Allergic to cortisone shots???

[lala7189]

I have received cortisone shots in my left knee at least three times and by trigger point injections into my right shoulder once.  Whenever I have the shots in my knee, it literally swells up about 2 1/2 times its normal size and the pain is UNBEARABLE!!!  Eventually, I hear a pop and the pain eases and the swelling goes away.  When I received the trigger point injections in my shoulder, I had a little trouble breathing and felt like someone was sitting on my ribs for 2 or 3 days.  Has anyone else had this problem and do you know if it is an allergy???

[Dr Rajput]

Hi, welcome to the forum, from your history it suggests that you may be allergic to cortisone shots and are mediated by release of histamine in the body. Your body is known to hypersensitive to this drug.

Each individual are known to respond to a drug differently in drug allergy. If the drug is too much sensitized then it can cause more severe reaction. Swelling of the joint is quiet atypical response. Breathing difficulty explains the broncho constriction secondary to histamine release.

If drug allergy is suspected you need to discontinue the drug and report to your doctor immediately. In the future avoid further exposure to it as prevention is best. If it is a very necessary you can go for skin testing. Cross allergy is not much known with steroids. If it is reactive, you need to avoid it. I suggest you to consult a skin specialist or allergy specialist. Take care and regards.

[brittany5]

That's the actual side effect of cortisone. And btw, Cortisone eats the muscle tissue in your body, you should look into it before you go get another shot. It's actually worse for you in the long term!