Nerve damage from cortisone shots to neck? Help!
Posted , 4 users are following.
Hi there. I guess I'm reaching out because I'm scared and confused and I don't know who to turn to. So a few months ago I had 3 cortisone shots in my neck. They didn't work, so the doctor told me to come back and he would do 3 more. (These were about a month and a half between each other.)
Anyway the second appointment for the 3 is where everything went wrong. When I got home from the appointment I went to the bathroom and noticed both my vaginal and buttocks area were completely numb! It felt like when you go to the dentist and get frozen... you can still feel sensation, but it's just that numb odd feeling. I was pretty nervous but thought it would go away. After 2 days of this I finally went to the doctor because I had scared myself looking up all sorts of crazy things on the internet. The doctor immediately sent me to the ER. The doctor at the ER said I had saddle anesthesia, but he wasn't sure why or how the neck injections could have caused this. He referred me to a specialist and said since I haven't lost any bladder or bowel control it was probably nothing serious and just an odd side effect. He said if anything else happens or if things get worse go back to the ER. Well, the next day my feet were numb. I shrugged it off for a day until they were so numb I couldn't feel them. My hands started to get numb as well, but not to the extent of my feet. I went back to the ER again! This time I was embarrassed because it was the third doctor I was going to and I was sure they would all think I was crazy. The doctor basically said the same thing. Even though my symptoms were worsening that I should wait to see a specialist.
So the day finally comes to see the specialist and I am happy to get some answers! He didn't tell me exactly in medical terms what he thought happened... he said something about the needle hitting the wrong area and possibly hitting my spine and causing nerve damage. He also said this is quite rare to happen and that there was probably an 80% chance it would go away. He said to wait a month and if it hasn't gone away to see my family doctor and get referred to a neurologist. So I left feeling relieved and not so crazy for being worried. The next couple days along with numbness in my hands and feet, it now feels like needles are constantly being jabbed into my feet and hands. The feet are way worse than the hands. They also burn. This feeling does not go away at any point in the day. It's driving me insane. It feels like my hands and feet are constantly asleep, but more intense. I can't bring myself to go to a doctor for the fourth time for them to say the same thing to me. Maybe I am being crazy and paranoid, I'm not sure. I guess I'm writing to see if anyone has ever heard of any similar cases of neck injections causing nerve damage. I can't find anything online which is leading me to think this is just some weird thing happening to me and I shouldn't worry so much.
Also I forgot to mention one of the doctors tried to prescribe my lyrica (SP?) but the side effects seemed to great to bother.
He also told me that any time needles are done he in the neck it should be done with an image device so they can see exactly where the needles are going. He said this was dangerous to do and he's suprised the doctor would put 6 shots in my neck without properly being able to see where they were going.
Anyway sorry for the rant. I'm really hoping womeojI can shed some light on what's happening to me or have a similar experience they could share!
0 likes, 12 replies
maria67190
Posted
jodie39832 maria67190
Posted
Maria, I'm so sorry but you need an MRI. If the needles were anywhere near your spine, you may have arachnoiditis. Get a referral to an MRI asap. So sorry.
jodie39832 maria67190
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Maria, one more thing - its best not to wait. There's a protocol that you can go on that can halt the progression. As you've had such a wide area affected, you need to reduce the inflammation as soon as possible. Dr Tennant has a protocol for this. Best of luck.
maria67190 jodie39832
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Thank you for the information! I don't know if I can just request an MRI. I mean I've been to so many doctors already and none of them will refer me for an MRI because they say it'll heal on its own. It's only been a few weeks and none of them seem to think that's long enough to worry yet. They are probably right but I can't help but be worried since I've had no relief of symptoms yet... but I guess nerve damage may take a long time to heal. I'm not very old, only 26. I think that might have something to do with why they aren't taking me seriously. I also have a history of mental health problems. I may be paranoid but I feel sometimes when doctors see that in your chart they may just shrug off symptoms as paranoia or anxiety. I know some doctors do this because when I was getting a consult with the doctor who did the injections I had to tell him the medications I was on. When I told him the anti depressants I was on he said "wow, you don't look crazy." I didn't know crazy had a look. I feel like I'm being failed by the doctors. Good thing about Canadian health care is you don't have to pay... but you wait months sometimes even more than a year to see specialists. And doctors are very reluctant to schedule costly procedures like MRIs.
becazican maria67190
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Maria. I've always heard when nerves start healing they start with that pin and needle feeling. Like when they are asleep from you pressing on them. After you stop pressing on them they get that pin and needle effect shicj is a good sign. Feel better
maria67190 becazican
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becazican maria67190
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That I really don't know but usually any feeling after numbness means the nerves are waking up
maria67190 becazican
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Well that's good news! Any idea how long nerve damage usually takes to heal? From what I've read online it can take up to a few months. That seems awfully long for a stupid mistake a doctor made. Just can't imagine feeling like this for months and having no relief! I guess I can only hope it'll resolve it's self in a couple weeks
Peonygirl1 maria67190
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Maria, you need to deal with this issue very seriously. You should see a neurologist right away, I think their knowledge skills will be your best bet for a healthy outcome. Nerves damage is a tricky issue, I have nerve damage and the nerves are not going to heal. I live with chronic pain daily and I am on opiates for helping me lead a somewhat normal life. Do Not Let Drs Tell You It Is In Your Head!!! Your body is telling you it is in trouble and needs help. Maria you might want to get assertive with your Drs as this could influence your well being. Drs are required to care for you and you must give yourself permission to demand a better understanding of your issues. The tingling, pins and needles are signs of nerve damage and I have these feelings 24/7. In my case it is not a sign of healing at all, it is indicative of nerve damage. I write to caution you and in hopes that you will have a terrific outcome! It is ok to be scared, it is not ok to be embarrassed. You have done nothing wrong, you are simply dealing with your health and your Drs owe you respect and continued support. There is no shame in having anxiety issues, they are part of life!! So no guilt there at all. Best of luck and please consider a neurologist! 🌷🕊🦋
maria67190 Peonygirl1
Posted
Thank you for your reply! I will call my family doctor and see if she will see me. I called the other day and the next appointment was two months from now. I can try telling her I am worried and it's serious... but I'm sure she received the doctors charting that said I should wait and see what happens. Also I don't really have a diagnosis. The specialist told me what he's almost certain that happened. But again no MRI so I'm not 100% sure. Does nerve damage always show up on an MRI?
Also with your nerve damage did it spread to weird areas throughout the body? Why do I have no numbness/burning/pins and needles in the area or around the area that was actually damaged? Why would it be in my private areas and feet and hands and not my legs and arms? The body is strange. I would be so embarrassed if I made such a big fuss over this and the specialist I went to was wrong and it's not nerve damage!
Peonygirl1 maria67190
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Hi Marie, I am an old duck and I am going to advise you as I would my own children/grandchildren. First, I want to address your last statement about being embarrassed if the specialist said nerve damage is not the issue. In your mind you are thinking of this as if it is about being right or wrong!! No, this about approaching your health issues as an ADULT. You must find your adult self and know that this is simply looking and trying to solve the health issues/experiences you are experiencing. If you approach this with the attitude that because you are young you must not question or ask for help from the various kind of Drs that have better knowledge to serve you better is wrong or inappropriate is definetly going work against you. You and your Drs are partners trying to find the right diagnoises and the best approach for your pain issues. No apologies, no wrong doing just a truthful approach to get answers!! As to MRI I had several and they showed slips disc which does put pressure on nerves. This was thru a neurosurgeon. Eventually major surgery was needed and before the operation a nerve conduction test was ordered to determine the nerves involved and that test helped the surgeon decide how to approach the surgery. Wonder if you could call your Dr and ask for a referral to a neurologist.Just tell them the truth that you are concerned of long term disability and are asking for further diagnosis so you can protect yourself. If it were me I would also ask them to put this request in your file! This a healthy, reasonable approach that all people have a right to ask and expect. Think of this way, your are a mother and your child is experiencing these very same issues, would you be concerned if you are right or wrong, or would you be confident that you are seeking the best and every kind of help there is to offer. You would fight like crazy for your child. Fight like crazy for yourself. Nothing embarrassing about that, but everything smart about getting correct information in a timely fashion. I hope I have not overstepped my advise to you, I can only be honest with you as I know how to be. Again, best of luck Maria! 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🌈
becazican maria67190
Posted