Question
Hi Margot,
I hope you can help me here. My fiance and I were in a car accident last year and he is currently getting a series of cortisone shots in his lower left side of his spine (4 spots, 3 shots in each spot so a total of 12 shots a session). He had his 2nd session today and I noticed his face was lighter in certain areas of his face than others (he is African American and is very dark skinned). Earlier this evening, he stated that he cramped up really bad in his shoulders, back and legs the last time he had the shots done last month. What are side effects of cortisone shots so I can know if this is normal and if it is, what can I do to help him ease up the cramping. It was so bad tonight that he was balled up crying! This treatment I thought was supposed to help ease his pain, these past two times it seems like it is making it worse!  We have had MRI's, x-rays, physical therapy and this was the 'next step' as far as his Navy doctor suggested. The MRI's showed two herniated disks so we knew he needed help. The doctor giving him the shots diagnosed him having degenerative lumbar spinal syndrome but with him being in more pain than normal, I am not sure if he is diagnosing him correctly and if he is do we just sit back and wait for him to eventually feel better? I just want to know what the possible side effects are AND what other avenues of treatment can he take because watching him in pain EVERYDAY is hard on us both and on our relationship.
I hope you can help,
Tiffany

Answer
Hi Tiffany,
I saw your question in our question pool and thought I might be able to help.
A doctor, who is an intervention pain management doctor, I talked to recently said that if the first few steroid shots don't work (or even make it worse) then it is unlikely additional shots will help. The main thing steroid shots do is reduce inflammation, which in turn reduces pain. Your fiance probably needs the problem fixed, if possible. Have your fiance talk to a neurosurgeon. The neurosurgeon may be able to go in and remove the herniations protruding from the disk that may be putting pressure on nerves.
I do want to warn you about a procedure that may be suggested (most neurosurgeons WONT suggest it though) called an IDEPT (I don't remember what it stands for) procedure. A lot of doctors that push this procedure wont tell you that there is a risk of totally destroying the disc. About 3/4 of the people I have talked to that has had this procedure were much worse off than they were before the procedure. I myself am one of those that are much worse off. The doctor who did my IDEPT not only destroyed the disc but ignored my complaints of increased pain and accused me of still claiming to have pain to get pain medicine. 6 months later a neurosurgeon found that the disc had been destroyed during the IDEPT procedure and during the 6 months after the procedure, before the disc was removed, had actually caused damage to the disc space that could not be repaired.

Ok, there are several things that might be able to help. Heat, such as a hot bath or a heating pad may help. The doctor may be able to prescribe a muscle relaxer (such as Flexeril) that may help with the muscle cramps. The doctor can also prescribe some type of pain medicine.
I wish you the best of luck
Tracy