Headache after steroid injection

[thac468]

I got a headache in the evening after having a steroid injection in the morning.  This also happened to me when I got a steroid injection a little over a year ago.  The headache is quite severe and I normally do not ever get headaches because I have high blood pressure and I take atenolol.   I've inquired about the side effects of a steroid injection and once I did see that high blood pressure can be affected.  Any answers?

[kamoons]

I had steroid injections in my spine about every 3 - 4 months for over 10 years.  Then I started getting injections in my knees for a year.  After that I would have 5 - 7 days migraines after any steroid injection.  The doctors didn't think it could be from the steroids.  My family doctor had me take a migraine med an hour before the injections but although it blurred the edge of the pain, I was still in bed for 5 - 7 days.  I finally had an ortho dr who also had one patient with this happening.  I've stopped the shots (they stopped working).  Stopped having migraines.  Thursday night I had to take a 32 mg steroid pill at bedtime and another 2 hours before a cat scan as I'm allergic to shellfish and they had to use iodine. (I had never had a reaction with the pills even when I took the pack for days.)  On the way home from the procedure the migraines started.  Is there an alternative to steroids?

[14guitar]

My exsperience is-I always get a raging migraine and flushed face after my trigger point injections too. Found that x strength tylenol, 0.5 mg of alprazolam, and ice on my head helps ME get through it the best. The steroid shots seem to cause temporary anxiety, fast heartbeat for me. But after a couple days headache subsides, and it helps relieve pain some in trigger points around spine. Relief last about 2 weeks.

[Myrockjc]

I too use ice on my head and take 0.5 of Xanax as well! I too get horrible headaches after injections! It seems to be getting worse the older I get!

[MzBeverly]

From research, I found out that if you have this headache more than 2 days, it can be a indication of steroid leakage from injection site into your system.

[MaryBWad]

What should I do or take?

[Kesem]

How long does the pain from leakage from injection last?

[Dr_Aparna]

Hi,
Corticosteroids (cortisone-like medicines) are used to provide relief for inflamed areas of the body. They lessen swelling, redness, itching, and allergic reactions. They are often used as part of the treatment for a number of different diseases, such as severe allergies or skin problems, asthma, or arthritis.
Typical mineralocorticoid side effects are hypertension (abnormally high blood pressure), hypokalemia (low potassium levels in the blood), hypernatremia (high sodium levels in the blood) without causing peripheral edema, metabolic alkalosis and connective tissue weakness.
ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corticosteroids
High BP can cause the head ache you are having especially since you already have BP problems.

[hairdr56]

I have had 3 cortisone injections over the years, one as recent as yesterday. I had severe headaches with each. I could feel every heartbeat in the top of my head. I would finally have to go to sleep and hope it would go away. I tell my Dr...he says there's not anything in the shot to cause headaches. I'm puzzled.