I got a cortisone injection in my wrist a week ago. Was fine for 2 days following but since then my pain is far worse than beforehand. I feel like I am going to pass out from the pain and now the pain is traveling all the way from my fingers to my shoulder. Is this normal or should I be heading back to my GP?
Should my hand be this sore after cortisone injection?
Question posted by typingtimtam on 27 April 2016
Last updated on 28 February 2019
4 Answers
aliceabernathy2010
1 March 2019
It's a flare up and it happens to about 2 percent of people who get the injections. I have this each time I have an injection in my wrist. I plan ahead by taking ibuprofen and then I continue taking it until the pain is gone about three days later. Oh and I lay in bed and cry that whole time because the pain is the worst you'll ever feel.
chuck1957
28 April 2016
Typing; just so you know also the reason it felt so good for a day or two is they use a small shot of a pain killer prior to giving you the cortisone shot because its a pretty good size needle and the numbing agent takes a few days to wear off and a lot of people think it's from the cortisone shot. but it might not hurt to let the doctor know just in case this is going to be a series of shots that you are in a lot of discomforts. and ask if you should be applying heat or ice to the area.
typingtimtam
28 April 2016
Thank you for your comments. I went to my doctor and he believes that the cortisone injection has done more harm then good. As it has sped up my pain from an injury
chuck1957
28 April 2016
Typing; yes this is pretty common but if the pain is just to much call your doctor and see what you should do about it. but it really should go away. this was the same reaction my wife had and she had both writst done at the same time. sorry your having to go through all of this. chuck1957
aliceabernathy2010
1 March 2019
So true! Both wrists at the same time had me crying for days. But after its done then I'm pain free so it's worth going through. My worst one lasted almost 5 days!
mademychoice39
27 April 2016
I have had this happen before and I called my doctor. He said that it was rare but possible and it should resolve on its own in a couple days using ice packs on the injection site. Which it did, but until then I thought there was no way it could be normal to have that much pain and that I would never have it done again! Well the next time I had to have it done I did not have the same reaction, so it's just a roll of the dice if it happens to you. I would definitely let your doctor know right away what you're experiencing. I've attached a cut and paste about the side effect that I found when I was having this problem. "As with nearly any procedure where
medications are injected into the body,
adverse reactions may occur. The so called
“cortisone flare” reaction has been
reported to occur in approximately two
percent of patients. This occurs when
the injected cortisone crystallizes and
causes pain worse than before the shot.
Fortunately, these “flares” usually do
not last long and resolve with icing
after 12 to 48 hours."
I hope this helps, and the same is true for you that this will be passing soon!
typingtimtam
27 April 2016
Thankyou, great help!! Am off to see my GP tomorrow. I thought it was a flare so I've been icing and what not, however if it is a flare I've had it for 4 days now. That can't be normal right?
mademychoice39
27 April 2016
Thank you! It sounds to me like that's longer than what they say a flare should last for. I would be concerned that maybe they hit or got too close to a nerve? I'm no doctor but I have also had this happen to me with an epidural injection in my low back. They actually HIT the nerve tho. But in reality that epidural shot that hit the nerve worked the best out of all the times I've had it done. It was just really painful at the time and for days after (I can't remember exactly how many days). I just about came off the table when it happened and I was under "awake" sedation so I should have been close to falling asleep. Instead I had to be held down from an involuntary reflex after having a needle puncture a nerve. The pain did stop though and like I said, I got the most relief from actually having the medication placed in the nerve even though it was a mistake on their part. Maybe this will be the case for you! Glad you're seeing your GP today, I hope they give you good news. I would love an update to see how it turns out for you :)
typingtimtam
28 April 2016
Thanks for this :) so I went to the doctor and he wasn't happy at all. However I sustained an injury, went to a specialist and he diagnosed me as having carpal tunnel in my right wrist so I had the cortisone injection. My doctor believes because of my injury it may be something other than carpal tunnel and the injection has just increased my pain levels. So, looks like my injury has led to pain that cannot be diagnosed
chuck1957
29 April 2016
Typing; glad you got into the doctor at least knowing something helps,And you do have some kind of answer for what it is worth at this point hope the pain ease's up very soon hope you can have a nice weekend one way or another
Related topics
pain, cortisone, injection, cortisone injection, wrist, hand, sores
Further information
- Cortisone uses and safety info
- Cortisone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Cortisone (detailed)
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