Adverse reaction to cortisone shot...is this normal?

[emilyinVA]

Two years ago I began experiencing pain in my right wrist.  There was no acute onset and the pain would come and go, sometimes lasting a month or more before going away and not hurting again for several weeks.  It would hurt when the hand was in a neutral position as well as if I flexed it and applied pressure (like, pushing a door open).  The source of the pain is in a groove between the wrist and the hand, at approximately the 2nd and 3rd metacarpals.  After several x-rays and an mri, the doctor said he "thought" I had a ganglion cyst at that location and injected it with cortisone to hopefully shrink it.  As I left the doctor's office, the injection site was sore but I thought nothing of it.  However, by the time I returned home, the pain was excruciating.  I could not do anything with my hand, wrist, or arm.  It was even too painful to place my wrist on my body as I lay in bed.  The pain persisted for at least 24 hours and was so bad I had to write with my left hand the day after the injection.  Nothing (NSAIDs, ice, elevation) helped the pain.  Is this an indication of an allergy or did the doctor hit a nerve or something?? Also, the pain from the shot subsided but 6 months later my wrist pain is exactly the same as it was before; there was no relief.  Any ideas what is going on? Thanks!

[puglovers999]

I had a terrible reaction to a cortisone shot in my shoulder. A claw of pain worked its way through my body. I missed three days of work!

Later than year, a cortison shot in my hip sent me into the ER with more pain that I could tolerate.

My orthopeadic surgeon who administered  the shots say this is highly unusual. I would like to know why I had this reaction, what it means to have such a reaction....     I have fibromyalgia and I've had cortisone shots in the more distant past without these aderse affects.           CW

[kolsen1978]

My husband was diagnosed with carpal tunnel for what sounds like the same symptoms.  He received the coritsone shot about 3 weeks ago, which seemed to escalate the problem.  He now has shooting pains through the fingers that did not have any pain before and his arm is in constant pain. When he received the shot, it was like a bolt of electricity when through his hand and his fingers jerked wildly.  I am definatly researching this and he is seeing a second doctor (not affiliated with the first) to look it over and get a second opinion.  I believe the doctor hit a nerve and I am afraid that the pain is permanent.  

So far, of all the accounts I have read of people who get the cortisone short, this is highly unusual.  I am no medical expert by any means, but even the initial over-the-phone consult with the second doctor says something is not right.  If I were you, I would see another doctor!