Has anyone had any experience with cortizone shots and their effects? I had a herniated disk recently and got a shot about 3 months ago. My BG went haywire!! My daytime numbers have gotten back to normal, but that was the start of me having high fasting numbers and they have NOT returned to normal yet. I tried the wine at bed time, no effect... I will keep trying though ... .and the pepperoni chips helped. Didn't know if anyone else had this experience.


Jamie

Yep, cortisone shots really mess with BG. I used to get one once a year in my knee (almost all the cartlidge has been removed). But, when I told my Ortho about the BG problems, he said no more cortisone for you. I have since exercised to the point that the muscles around my knee are strong enough to keep me out of pain for a while.

From MedicineNet.com

What are the disadvantages and side effects of cortisone injections?

Disadvantages of cortisone injections are the necessity of piercing the skin with a needle as well as potential short and long term side effects. It should be emphasized that each of these side effects is possible, they usually do not occur.

Short term side effects are uncommon, but include shrinkage (atrophy) and lightening of the color (depigmentation) of the skin at the injection site, introduction of bacterial infection into the body, local bleeding from broken blood vessels in the skin or muscle, soreness at the injection site, and aggravation of inflammation in the area injected because of reactions to the corticosteroid medication (postinjection flare). Tendons can be weakened by corticosteroid injections in or near tendons. Tendon ruptures as a result have been reported.

In persons who have diabetes, cortisone injections can elevate the blood sugar. In patients with underlying infections, cortisone injections can suppress somewhat the body's ability to fight the infection and possibly worsen the infection or may mask the infection by suppressing the symptoms and signs of inflammation. Generally, cortisone injections are used with caution in persons with diabetes and avoided in persons with active infections. Cortisone injections are used cautiously in persons with blood clotting disorders.

Long-term side effects of corticosteroid injections depend on the dose and frequency of the injections. With higher doses and frequent administration, potential side effects include thinning of the skin, easy bruising, weight gain, puffiness of the face, elevation of blood pressure, cataract formation, thinning of the bones (osteoporosis), and a rare but serious damage to the bones of the large joints (avascular necrosis).

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Pretty nasty stuff...and I have had about 10 injections in the past 10 years! EEKS!

I also have a herniated disk and got a cortisone shot about 4 years ago. My bgs were high for a few days. But, I wasn't low carbing then, so my bg control was already bad, making it hard to tell the effects. However, the shot was like a miracle to me. I had been unable to walk or sit up for two weeks before getting it, I was taking major painkillers, and the only other option was surgery. The doctor was reluctant to give me the shot, but I was in so much pain and I couldn't even get an appointment with the back specialist for another month. Although cortisone shots don't work for everyone, it worked within hours for me and within days I was pretty much back to normal. I then had physical therapy with exercises to strengthen that region of my back and fortunately I haven't had a major flare-up since that time (although I frequently have minor back pain).

Good luck with your back, Jamie!

thanks for the responses. My back is LOTS better, although I took my kids to the amusement park the other day and aggrivated it on the rides, but I can't give up my coasters so the shot was worth it in the long run. I was practically bedridden for about a month before.

I had a cortison injection and my bg's were high for about 24 hours, after that they seemed to return to what they usually are.

I'm going to have another injection on Monday, so I'll watch and see what happens. At first, when I checked my bg's and it was so HIGH, I couldn't figure out WHAT the heck was going on?????

Had to check the internet to find out, strange my foot doctor didn't TELL me about this, he should know-he's diabetic himself, I'm sure he's aware of this....makes me angry how doc's don't TELL us how things may effect us before offering a treatment. SO many times I have to check the internet for drug interactions/side effects, information on meds etc.

From Emily

I had to have a cortisone shot for a cyst in my foot. My podiatrist did warn me about the temporary rise in BG so I was prepared for it. It went up quite a bit though and stayed up for about 3 days. Then it got better but fasting still up high after two months. I don't think I will do that again!

I spoke with my nutritionist about it, ( my fasting numbers still aren't quite right) he seems to think the coritizone shot "fried" my adrenal gland somehow..... I don't know.... I know I read somewhere that corizone kicks dumping some glucose in in the am to keep you from waking up low, at least my back is better

I have often wondered if the 10 Cortisone injections I had over a course of 5 years may have triggered my Diabetes.

My Ortho told me that I could NEVER have one again...once I told him about the high BG's.

Obviously, my Bg's did come back down (I wasn't measuring then...was clueless). But, they are normal today....keeping fingers crossed!

Yikes...I'm developing arthritis in my thumb joint on my dominant hand and my doc suggested a cortisone injection when it was flaring up recently. I declined simply because I had heard about how painful they can be (I'm a coward when it comes to pain even though I have a high pain tolerance) and decided to just go with Ibuprofen when needed. Glad I did now!

I've read that constant high cortizon level triggers diabetes in some individuals. it doesn't matter if it's your own or injected, it does reflect BG. this is why BG rise when we are stressed, since cortizon is stress hormone. it's our body natural "fight or fly" response to stress. heavy weight lifting exercise and other streneous physical activities raise BG for the same reasons, it's cortizone spike. weight lifting always does it to my BG.
regards,
dina