Increased hot flashes after steroid injection.

Women's health
1

I have a question. I am in menopause...had labs done which confirmed it. I've done well with hot flashes...having them mostly through the night and waking up a few times but no big sweats it anything.

Well...3 days ago I had a steroid injection in my shoulder joint. Since then the hot flashes have been horrible! Still mostly at night but way more intense and I am like a furnace most of the night. I wake up so many times through the night I barely get any sleep and my whole body is hot all over! Sweating now too but not soaking pajamas. During the day I'm pretty much ok....except if I eat chocolate. I hope this is just from the steroid...which I guess is adding more hormone to my system.

Has anyone else experienced this?

2

Bingo, you hit the nail on the head.  While we don't know what they put in, it is logical since there is an interplay between hormones that it has affected what estrogen you are still producing.  (Yep women in meno still have some)

This may be the answer as to why your hot flashes are worse.  Hopefully things will settle down soon.  

 

3

Thanks Gailannie...that's what I figured too!  Just when I was getting to a better point in this menopause journey...well, at least my shoulder doesn't hurt anymore...lol.

4

I had a steroid inject in my shoulder 8 months ago and I am premenopausal but it didn't cause hot flushes or night sweats. You should perhaps check with the doctor that you haven't got an infection from the injection.

5

Very typical for steroids!!! They give hot flashes to people wha are not even menopausal. Also, increase in anxiety, which is basically a hot flash.  The effect should dissipate with time.

6

Suki, menopause status can change things quite dramatically.  Your estrogen level in premenopause is probably strong enough to handle a lowered estrogen effect created by additional steriods.  But in menopause where levels are already very low, adrenal type steroids can further dampen/reduce the estrogen effect.    

7

You are right gailannie. I had my levels done a few months ago and my estradiol level was 6 which is pretty much non existent estrogen. If I had known the steroid shot would have caused these issues I would not have had it! I'm not sleeping well because I wake up so often and then I feel terrible throughout the day. It seems like I hit a wall mid afternoon until about 8-9 pm and then I get my energy back. I have a gyne appointment tomorrow to go over the test results and options for me and will surely tell her that I had the shot!....that is if the weather cooperates...I am in Georgia and expecting hurricane Irma to knock on my door soon!

8

Thank you Anetta. I was wondering why my anxiety levels have been increased. I can't wait for it to subside!

9

Steroid meds affect the adrenal gland, which is responsible for creating the surges of adrenaline known as hot flash.They supress the gland and its function needs to be restored over time. It might take a while.

10

Yes... I was starting to be in a decent place on this menopause journey until I had a steroid injection today. I have since been getting really hot flushes which I thought I was over. Kinda figured the injection had something to do with it and jumped on here to confirm.  I hope it settles soon.

11

Oh sad how long is a while ..

12

I had the pre menopausal as well with no affect. I have now had them while in menspause and now have the return of very hot flushes and sweats. 

13

Hello, I have been desperately searching for others with steroid hot flashes! I am post menopausal and hypothyroid.

I have been getting steroid injections in my knee for 4 years and always have hot flashes beginning within an hour and subside after a few days. I injured the knee and had an injection on 10/30 and on 11/30. Since the second injection I have had 24/7 hot flashes....it's horrible. I had discontinued my estriodal and had no hot flashes in September. I had been taking it for 5 years and was glad to stop. Have I totally screwed up my system? I am also getting my 3rd synvisc injection Monday and that even makes them intensify. Any ideas? I need the synvisc to avoid a knee replacement this summer. Can they check my estrogen to see if I need to restart the hormones or is there no cure? I honestly cannot tolerate waking up every 30 minutes from the heat and then freezing. I have charted it and it really is every 30 minutes all day. Any suggestions?

14

Yes I’m experiencing  something similar. Between 2015 to present i took steroid injections on three different occasions. In 2015 I injured my shoulder and I had to take a steroid shot in my shoulder prior to me receiving physical therapy. The shot took the pain away completely but I started to experience hot flashes and irregular menstral cycle. In June of 2017 I  re-injured the same shoulder which lead to another shot then therapy followed. The symptoms continued hot flash, irregular menstrals and then the worst happened. I stop seeing my menstral completely till present. I received another steroid shot on the 6 of April 2018 in my knee for degenerative tendonosis in my right knee.  I saw my Obgyn and got some blood work done. I got my lab results back  and sadly at 38 years of age I’m post menopausal. I am devastated from this. I’m not sure if the injections could be the cause of me being post menopause. I need some answers!!! 😞

15

I had a steroid injection in my knee last Thursday.  Last night experienced my first ever night sweat.  I am 52. I went to Cvs today and purchased Menstrual Support by Cvs .  I have been dizzy, nauseous, hot and cold but my knee feels good.  I have not had blood work done as I am going to my gynecologist in July.   I just hope the supplement helps me feel better.  Thank you ladies for posting your reactions. 

16

I am so sorry.  I have had the hylauronic injections which are made from chicken combs.  Non steroidal. They work depending on your condition.  Have your thyroid checked.  Steroids affect the thyroid. 

17

Hi. One thing that did really help when I had a single shot was to take 2 benadryl right before the injection. Then I would take 2 more in the evening and that really helped. The times I didn't take benadryl were much worse. That's so young to be post-menopausal. I hope you feel better.

18

Thanks for bringing up the topic and hope all is well for you now.

I'd appreciate any advice. I got a Depo Medrol corti shot in both January and late April for bouts of bronchitis and allergies. This second one immediately caused some hives, then instant strong anxiety, then headaches. It has gone one for months....headaches subsided but were replaced with purpura spots and bad night sweats every night for about a month. Anxiety is still bad and on xanax, but needless to say, I have gone on long enough with that.

Since this all seems very hormone related, I assume it has just thrown hormones and/or adrenals totally out of whack, but it has been almost 4 months now! Does anyone think bioidentical progesterone cream or maybe Holy Basil might help straighten things out? I can't go on like this....it is truly been pretty incapacitating all summer.

BTW, I am postmenopausal, 62 years old. I actually had one of these same shots before menopause many years ago, and it caused me to spot for six months (although the doctor said he'd never heard of such a thing, of course, like they always say.) It also left a dent in my hip. Swore I'd never get one again, but was so sick this past winter that they talked me into it....and now I pay the price!

19

OMG I want to thank you. I'm going to try the Benadryl tonight. Averaging about 30 hot flashes throughout the day and night. I have lupus and I am in a horrible flare up. The doctor gave me a mega dose of steroids.

20

hi annetta94 i was just getting stable on my oedtradiol replacement. since i had a steroid injection just over 2 weeks ago my symptons have gradually returned. They started up 2 days after it. First i got the anxious tummy feeling back then chills and now hot flushes. i had my levels checked after this injection which was on 31stvJsnuary. on 14th feb my oestradiol was 619 nmol . i had bedn on 1.5mg Sandrena gel for 10 weeks after my Dr increaed it from 1mg as my level was only 112 after 3 months. im 69 and started estrogen gel in Augudt last year as pfizer jab brought back menopause symptoms as above with a vengeance Has the steroid injection affected the balance of how my oestrogen is working? Has it caused my cortisol to be dominant now? will this last long?