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I Am To Get A Steroid Shot In My Spine
Posted on
Tue, 23 Oct 2018
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Tue, 23 Oct 2018
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : I am to get a steroid shot in my spine Friday, 26th October. I overlooked in the instructions to avoid Tumeric for two weeks prior and have been taking Tumeric regularly. My question> is why is Tumeric a problem and should I advise the agency of my failure to follow instructions?
Brief Answer:
May increase risk of bleeding.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
While Turmeric doesn't interact with steroids and doesn't alter their effect, it is generally stopped before surgery and other medical procedures because it slows blood clotting, so it may result in a higher risk of bleeding. So that is why I think you were told to avoid it, in order to minimize bleeding risk.
That being said I think you should be safe if you interrupt it now. Two weeks is a somewhat arbitrary figure as for these natural products there are not many studies regarding absorption, duration of action and elimination from our body, so the two week figure has been put to be on the safe side, its effect is over probably much earlier than two weeks. So I would go ahead with the procedure in your case as it is a low risk procedure and after three days the effect on blood clotting should be minimal if any at all.
That being said it is a decision which should be made by the responsible doctor, so you should inform the agency, in particular given your age which in itself is an added risk factor for bleeding.
I remain at your disposal for other question.
May increase risk of bleeding.
Detailed Answer:
I read your question carefully and I understand your concern.
While Turmeric doesn't interact with steroids and doesn't alter their effect, it is generally stopped before surgery and other medical procedures because it slows blood clotting, so it may result in a higher risk of bleeding. So that is why I think you were told to avoid it, in order to minimize bleeding risk.
That being said I think you should be safe if you interrupt it now. Two weeks is a somewhat arbitrary figure as for these natural products there are not many studies regarding absorption, duration of action and elimination from our body, so the two week figure has been put to be on the safe side, its effect is over probably much earlier than two weeks. So I would go ahead with the procedure in your case as it is a low risk procedure and after three days the effect on blood clotting should be minimal if any at all.
That being said it is a decision which should be made by the responsible doctor, so you should inform the agency, in particular given your age which in itself is an added risk factor for bleeding.
I remain at your disposal for other question.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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