Need medicale advice

[Michelle5555]

Can 5 cortisone shots with in 2 months to the eblow cause damage down the road?
Can to many corisone shots cause numbness in the same arm and work it way to the back of your head, causing numbness in the back of the head and headaches?

[marycarmel]

I should have clarified that when I was getting them years ago it was 3 injections to the same area.  If you ever feel uncomfortable about your doctor, it's always best to seek a second opinion.  I learned a lot about hands and how intricate they are (which basically the whole body is really.)  I hope you do seek some answers for your questions.

[Tuckamore]

Hello Michelle,

You ask some good questions and have justified concerns. Unfortunately there are no experts on our forum and I do think you should consult one. A second opinion may be in order. Although you  have asked good questions you haven't provided us with much information.

Steroids can cause problems...some severe. Sometimes it has nothing to due with the amount of steroids you've had and other times it appears that it does. Much depends on how your system/body respond to the steroid.

Recommendations have changed as well a physician's preferences and personal opinions. Often you must weight the risks against the benefits. It's not always an easy choice.  

I assume you have numbness in your effected arm and into the back of your head. This could be the the result of the condition that sparked the steroid injections, the result of the injections, a bit of both or unrelated. Only your Physician can provide you with the correct answers.

There is no hard and fast rule regarding the number of steroid injections a person can have however there are some concerns that come with repeated injections into the same location. Most physicians/surgeons will weight all the odds and present them to you so you can make an educated decision. But no, there is no actual magic number of steroid injections one can have in a certain time period.... unless the specific physician sets his/her own rule.

Best of Luck.... and don't be afraid to seek out a second opinion. We'll look forward to your updates.

Take Care,
~Tuck

[marycarmel]

There is a limit on how many cortisone shots you can get.  It can bring great pain relief but you do have to be careful.  If you're at all concerned, you should talk to your doctor.  I'm not sure about cortisone shots traveling to other areas, but again, if you're having any kind of side effects, you should call your doctor.  Sometimes strange things can occur even though they're uncommon.

Five cortisone shots within 2 months seems to be a lot.  If you're concerned about the doctor that has done them, you may want to check with a different doctor (maybe your primary care.)

I had thought the limit was 3.  Years ago I had an orthopedic who gave me many more.  I'm not sure if it contributed to the breakdown of the joint in my hand or not but I did wind up having trouble with the hand.  Of course, the arthritis that was originally there was pretty bad to begin with.

It sounds like you have some doubts and worries.  Check in with a doctor you trust so you can ease your mind.  Hope you'll let us know how things turn out.