Steroid shots making pain unbearable?

[JulioGuzman]

I have Lupus, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis.  When I have flareups of these conditions, doctors seem to want to give me steroid shots to help.  Early on, this caused me no problem.  However, I've been noticing for about two years now, a correlation between receiving a shot and my pain going through the roof.  My pain can be at a six, I can receive steroids, either as a shot or IV, and my pain can become so bad I am throwing up until I get IV pain meds to clam it down, which doesn't always happen right away.

The steroids do help the other symptoms of the flare, but are they worth it?  Is there any way to take them without this horrible drug reaction?  What's causing this reaction?

If I explain to doctors that I would rather not do the steroids, I am seen as noncompliant and not treated at all.

[earlgirl99]

My sis has MS & when it relapses she goes on IV steroids & gets mean as hell! This from one of the sweetest, kindest women I've ever known. However, they always remit her MS so she takes the IV, gains weight, like I do on prednisone, lashes out for awhile then when roids stop (roid rage?) she goes back to her sweet unassuming self. I figure it's a fair trade to stay out of a wheelchair but your roid reactions sound awful!

[JulioGuzman]

Oh, one thing I forgot.  I do occasionally take anti-inflammatories,however, I am not supposed to take NSAIDS due to other health issues.  While sometimes I am willing to risk it, I find they don't help much with my joint or bone pain.

[JulioGuzman]

Hi:

I know I have spondylitis because of my x-rays and CT scans show it clearly.  I have MS which was diagnosed after finding lesions on my spinal cord and in my brain.  The Lupus was confirmed with lab findings and a typical Lupus rash.  The only one I doubt is the Fibromyalgia.  I do get muscle aches, but most of ,my pain is in my bones/joints.

I should have clarified a bit here.  When I say steroid shots, I do not mean injections in the joint.  I mean either IM or IV Decadron or Pred.  I will not receive joint injectsions as they do not work at all.

Yes, I see several specialists, including a pain management doctor, neurologist, rheumatologist, endocrinologist, etc.

I agree that I do not need to receive shots if they are causing harm.  Anytime the risk/harm outweighs the benefit of a med/treatment, it's time to stop.  However, sometimes, my receiving other treatments that I need is predicated on taking the steroid injection.  for example, if I am having a severe pain flare which caused me to need additional rescue medication for pain, (usually Fentanyl Actiq), to add to what I already am taking, my doctor will not give this to me without the steroid shot first.  Once, when in the ER, I refused a shot, explaining the side effects, and I was told that they could not do anything for me then if I would not take the shot.  I then agreed, and I was back in the ER an hour after discharge, with pain score almost a ten, drifting in and out of consciousness, a heart rate in the 160's, (I have this at times when pain is severe, and they labeled it a demand aschemia, and I know I didn't spell that right), and blood pressure 218/158.  All findings went back to normal, heart rate of 70, BP of 120/88 after six hours on a PCA with Fentanyl in it plus 5 MG of Oxy IR every two hours.

[cmac66]

Lupus, fibromyalgia, spondylitis and M.S? These have many of the same symptoms and you may have been misdiagnosed somewhere along the line. My guess is you REALLY have one or two of these. Are you seeing a specialist (rheumotologist) or a general doctor who may not have the expertise, background and knowledge? Are you taking anti-inflammatories? Sounds like you are experiencing cortisone flare due to crystals in the steroid that irritate soft tissue. After your next injection rest the area, apply ice pack and take anti-inflammatory. If you dont have a prescription for one ibuprofen is over the counter. If this doesn't work, you may need to stop getting the injections as some people have a harder time with them, like you. Are they doing too many injections? There is a reason they have a limit on the number of injections a person can receive in a  certain time period