Issues after cortisone injection in shoulder

[Monica19815]

In February, I had a cortisone shot for shoulder pain.  Had one some years ago and it worked wonderfully.  This one did not work. The pain actually seemed to move to a different place in my shoulder.  I am in PT for assumed bicep impingement.  In the week after my injection, I had diarrhea so bad that I lost 4 pounds in a week. I also started having severe nocturnal leg spasms.  And pain just under my right side ribs when lying down in bed and turning over (pain!!!).  The diarrhea abated a bit but is now back in full fashion. I keep the leg cramps at bay with 1 hour of compression massage before sleep.  I just feel so generally unwell.  I have to be really careful about what I eat now and it is hit and miss.  This all started with the cortisone injection.  Is it possible that a cortisone injection could have adversely affected my body in this way??  I have regular colonoscopies, recently had an internal ultrasound by my OBGYN, I have yearly bloodwork....all is good.  

[mkh9]

These are some possible side effects of a cortisone injection into the shoulder.
Pain and discomfort
Temporary facial flushing
Temporary increase in blood sugar
Temporary flare of pain and inflammation, also called a cortisone flare
Joint infection
Cartilage damage
Death of nearby bone
Tendon rupture or weakening
Lightening or whitening of the skin at the injection site
Osteoporosis
Frequency of Cortisone Shots
You may request for a cortisone injection if your joint pain returns after a few months or week. Typically, patients are restricted from getting more than 3 cortisone shots in a year. With that said, you should speak with your doctor regarding your particular situation. They will be able to explain your options and the best treatment combinations that would work in your condition.

Cortisone Shot Preparation
Cortisone injections can cause bruising and bleeding. It’s necessary that you don’t take any blood thinners for several days before the appointment. This includes dietary supplements which may have a blood thinning effect. You should speak with your doctor regarding the supplements or medications you should avoid. Pertaining to this, let the doctor know if you had a temperature of 100.4 F or above in the past 2 weeks.

Getting a Cortisone Shot in the Shoulder
The doctor will position your shoulder in a way to make it easy and comfortable to get the shot. The injection site will be cleaned and sprayed with a topical anesthetic. The doctor may use fluoroscopy or another digital imaging technique for watching the needle’s progress and placing it in the right spot.

You will be given the corticosteroid medication once the injection site is received. An anesthetic is usually mixed with the medication for providing immediate pain relief and to deal with any potential cortisone flare up. You will be sent home to recover once the injection has been given.

Expectations Following a Cortisone Injection
Some patients notice a reduction in pain after a few hours while for others it may take up to 7 days. Severity of pain determines how soon the injections work. Chronic shoulder pain may require several weeks for continued relief. Patients that received an anesthetic with the cortisone shot may experience numbness for at least 24 hours.

This info above was from a Google search.
Generally in my experience and reading you usually do not get gastric or stomach problems like stomach pain or diarrhea.  
Did you call the doctor after this happened?
mkh9