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What Causes Severe Arm Pain And Reduced Movement After A Cortisone Shot?
Posted on
Thu, 26 Mar 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 26 Mar 2015
Answered on
Fri, 17 Apr 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : Hello Dr. Rynne, I hope you can shed some light on my case because I think I am in a bind.
12 days ago I got a cortisone shot in my right shoulder. I had received a shot two months earlier (same doctor), but I noticed that this time the shot was much more painful, delivery took longer and the doctor moved the needle around and seemed to inject in various different places before he extracted the needle. Although the anesthetic helped, things got really painful after its effects ran out and by the fourth day, I could barely move my arm due to extreme pain. After these 12 days, I am much worse than I ever was before I went to see the doctor and I am expected to see him in a couple of days for another shot. I am supposed to get two more of the a 3-shot series. I believe he may have actually caused some damage in there with the needle. I know doctors usaully cover for each other, but i want to know honestly what to do. Should I get the other shot/s? Should I change doctor? Can the cortisone shot actually cause damage to my shoulder and make it worse?
12 days ago I got a cortisone shot in my right shoulder. I had received a shot two months earlier (same doctor), but I noticed that this time the shot was much more painful, delivery took longer and the doctor moved the needle around and seemed to inject in various different places before he extracted the needle. Although the anesthetic helped, things got really painful after its effects ran out and by the fourth day, I could barely move my arm due to extreme pain. After these 12 days, I am much worse than I ever was before I went to see the doctor and I am expected to see him in a couple of days for another shot. I am supposed to get two more of the a 3-shot series. I believe he may have actually caused some damage in there with the needle. I know doctors usaully cover for each other, but i want to know honestly what to do. Should I get the other shot/s? Should I change doctor? Can the cortisone shot actually cause damage to my shoulder and make it worse?
Brief Answer:
Needle itself can cause the pain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The local cortisone shot in the shoulder is given to reduce the inflammation. The pain after the shot that you are having can happen due to some damage or mild bleeding inside the joint due to the shot. This pain usually subsides in few days with rest and icing the area. It is not likely to cause a long term damage. But it is best to wait for a few days and let the pain subside completely before going for the next shot in the series. A single shot is likely to reduce the inflammation in the shoulder for 4-6 weeks.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Needle itself can cause the pain.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
The local cortisone shot in the shoulder is given to reduce the inflammation. The pain after the shot that you are having can happen due to some damage or mild bleeding inside the joint due to the shot. This pain usually subsides in few days with rest and icing the area. It is not likely to cause a long term damage. But it is best to wait for a few days and let the pain subside completely before going for the next shot in the series. A single shot is likely to reduce the inflammation in the shoulder for 4-6 weeks.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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