Hello Cherry,
firstly I have not had this reaction, although I have had tendonitis.

My suggestion as a threapist would be NSAIDS (which you have no doubt tried), some kind of opiate (tramadol?) and perhaps EXTREMELY light massage (amost stroking, no kneading at all as you are inflammed), inactivity for the affected muscle groups and try to work out what caused it in the first this ; then stop doing it, or change your body mechanics whilst performing this/that/those action/s.

I cannot do a full consultation from here and your treating Drs will be best placed to advise you, but please take the inactvity and body mechanics part on board.

Depending on what type of Dr you saw/see, depends on whether they are qualified in this area to the same extent as myself (but of course THEY can examine you, so do what they say please).

Love Trev

Cherry,

Sorry about not posting a response, hon!!!

I've had steroid shots in my shoulder, for tendonitis from an overuse problem in the job I used to have in college--and I remember being barely able to move my arm for days; then, like you said; it was like, "ah, home free!!!" Yeah, right.

My reaction wasn't quite as severe. If you have the NSAID, I know we talked about it, to take it heck, with ibuprofen, I've had them write prescriptions in varying amounts; but the important thing is to take it twice a day if they say twice a day (even if it says "PRN" take it anyhow, daily--it offsets the inflammatory response).

Have you tried applying some heat? A wet towel, heated slowly to a comfortable temperature--then put it in a plastic sack; and then do it 20 on, 40 off (tempting to leave it on constantly, but this drops the temperature of the skin, the body sends blood to the area to increase it, and makes swelling/pain worse...plus risk-smaller with a towel-of burn with heating pads), and maybe a hot soak every couple hours.

I think you did say your doc had given you a muscle relaxer? (Btw, hon, I wanted to answer your post, and tried to--I'm getting my own butt kicked by my flare of the RSD & lupus at the same time; plus I think I mentioned my neck too...arh!!! But onward) It said three times a day, take it as often (but not more-too much of a good thing again!) as they tell you; usually most of them are three times a day. And of course, as Trev said, the light massage.

If all that has not worked, and you're not sleeping, I would say it's time to give the doc a call--weekend or not. They will have someone on-call. None will give you pain meds--idk if they'll have something up their sleeves or not we haven't posted here, but my guess, and it's probably the last thing you want to hear, but perhaps finding someone to take you to the ER.

I say that not lightly--myself, I detest them, but the local ER's here are horrid, wicked places, totally staffed with idiots--but it doesn't sound like they've been too miserable to you before. Just don't ASK for meds, but tell them, "Ya know, I am not even SLEEPING!!!!" And they're not gonna be blind--you sound miserable, and you sound in you post like you are; so sweetie, they'll be able to tell.

And if they examine you at all; it's going to be plainly obvious.

BUT GET YOUR BUTT BACK INSIDE AND LAY DOWN---THIS IS HOW YOU DID THIS!!!! AND DON'T TELL ME YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT I MEAN!!! Grrrrrrrr! lol, only cuz I luv ya!!!! I'm sorry hon, but self care is part of the deal!!!!!!!

Heal up soon!!!

GENTLE (non-painful) cyber hugs,
Jenna

Hi Jenna,
all excellent advice but I must ask - has a Dr told you to use heat for an inflammation?!

I am a therapist and usually one would use a cold compress as increasing blood flow to the area will increase the flammation.

Sports massage is not my particular area so I may be incorrect, but I did just check it in my books.

It's interesting to me personally also, as I have tendonitis in my hands etc, from excessive typing, not my massage work.

In the UK Naproxen sodium is usually prescribed as the active NSAID, but def agree ibuprofen is better than nothing in the meantime.

Love and peace,

Trev

Further to add, Jenna is perfectly correct - self care is part of the deal with this kind of thing!

Kindest thoughts and sympathy (just had to take more painkillers myself!).

Trev

hi there well i havent been on in a very long time but this post hit it right on the money i have had the same reaction after getting shots in my shoulders etc. each time i tried it i got the same reaction so now when they mention it to me i tell them no. cause it causes more pain than my inital pain. an the ones by mouth drive me crazy. i have no answers for you but if you find something out i would like to know an ill do the same. im limited to alot of steroids nsids anit-iflammorties cause i have really bad stomach issues ulcers etc along with other things. but anyway i just couldnt believe what i was reading because when i tell the docs or other people they look at me like im crazy.

I had a steriod shot in my shoulder (front and back). It hurt for days after. They told me to put ice on it, and take ibuprofin (which tears up my stomach).
I ended up resting that damn shoulder a lot. And, I called my other Doctor and got a prescription for Norco (pain pills).
After about 6 days the steriod shot started working its magic, and I stopped taking Norco.

I've had more of those shots than I can count for my tendinitis. Increased pain for the first few days, as you know, is normal. After that, I've always had either relief or nothing, just back to where it was. I'd call the Dr and just tell him whats going on. See what he says. By the way, I use heat for my tendinitis. My Dr's know I do. I know it's inflammation, and ice would be the logical choice, but ice doesnt help me, heat does.

This is the second time I've had adverse reation to steroid shots. Last year, I had trigger point injections in my back for Fibro. The next day, I had terrible pain, muscle spasms and even a headache. It lasted for more than a week...then no relief.

I never expected an even worse reaction from an injection in my shoulder! The spasms have eased, but the pain is the same.

No more for me!

Hugs,
Cherry

For some reason the steroids give me extreme insomnia and since I already have this problem a steroid shot is a complete nightmare.

I had a lumbar epidural and was up for 5 days straight. I thought I was truly going mad.

Wow...there's a good reason to avoid them, too!