians can deal with. And yes this is from the injections, they just don’t know or accept that it happens. If you really feel like you will harm yourself, you may need to go to an inpatient setting for a few days to keep you safe and really monitor meds. I had to twice. It isn’t easy but probably saved my life. I don’t know if you’re in the U.S., but there are partial hospitalization programs where you go during the day only. I pray that you have people supporting you that can also help you navigate this.
Everything is overwhelming right now for you. I hope you are able to sleep-if not that makes everything worse. Please keep reaching out here and we are all here to support you. I have sticky notes all over my house that say “ don’t give up”. Praying for you-it will get better.
Sadly the earliest psychiatrist appointment I could get is still a ways off. I am thinking I’ll have to go on Lexapro or something. I did try to check myself in to a voluntary psych help home but because I had a TIA and was still trying to figure out what caused it or if it even was one, I couldn’t go in due to medical issues. My mom had to fly out and my fiancé has been by my side. But some days when it hits really hard, there doesn’t seem like anything me or anyone can do to help it and I genuinely feel sick to the point I think I’m dying.
Has anyone noticed a pattern to the really intense bouts of panic? Seems like I’ll have one day on one day off. The day off I’m still anxious and feel dizzy and sick but the panic is manageable, then at night I will have the type of panic attack that makes me nerves feel like they’re on fire and it’ll go on for hours upon hours until I pop a benzo, then I will be intensely panicky and really ill the entire next day, then the day after it goes back to more manageable panic. Day in day out. Every time the panic comes full on again it’s always as intense as the very first time. I hate this so much
Thanks for your advice everyone. I hope you all feel better
I give you so much credit for trying to find and get help. Keep at it. If you saw a neurologist in the hospital they should have been able to tell you if you did or didn’t have a TIA. I’m hoping they did an MRI or CT scan in the hospital. Are you in the US? I know in the U.K. It is hard to get care. Will the physician who prescribed the Benzo prescribe an antidepressant? I personally didn’t do well with 2 different antidepressants, and my gut tells me that the trazodone I’m on for sleep isn’t helping my symptoms either. Everyone experiences different things while going through this so if you are worse on some days that seems to be pretty widespread on this thread. For example, today I feel like I am vibrating inside my body. I know how frustrating it is to try and figure this all out and get help and my heart breaks for you. Maybe your regular doc can get you in to a psychiatrist ASAP.
I wish I could give you the magic remedy to this, I would take it myself! Has your doctor ordered a cortisol test along with blood work to check your other hormones? If you want to make me a friend on here ( however that works), you could message me directly. I. swear I’m not some scammer. I’m a retired 65 year old grandmother, who like you, just wants to be myself again. Keep hanging in there!
True, I added you as a friend so now I think you can message me directly if you want. I do think you might have to set up a login for drugs.com. I really would like to be of any help I can as you go through this frustrating, scary, lonely journey. One of the psych techs at my psychiatrists office went through all this after steroid injections, but she isn’t allowed to discuss it with me due to liability issues for the practice. It was such a relief to actually talk to someone who had been through this! I hope we both heal sooner rather than later! I want my life back!
Are you still hanging in there True? I hope and pray you have been able to get some immediate help. My psych office has ordered me liquid Prozac. I didn’t do well on 2 different SSRI’s I tried last summer, but I’m hoping that after all this time I will do better. With the liquid Prozac I will literally start at 1 mg, and work my way up. I’m very med sensitive. Hopefully this will work without side effects. I still have a full body tremor, anxiety, nausea and insomnia. I also want to get off the 75 mg of trazodone that they gave me for sleep (doesn’t work). Not sure if the traz or lingering effects of steroids causing all my symptoms. Any little med change seems to not go well, but hopefully this will be the ticket! I hate all these meds and hope to someday be on nothing like I was before this all started.
Let us know how you’re doing. Praying for you-you will get through this!
I tried acupuncture and I actually felt better immediately after. I went two whole days without the extreme type of panic attacks, which is longer than I’ve ever gone since this started. Unfortunately I had another one just now. I will keep going with the acupuncture. I hate taking things as well and am also extremely sensitive to them, guess the sensitivity is why we are in this mess to begin with huh. I pray the acupuncture continues to work. I suggest you try it if you are able, there isn’t much to lose at this point. I found one near me that is a doctor and has actually heard of and treated two other people before me who were so ill from steroids. She said one person was sick for an entire year before coming in and was better after two months of treatment, and another who came in after three weeks of dealing with this steroid reaction and was better after two weeks. I don’t know much about who is able to perform acupuncture like if you need to be a medical doctor or not, but try to find one who is a doctor if you decide to try it out
That is fantastic that it worked! I actually was doing acupuncture before I totally tanked. I need to get back to it. It depends on the day, but sometimes I just can’t relax long enough to sit still for an hour. You’re right, nothing to lose so will make an appt. I’m so happy you had a pretty good couple of days! I hope this is the beginning of a speedy recovery for you! I know I’m looking very forward to the end of this crazy journey!
True & KimDS,
We're all in this crazy boat just trying to stay afloat. Never thought of acupuncture, but I'm willing to try this if you felt better immediatly after. I am struggling with medications, like you Kim. I keep trying to take the trazodone but it never ends well. Trying to take Klonopin sparingly but I take one as soon as I feel the anxiety start during the day, but I do have to take it each night to try and calm me before bed. I really do feel it's the steroid lingering in my system that causes such anxiety, headaches, and insomnia. I'm taking a Benadryl with the klonopin at night. Just hoping something will knock just me out. I'm so tired, I have dark circles under my eyes and exhausted. But then again, I've started to feel dread when night falls, just working myself up over if I'm going to get any sleep. What is the night going to be like? Like the steroids are playing a sick mind game that nobody thinks is funny! Wishing us all luck getting this poison out of our system ASAP.
I know what you mean Calloway. I get anxiety before bed worrying about not sleeping. If I don’t get good sleep, the next day won’t be great. I actually thing trazodone may be hurting more than helping and weaning off that sucks. I also take Ativan if I’m really struggling, but try not to take it every day. I have been taking Zquill at night but that turns my brain to mush. Didn’t take that last night. Why don’t these drug companies come out with drugs that aren’t addictive, have horrible side effects, or almost kill you getting off them? I hope I never have to take anything again when this journey is over.
Day one of 1mg liquid Prozac. Within 2 hours my anxiety was horrible and my shaking was even worse. I feel like I’m going to jump out of my skin. I mentally and physically can’t take anymore side effects. This is 3rd SSRI I have tried with adverse effect from day 1. Had to take a lille Ativan to counter it. I know some people on here have been helped with SSRI’s and others said it made them worse. So frustrating.
I’m so sorry, Kim. It’s bad enough dealing with this steroid hell without other medication side effects on top. It’s just kicking someone while they’re already down. I’m still waiting for my first psychiatrist appointment so I’ve just been on the lorazepam still. I feel like it isn’t working that much anymore and I wonder how long before it does nothing at all. I refuse to go above 1 mg a day of this drug because I want off of it as fast as possible. I can’t just stop taking it cold turkey at this point though so I’m trapped with it until I can get some professional help tapering off. What a mess. Tuesday I have another acupuncture appointment, I hope it keeps the panic away for a while again. Tonight is really hard. I hope you’re feeling better
I realize this is an old thread, but still gets activity. I received 3 separate injections of Kenalog for alopecia, the first 2 were 4-weeks apart and 6-weeks for the 3rd. I didn't put this together until I got the 3rd one and right before, my body was slowly calming the extreme symptoms I was having. I got the injection and within hours I was in full anxiety mode with headaches, shaking, high heart rate, feeling that I couldn't breath or take a deep breath, etc. I had not been sleeping well before my first shot and I didn't realize that the intense anxiety I was having was related to this steroid injection. I ended up going to my internal medicine doctor not long after the first shot and he put me on trazodone for sleep and and Zoloft because I just couldn't get it together. I've had anxiety my whole life but have been able to manage it, sometimes with meds but mostly without.
Started taking the Zoloft and trazodone at night and made it so much worse that I had to stop it and take Klonopin instead and that has helped me with the anxiety and some help with sleep. I did not want to be back on that medication because it's a beast to wean off, but I really didn't have a choice. I'm either in a state of anxiety or crying. I've had such bad headaches at night that I ended up having a CT scan to make sure I didn't have a tumor. I will never take another Kenalog shot again. These 3 small injections in my head has cost me my current health, time, and plenty of out of pocket costs for all the doctors, and radiology visits. I've had 3 corticosteroid shots before for a torn labrum, about 10 yrs ago in my hip, and never experienced anything like this. Now I'm wondering if my body can't handle any steroid injection? If anyone has had experience with follow up steroids after a bad reaction, please let me know. I'm so thankful that I found this thread. After reading thru many of your posts, I know there is a light at the end of this. I'm trying to stay positive, but having this thread to fall back on for tips has help so much. And I have and will continue to share my experience with family and friends that are taking steroid shots. It may not happen to everyone, but when it happens to you... You want people to understand this CAN HAPPEN and isn't a walk in the park. Thanks again to all that have shared stories!
Time helps, honestly . The anti anxiety drugs they give you make it worse. I’ve never experienced anything like this before. I’ve had corticosteroids multiple times prior to this. Can’t explain why the four I received the last time sent me into a spiral but was honestly the scariest experience of my life. My mind was not mine. I’ve never dealt with anxiety other than dealing with life stuff. This was a physical response and within hours of four shots in my arms. I thought I was having a heart attack. Nobody owned up to anything. My orthopaedic dr did agree with me eventually. He was aware it was a possibility. Stay strong. It will settle. I will never take any meds like that ever again!
I’m sorry you are going through this too. Like you, I didn’t put the pieces together until after the 3rd shots. I’m in my 7th month from last injections and it has upended what was a totally normal life before. It has gotten better than the first several months, but I still have anxiety, shaking, rounds of no appetite and insomnia. Many, many psychiatric drugs have been tried and made it worse and extensive blood work from the endocrinologist was normal. These shots mess with your central nervous system. I pray to get to the other side soon. Everyone on here says you will heal and get better so I hang on to that.
I wish you a speedy recovery and we all understand the suffering this causes. I will never get any steroids of any kind again and you probably shouldn’t either. Stay strong and don’t give up!
It takes a bit, but yes, there is an end. My blood work was fine too. Again, wish I had of seen these comments while I was going through it. I honestly thought I was going crazy. The hardest part was trying to be as functional as possible for my children
And what is with feeling almost normal for a few days and then it hits all over again? It's truly baffling that my body can feel mostly back to normal and then boom, it hits like a ton of bricks. Just when you think, I'm getting there... It happened this past week, on Thursday I slept all night and didn't wake up all night with the headaches. I slept without headaches and anxiety for 3 night and then the next night, it's like I'm back starting at day one. Assuming this is what people mean when they've dealt with the symptoms for such a long time. Thankfully we get some good days until it decides to leave the body.
I’ve read that a lot in this posts. People start feeling good then back to square one. What I wouldn’t give for feeling normal even one day! The good thing is that you are getting closer to total healing if you’re having some normal days!
Kim, thankfully I have been able to get through many days without anxiety attacks. I do feel fortunate to say that I'm getting better as time progresses. It's the nights... the dreaded nights. All of you that have been dealing with this for months on end to years, makes my heart hurt. My injections were small in scale compared to the amounts that people get with other steroid injections. I've had large doses in the past, but the 3 I had were small dosed. That must make a difference, but I can say the early symptoms, like the first 4 weeks after each were pure hell!
I’m so glad my severe, scary panic attacks are over. Those lasted for 3 to 4 weeks. How far are you into this circus ride? The endocrinologist told Ethan due to my age, slower metabolism and being post menopause, that it could take longer. Symptoms started last July. Hopefully getting closer to the end!
I am 3 days out of epidural Dexamethasone injection. From the second I got off the table I was having massive anxiety, tachycardia, tremors and insomnia- my heart rate was 130 and bp 160/90. I do have a previous diagnosis of panic disorder and major depression (at this time I do not take any medication for this) only psychotherapy. The dr is saying anxiety can increase from the steroid and last a few days but I can’t function already. No appetite and cotton mouth. Just wanted to see if anyone out there has found a way to detox from this garbage. Never again, I’d rather live with the pain of the herniated discs in my back. Just looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. Please God help me and anyone else suffering.
Hopefully your reaction won’t last more than a week or so. Everyone on this sight has a story to tell, but rest assured that what you are experiencing is what all of us have gone through. I’m in my 5th month since my last injections and have started to see improvements in the last month. My mental health is not back to totally normal and I still have anxiety and some body tremor, but I am way better then I was in month 2, 3 and 4! I never had mental health issues before this, but it has been a crazy ride. I was put on an antidepressant (trazodone), and an antipsychotic (seroquel). Personally, I would try to stay off the antipsychotic if possible. I am weaning off now after less than 2 months of use, and there still is some withdrawal symptoms happening. It’s potent stuff. Once the steroids are in there, you have to wait for it to wear off.
We all wish there was something we could take to rid it from systems! Drink lots of water, try and do light exercise or walk if you can. Supplements like magnesium glycinate can help with the anxiety. Melatonin if you can’t sleep. Others use lemon balm, chamomile,
L-theanine as natural supplements.
Don’t let the docs tell you it wasn’t from the shots-it was! Advocate for yourself. I pray that you will be through this in a very short time! Everyone is different and their bodies react differently. Everyone here believes and supports you! And most of all, you will get through this!
So I was on antipsychotic, 100mg seroquel for 2 months. I tapered down to 6mg the last 5 days then quit. Today is day 6 totally off. Wasn’t too bad, lots of nausea, some diarrhea and a bit more anxiety. Yesterday afternoon went downhill. Lots of shaking in my entire body like electricity running through me, anxiety and agitation way up. Finally broke down and took 1/2 Ativan. I have only used the Ativan a few times before this several weeks ago for sleep. Was anyone else on an antipsychotic and willing to share what withdrawal was like? I’m praying that this is just acute withdrawal and not a return to my original symptoms! I’m 51/2 months out from last injections. I really don’t want to go months backwards in this steroid recovery nightmare!
I forgot to mention that I tapered over a 5 week period.
So sorry to hear this. Prayers w you. Stared helped me. 25 mill, split in half when symptoms unbearable. Took for 2 weeks. 3 months post evil shot, symptoms slot beter, getting less daily. Be careful around others. Found out this shot lowers immunity. Rarely got sick before shot... after shot 2 sinus infections, ear infection and terrible covid-19! They don't inform you about this. Stay away from crowds and consider masking until shot has dissolved out of system. Doc said shot should be less concentrated after 12 weeks. Worst shot ever. I agree that I would rather deal w pan than ever put this stuff in my body again. Prayers that you feel better quickly.
Jenl. What is stared you said you took? Did you mean steroid pill? I’m 10 days off antipsychotic seroquel and feeling crappier every day. I pray it’s not return of symptoms and just withdrawal from that drug. I was on for 2 months and weaned off over 5 weeks. I don’t want to go back on an antipsychotic because of scary side effect profile. I was perfectly healthy until a got a series of steroid shots last summer. Still suffering 5 1/2 months later
Hi. I am so sorry... we all experiencing the identical stuff. Atarax helped me. 25 mill, split in half a few times during day, mainly at night. Nights are the worst for some reason. It is an antihistamine, anti anxiety med. I found drinking milk, and eating cereal and pudding helped too for some reason... maybe the magnesium or vit. D., not sure but it helps. Worst feelings ever, I know. Hang tight, I promise it gets better. Going on 4th month, much better than before. Also, stay away from crowds and consider masking, as this shot lowers your immunity (another gem of info they leave out). Since shot, strep throat, sinus infection and covid-19! Never got ill before shot so I know its the culprit. God bless, prayers for you.
A t a r a x... darn auto correct. Sorry and hope this helps.
Thanks Jenl. I’m already taking Atarax. I’ve taken anywhere from 5 to 50 mg per day. I also take a 400 mg magnesium, 100mg trazodone at night and 15mg propranolol a day for the body tremor. I’ve been off the antipsychotic they put me on for sleep for 12 days-not fun. Mornings are the worst for me. I pray for the day I wake up and I’m not shaking and anxious and can get up and have a normal day. I’m much better then I was 2 months ago and know God will carry me through to the end of this nightmare. I hope you are fully recovered!
For anyone who had tremors how long did they last? I’m in month 7 and have an internal full body tremor every day, all day. It seemed to get a little better but now worse. Can only take low dose of propranolol because my heart rate drops too low. Hydroxyzine doesn’t seem to help much either.
Dear eice, you are not alone, We have all gone through this horrific experience. But know it will get better. Everyone is different. For me, it was 2-3 months. My doc said he had never heard of this either, I printed out pages and pages from this site to show him how we all have suffered,. I made several visits to emergency room thinking I was having a heart attack-which equals anxiety for me, I was told Xanax would be addicting, take it anyway, you will need it right now. I have taken it on and off for years (I had anxiety) only when needed, without any addiction issues. Things that helped me - prayer, meditation, yoga for anxiety, sleep when you can. This too shall pass, remember that.
Thank you for the encouragement. It seems like it will never end when you’re going through it.
Feb 7th starting my 7th month post injections with this nonsense. Still have the full body tremor to some extent, anxiety at a lower level, insomnia sometimes etc. I weaned off Seroquel almost a month ago and down to 75mg Trazodone from 100mg 2 weeks ago (causing blurry vision). Once I got down to 12 mg Seroquel, the nausea started- mostly first half of day. Anybody else experience nausea and how long did it last? I tried going back on 25 mg Seroquel and by 2nd day I was having suicidal ideation so stopped it. I also take a low dose of hydroxyzine and propanol for the shaking and anxiety. This is a very slow healing process I know, but I sure would like my life back!
Feb 7th starting my 7th month post injections with this nonsense. Still have the full body tremor to some extent, anxiety at a lower level, insomnia sometimes etc. I weaned off Seroquel almost a month ago and down to 75mg Trazodone from 100mg 2 weeks ago (causing blurry vision). Once I got down to 12 mg Seroquel, the nausea started- mostly first half of day. Anybody else experience nausea and how long did it last? I tried going back on 25 mg Seroquel and by 2nd day I was having suicidal ideation so stopped it. I also take a low dose of hydroxyzine and propanol for the shaking and anxiety. This is a very slow healing process I know, but I sure would like my life back!
Update from my post 8/25/23. Healthy 64 year old, on no meds and no previous mental health issues. Steroid injections 3 times from late April to early August. More anxiety after each of them, full body tremor etc. September, October and November went totally to hell. I started having panic attacks daily that made the exorcist look tame. I was unable to leave my house. Every symptom that so many on here have experienced. Insomnia with 2 hours sleep and wake in a panic attack. I have been admitted to the psych ward twice and in an outpatient program due to depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts. Been to the ER several times. I’m into my 5th month from the last injection. I will not be able to go celebrate the holidays with my kids.
I am starting to have some small improvements. May be due to meds or finally steroids wearing off. I’m on 4 psychiatric meds now but trying to wean off the anti psychotic because that stuff is scary. Saw an endocrinologist and she ran a bunch of tests to check all my hormones. It all came back normal. So the doctors really won’t confirm it is all from steroid injections but I did get a diagnosis a few times of steroid psychosis.
Hearing others stories gives me hope that I will be myself again. The endocrinologist said it could be 9 to 12 months post injections for them to be totally out of my system. It is a long, slow process but my faith in God and a fantastic support network are helping me through. DON’T GIVE UP! Advocate for yourself and don’t be ashamed to tell your story and take all the help you can get! I’m hoping and praying to be recovered by this summer but welcome any glimmer of myself as this hell loosens it’s grip on me.
I completely get it. I hiked. Got out in the woods. It’s the scariest experience of my life but please know that it gets better. I’ll never get shots again. Ortho doctor admittedly agreed with the side effects to me. This site would have been useful when I was going through it though because you feel so awful, and nobody understands
I think me and you have one of the most similar stories on here. Severe panic attacks after the injection. Straight out of hell. In and out of the ER and Psych. I was 9 months out from the shot and stupidly came off my SSRI and went through it all again. Back on meds now but struggling. I am now 1.5 years out and praying it goes away eventually. This is hell and I wish you the best. I know what you are going through but from everyone’s post on here , there is hope.
I’m sorry you are suffering this insanity too. What totally blows my mind is how this made me go from a thriving, healthy, no mental health issues to basically a crazy person. Now I am finding that even after only 2 months of a low dose of Seroquel (antipsychotic), I think I’m having withdrawal symptoms. I’m determined to get off of it somehow. I’m on trazodone as an antidepressant because several trials of SSRI’s made everything 100 times worse.
I will stay on the trazodone, Hydroxyzine and propranolol as long as I need to for help with symptoms. I pray the day when I can just feel relaxed both physically and mentally. The panic attacks have stopped and I hope that continues. Did you have any mental health issues previous to this? What did you receive injections for? I hope and pray that I will be a lot more normal by the year mark. I hope you find some relief soon as well.
I was given Ativan. Three months of hell. That made it worse. Slowly came off it on my own. Never again!
I found your original comment. So it sounds like you were doing better, but retriggered everything going off Zoloft. I haven’t seen anyone mention that they were put on antipsychotics. Dangerous stuff even at low doses for short term use. I pray that I can get off it without all of the worst symptoms coming back. I wish the best for us both and everyone else on here going through this.
My psych office finally prescribed me 12 Ativan to use for the panic attacks. I don’t want to be taking benzos unless absolutely needed. My PCP had me on 5 mg of Valium a day for a month for the tremors. He had me stop it cold turkey because it wasn't helping all that much. That ended in my first psychiatric hospitalization because I went through Valium withdrawal. I think we all ask ourselves “ how can this be happening and when will it end ?”
Almost everyone on here says it does end and you will get through it. I take comfort and have hope from that.
Yeah I was feeling so much better and was like oh maybe the steroids are out of my system. Huge mistake. I’ll be on them for the rest of my life. But I have hope with the right meds I will heal. Antipsychotic are intense. I have been on one myself in the past. I try to only stay with SSRI since they are the safest but they come with many side effects too.
@Applejack4 it’s so crazy how we react differently during and after. Ativan is the only thing that saved me. But getting off was not fun. How are you doing now ?
I have Ativan for only emergencies like a panic attack. I am so thankful that I haven’t had on in almost 3 weeks and no suicidal thoughts. My original pain in my SI joints is starting to come back and I couldn’t be more excited! Hopefully someday my body will relax and the full body shakes will stop. We all have to keep hoping and praying !
Kanderson- what antipsychotic were you on, how much and for how long? I’ve only been on seroquel (quetiapine) for 2 months at 100mg at night. I went to 75mg a week ago and the very next morning my anxiety was higher and the body tremor worse. I’ve read that this is withdrawal. Did you have withdrawal? I’m very medication sensitive so not surprised by what I experience from drugs-lots of reactions.
@KimDS Do you have any social media ? I can add you. I’m more than happy to answer any questions you have. I know this is not easy and it’s isolating.
@KimDS Do you have any social media ? I can add you. I’m more than happy to answer any questions you have. I know this is not easy and it’s isolating.
@KimDS Do you have any social media ? I can add you. I’m more than happy to answer any questions you have. I know this is not easy and it’s isolating.
Sorry I’m not big on social media.
Thank you for offering hope Applejack4. It seems like it will never end. I can’t wait until this is all behind me. One of my friends reminds me “ you have survived 100% of your worst days-you can do this!”
So very sorry. You are not alone. Same happened to me. Primary doc prescribed Atarax which took away twitches. Terrible stuff. Side effects should ease up in 7 weeks. God bless.
Unfortunately that is not the case for everyone. I am 16 months post cortisone injections and still suffering. Have to be on an SSRI for the rest of my life.
Yeah, unfortunately I am 9 weeks out and still having symptoms. They have somewhat decreased but other things have popped up. Today the twitching has been bad. Sigh..
Yeah, unfortunately I am 9 weeks out and still having symptoms. They have somewhat decreased but other things have popped up. Today the twitching has been bad. Sigh..
I’m so sorry to hear that. How are the panic attacks ? After a few weeks I couldn’t handle it anymore and got placed on an SSRI. Tried getting off and it went badly. :(
9 month in pretty better now twitch is better maybe 80% better sauna and gym really helped me
KAnderson2023,
I really haven't had panic attacks. I've had anxiety, but that's only because I'm worried I have a serious disease like ALS, MS, Parkinson's, Brain tumor, etc. So that's why I'm anxious because I'm worried it's something more serious and not the injection. Other than that, I haven't had anxiety/panic attacks. So sorry to hear you experienced it pretty badly :( Hopefully some day you can get off the SSRI. What were your main symptoms?
Kanderson and nicole,I am very sorry to hear this. I am having the same, just relying on prayer and meds like Xanax to get me through. I truly believe God delivers. It may take time but the cake is already frosted so to speak and I have no choice but to lean on Him for deliverance from this poison. Somewhere in the Gospels it says "if you drink any poisonous thing, it shall not harm you"... I am relying on this as my truth. Prayers for you all. We must trust and ride it out.
Hello all,
Unfortunately, I too think I am suffering side effects from Kenalog injections. Here's my story, I got a Kenalog injection in April 2023 due to a cyst on my chest. I didn't experience any side effects at first but about 3 months later I started developing heart palpitations/rapid heart rate when I would move, walk/change positions. I didn't think the two were connected at all since it developed so much later. Then on Aug 29th 2023 I received another Kenalog injection in my groin area due to an HS flare that would not heal. I assumed it was "safe" since I received the shot in my chest months prior and foolishly thought I didn't have side effects. However, about 3 days after receiving the second injection, I started having tingling in my legs and feet and terrible muscle spasms throughout my body (mostly in legs, feet, and butt). One night I woke up and the toes on my foot were ice cold.
I do experience some tingly in my fingertips but it's not as common. I did go to urgent care for my heart palpitations and my EKG came back normal and all my blood work is normal. They tried to convince me it was "just anxiety" but I know it's not. I also told the dermatologist who gave me the injection that I thought I was having side effects from the shot and she told me that my leg spasming is not because of the injection. She said that wouldn't occur because the "dose is too low and it was administered lesionally, not systematic". I am convinced it probably is since I started experiencing the spasming a few days after the shot. My cardiologist did tell me "Cortisone injections can raise heart rate" so at least he's not completely clueless. I do find it interesting that both times I received a "lesional" shot that it seemed to create side effects in that particular area of the body. Chest injection= heart palpitations. Groin injection= leg tingling and spasming/cramping. I am still experiencing heart palpitations and am currently wearing a heart monitor for 2 weeks and will have an echo done in OCT. My cardiologist is convinced it's not my heart though and he thinks it is probably more related to either the HS flare and/or cortisone injections. I also am losing a bit of weight but I can't tell if that's due to the shot or me being anxious about this all. However, my complete irrational fear is that I am developing ALS since I'm having the spasms. I am a 28 yo Female and I'm worried I'm having ALS symptoms and I'm going to die or go into heart failure soon. Can someone please offer some encouragement or assurance that this is most likely related to the shot and nothing too serious? Has anyone else experienced muscle spasms/cramps? If so, how long did it take for yours to go away? Thank you in advance.
Sincerely, a very worried girl.
You aren’t crazy. Similar stories repeatedly. Same for me. My body twitched uncontrollably at times after shot. I lost so much weight after. 29 pounds in just a few weeks. Anxious and loss of appetite. I will never take a shot of cortisone ever again. It’s was several months before things started to reside but honestly the worst feeling.
Hi Nicolem6
Hope you are doing better! I did have random muscle twitching after my lumbar shot. It was scary and you are not alone. I think mine lasted a month or so. But everything subsided in time . So hang in there and you will make it through
Hi, Lost in Az here 8 years post shot. You are not going crazy. This shot causes crazy physical and emotional issues, and yes the doctors will deny it comes from the shot. You will recover it just takes time,I know that's not easy hearing. Cut out the caffeine and sugar eat healthy to help your system heal.I did have to go on Ativan but after I was able to wean off. You will be OK.Take a deep breath and know we have all been where you are and are here to say we made it to the other side.
Thank you all. I am very nervous. I've also been experiencing numbness in my fingers while I'm asleep. Upon waking, my fingertips will be numb. Once I start moving my fingers once I'm awake, then I will regain feeling. However, this morning, it took longer than it normally does to regain feeling in my pinky finger. I'm so so scared. This never happened before the shot. I'm so terrified and I cry every single day because I'm so scared I'm developing a neurological issue. If anyone has any advice or can offer reassurance it would be appreciated!
Also, Steve12, I saw somewhere you mentioned having weird sensations/feelings as well. Can you describe what these were? I feel like I am having weird nerve sensations as well. Thank you!
So sorry to hear this. Same happened to me. Doc prescribed atarax also known as hydroxyzine. It is an antihistamine/anti anxiety med which counter acted the horrible side effects of the cortisone shot. God is with you and will deliver you. Hope this helps.
Atarax also called hydroxyzine took away the side effects. Hope this is not a duplicate answer, just trying to help all. Makes you a tad sleepy but worth it. God bless.
Atarax also known as hydroxyzine was a miracle for me. Took away side effects. Gives you dry mouth and makes you a tad sleepy but worth it. Hope this helps, everyone. God bless. He will deliver you.
Atarax also known as hydroxyzine was a miracle for me. Stopped muscle twitching, insomnia, etc. It is an antihistamine/anti anxiety med. Hope this helps. God bless. You are not alone.
Atarax also known as hydroxyzine was a miracle for me. Took away muscle twitching, insomnia and other nasty side effects from this shot. Gives you dry mouth and some sleepiness but worth it. You are not alone. Hang in there, God will deliver you.
Hi. So sorry to hear this. Same thing happened to me. Terrible muscle twitching, anxiety, insomnia and even a fever. They don't want to connect any of these horrible side effects to the shot, but too many people are posting the same thing. I was blessed to get help from primary care doc who prescribed Atarax. Makes you sleepy and causes dry mouth, but took away side effects. It is an antihistamine and anti anxiety med. Never again will I let someone inject me with that poison again. Prayers for you. I hope this helps. You are not alone.
You are not alone. My doc prescribed atarax which is an antihistamine, anti anxiety med. Took away side effects, lessened twitching. Makes you tired and gives you dry mouth but worth it. Prayers. Hope this helps.
I hope I can offer some help to everyone on here. I will briefly explain my experience but understand this has been the worst 3.5 yrs of my life. I have zero history of anxiety or panic. I received a series of 3 cortisone injections into my hand with the last one being January 2020. Zero relief from any of them and no side effects until the 3rd shot. After the third shot I did not feel right. I did not sleep for 3 straight days and then started years of constant anxiety and panic attacks daily. Doctors dismissed me as developing anxiety overnight which was nonsense. I’m not going to go thru every symptom I had because everyone here knows how bad this is. I couldn’t have anything at all food, drink, medication because every change in my physiology would cause a panic attack. This also screwed up my cortisol levels and my blood sugar. I am finally healing. This is what I did and I hope it helps someone out there.
Find a natural medicine doctor who will order you a neurotransmitter test. I did mine thru ZRT and they were great. It doesn’t matter who you use. All my neurotransmitters were bottomed out. They gave me a list of natural supplements and a diet to eat. Problem was I couldn’t take any supplements at all because they would cause panic attacks. A lot of this also has to do with your gut microbiome. These shots destroy your gut bacteria. I started slowly taking a probiotic and worked my way up to Renew Life 80 billion. I also increased my protein intake as much as I could handle. Protein is the building block to build neurotransmitters thru amino acids. If you can handle supplements start taking an amino acid supplement. I couldn’t so I only started with Taurine, Glycine and Inositol. Start taking magnesium and Vitamin D religiously. I took 400 mg of magnesium twice a day. I took Magnesium L-Threonate in the morning and Magnesium Glycinate in the evening along with Vitamin D 5000 IU 3 times a day. I also started taking a vitamin B complex. This took me a long time because my body couldn’t handle those doses for a year. Hopefully everyone isn’t like that but I truly believe these supplements are why I am getting better everyday. I’ve been thru hell but I have never given up on myself and neither should you. This is real. The shot did cause it. You will recover.
Hang in there. I fully understand. I’ll never get another shot again in my life. Very similar story. Was the most frightening experience. Mine was two years. Doing much better but nobody understands you. I lost 20 pounds immediately after. Couldn’t eat. Complete panic. I had four injections in one day. Within hours I was in emergency with heart palpitations and panic. You will be better. It’s not an easy road tho. Be well and know it does get better
Hang in there. I fully understand. I’ll never get another shot again in my life. Very similar story. Was the most frightening experience. Mine was two years. Doing much better but nobody understands you. I lost 20 pounds immediately after. Couldn’t eat. Complete panic. I had four injections in one day. Within hours I was in emergency with heart palpitations and panic. You will be better. It’s not an easy road tho. Be well and know it does get better
I’m only 4 weeks past last set of injections. I like most others, was totally healthy before this and was on no meds. The shaking all the time is the worst and some panic attacks. The anxiety has eased up a bit. I now have started with insomnia. Three to four hours sleep a night. Right now I’m on a low dose of Valium to control the shakes but I hate taking meds and especially benzos. I just started the vitamin D/calcium/ magnesium but in low doses because my stomach can’t tolerate it. My blood tests show my sugar and cortisol levels are normal. I started with a natural path and will ask about the neurotransmitter test. I’m sorry you have suffered so long. I hope and pray my recovery is much shorter and that you are back to normal soon!
So sorry to hear this. I've had 3] wars of anxiety after a piriformis muscle kenacorte injection. Nobody believed this was from the shot. I was told I need to relax and I was being mocked cause I had to go to the ER a few times because of tremendous heart palpitations and panic attacks. I had the shot in 2019. It started working after 3 months and although they say the side effects can last a few days, for me they started when the shot started working. My legpain and sciatica lessened. But I was doomed with these panic attacks and not being able to get out the house. Insomnia, and hyperventilation syndrome out of nowhere. And lasted for 3 years. NEVER ever did I have panic attacks or anxiety before.
So sorry you also endured this.
So sorry, same here. Doc prescribed atarax also known as hydroxyzine which took away side effects. Makes you drowsy but worth it until this poison is gone. God bless. You are not alone.
Atarax also known as hydroxyzine is an antihistamine \anti anxiety med which was a miracle, relieving me of the nasty side effects of the cortisone shot. Gives you dry mouth and makes you a tad sleepy but worth it. Hope this helps. God bless. You are not alone and will overcome.
So sorry. My doc prescribed atarax which is an antihistamine, anti anxiety med. Did wonders combating side effects. Makes you sleepy and dry mouth but worth it. Prayers. You are not alone.
So glad I found this page! 64 year old female. Wasn’t on any meds, worked out 5 days a week. Was feeling a little anxious over some life events so tried 1/2 of lowest dose Zoloft on August 2nd. Made me shake and nauseous so stopped after 9 days. PT tweaked my piriformis muscle so bad I couldn’t walk. I went to pain clinic on August 7th. Explained I’m very medication sensitive but ended up having injections in both SI joints, gluteus Maximus, gluteus medius, piriformis and a cluneal nerve block ( I have history of back pain due to bulging discs and SI problems but haven’t had injections in over 8 years). Been a nightmare since than! The shaking 24/7 of my entire body and no appetite/nausea, racing heart. I’ve lost 15 lbs. I was actually at the ER this morning because I was so nauseous, I wasn’t even able to drink water. All tests normal, given zofran for nausea and fluids.
Said most likely is reaction to Zoloft still in system and the addition of all the steroids. I am not even able to go help my daughter out of state who delivered a baby at 31 weeks by emergency C-section, because I’m too sick. I have had some anxiety in the past, but nowhere like this. I hate taking meds, but have to take a little Xanax to get through the day. I don’t want to be on that, but feel like I’m losing it. I’m in therapy too now, and try relaxation, breathing, exercise when I can. I pray all the time for relief from this hell. My PCP tried me on a beta blocker which helped the shakes but made me more nauseous (thus in ER today). I should also add that I had a cortisone shot in my elbow in April and 3 weeks later had post menopausal bleeding (cancer ruled out). Same thing after pudendal nerve block and trigger point injections for pudendal neuralgia in July. Now just waiting for round 3 of PM bleeding to start after all the back injections. I will never have cortisone shots again, except for the pudendal nerve block for pelvic pain if I absolutely need another one and I will see if he has other options.
I pray everyday for an end to this madness and for my life back. You out there are not alone, and hearing your stories gives me hope and reassures me I’m not crazy!
Has anyone found an improvement in symptoms sooner than many months or years? I can’t take antidepressants because of worse side effects. I keep telling my doctors this is chemically induced, not my normal self! I have so much to live for but have had suicidal ideation just to be released from this hell. I see my PCP again next week to discuss meds. I don’t want to be on Xanax for obvious reasons, but I’m not an addictive personality, so if it or Valium will help the symptoms until the cortisone gets out of my system. This makes me mad and sad to be missing life.
I am so sorry you are going through this. We all have our stories. It infuriates me when doctors tell the patients that it is NOT the cortisone shots. We know the truth. The Hippocratic oath says do no harm. To me, they are harming patients telling them these horrific symptoms are NOT from the cortisone shots.
First of all... So sorry you're going trough this. It's scary. But you will recover. I don't know when and I hope it'll be fast for you. For me it took 3 years. I also had the piriformis and sciatica kenacorte corticosteroïds injected. And i developed severe panic attacks and anxiety and hyperventilation syndrome for no reason at all. I went to ER with heart palpitations and severe hyperventilation. And they looked at me funny telling me I should visit a psychologist. These shots have changed me. It's messed up my hormones completely. I suffer severe endometriosis since these shots. Although gynochologist says there's no connection. I'm sure there is. These shots are wellknown to mess up women's menstrual cycles and can give you hot flashes. I was told this when getting the shots. I had the shot in 2019. It started working in March 2020. And that's when my piriformis syndrome lessened and the panic attacks appeared.
There was no reason to panic. But I had a panic attack nearly everyday. And in 2020 I was diagnosed with severe endometriosis. I absolutely believe these shots have messed up my hormonal balance and I haven't been the same since. I've had severe tachycardia since and the ambulance had to come pick me up twice. I was 34 at the time and relatively healthy back then.
However, it doesn't mean that this will be the case for you. I hope you recover quick. And maybe think about it twice before getting them again. This stuff will leave your system at some point.
My remedy was atarax also known as hydroxyzine. It is an antihistamine/anti anxiety med. Gives you dry mouth and some sleepiness but worth it. Heartbreaking to read these posts. God is with you and will deliver you. You are not alone.
Atarax also known as hydroxyzine relieved my side effects. Hope this helps. God bless. You will overcome.
So sorry. Atarax helped me. It is an antihistamine/anti anxiety med. Makes you sleepy/dry mouth but worth it until side effects eventually go away. Prayers. Hope this helps.
This is the best forum I found; I am French, but I will try to do my best to answer it too. I had à back injury, so I went to a sports doc, and he suggested me cortisone shot; I know à lot of People Who had those shots, and they had no problem at all; this doc did not have one, not 2,3 cortisone shot, first 2 days no pain relief after that I started to had à bit of calf twitching, after that burning pain, in the other leg and calf and maybe 2 weeks after the shoot hell on hearth weak leg, burning pain full body twitch anxiety was on the roof like I never had before (I am 36 y man doing CrossFit hockey, etc. anxiety was not part of my life ) I was crying 5 6 7 times à day my hand was shaky, I was not able to work, I tried to continue to go to the gym sometimes I was hiding in the gym crying, that's was not me I had to go 3 4 times to my family doc. Still, it was impossible. It's from the shot.
It's just anxiety. I know it's anxiety; still, I come from the shot; I had to pass EMG because of muscle twitching for ALS, and more; this has been the worst six months in my life. I start to feel better. I have a good day but some lousy day like today. I can feel those twitch, I still have shaky hands and fingers, but way better since month 2 3 4 they were the worst, I'm pretty sure three shots at the same appointment was way too much for six month, and I hope it still got better I don't want to live like that all my life. Thanks to this forum for all the same stories!!!
I saw your post and had to make an account to respond. I live in the netherlands and I've had 2 corticosteroïd injections before. One for my sciatica in right leg and one for my piriformis muscle. And after the first shot a few years ago I started having menstrual issues. I felt depressed more often. Never experienced that before. And tired. Very tired. This lasted the entire year and I had no idea why I was feeling so bad. and then I had another shot. Well.. This was hell. Utter hell. I started having severe panic attacks and anxiety. Even had derealisation and hyperventilation 24/7. I've felt like this for a year as well. Every single day I had panic attacks. Visited er many times but they looked at me funny. My heart rate was sky high and I felt jittery all the time.
I was also diagnosed with severe endometriosis after that. To me no coinsedence. It messed my periods up completely. This injection made me go crazy. There's moments that I looked into the mirror and couldn't even see myself anymore. I don't have a history of depression or panic attacks. Not much is known about those side effects. But I was living in a haze of sudden panic attacks and no one seemed to believe me. Was offered them again for my cervigogenic headaches and dizziness. But declined.
I wanted to add that I'm so happy that I've found this post. It had changed my life. Doctors have never taken me seriously. And I do believe this shot has given me physical symptoms as well. My right leg is very weak, I have chronic legpain. I have sciatica and piriformis syndrome in that right leg, and that's gotten better after the shot but I have leg weakness now. And because of that weakness my whole posture has changed. And other issues like neckpain and hippain occur.
I was in so much sciatic nerve pain back then, I really needed the shot. But I wish I didn't take it. I believe I had induced steroid psychosis. Yet doctors told me it's all in my head. That's given me ptsd. To see that my beloved gp I never had issues with thought I was gone mad and did nothing about it. The doctors I saw said these shots don't give you those side effects. Reading this threat has helped so much.
My cervigogenic headaches and dizziness are severe en I also suffer occipital neuralgia. But not going for another shot. Never again.
I also take asthma meds and I've gotten sensitive to fluticasone. Out of the blue that stuff had sent me to the ER as well. Severe heart palpitations and utter panic for reason at all. Stopping that med helped.
But the Kenalog shot took away 2 years of my life. Before I started becoming myself again. Still suffering. But it's getting better. Physically im a mess. But mentally I'm getting back to woman I was.
I received my first cortisone injection 1 month ago. Never again. Wow! I have had 2 bouts of severe inflammation in areas surrounding my right shoulder. Prior to the shot I had just a small irritation when I would throw a ball and some overhead movements over the last 15 to 20 years. I was thinking lets finally get this looked at. The administered the shot and within 2 days I couldn't lift my arm above my head, high fever, chills, flushing and fatigue lasting 8 days. 10 days later it flared up again for the last 5 days including fever again but less intense. To no ones surprise here they said "oh what a strange coincidence it definitely wouldn't be caused from what we injected into actual area your experiencing this". I was recommended hibiscus tea by an herbalist. I have also discontinued my allergy shots in the meantime as I started those shortly after the cortisone. I've been doing saunas which help me feel more loose as well as ibuprofen.
I am hoping this is my last bout of this. Sending rapid detox and quick healing to everyone here and thank you to the OP and everyone that has contributed.
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