Good Morning.
About corticosteroid injections. I now have in my possession the reported adverse reactions to the steroid Kenalog. My husband was injected with this in January of 2003. If you are thinking about getting them please ask for the physicians insert that should come with every bottle of this. There are so many side effects that when the company faxed it to me there were ten pages. Do research before hand. These doctors are only in this as a money maker.
Kenalog and Depo Medrol ARE NOT approved by the FDA to be administered intrathecally or epidurally. When talking to the company Apothecon a sister company to Bristol Meyers Squibb who makes Kenalog the technical assistant was very plain that they do not advise this to be used this way. But who knows what the reps for this company are telling these doctors who have probably not even read the whole insert. Please sign no consent form without inquiring about the insert. It may make them mad but it really is in your best interest. Thanks for listening.
I am talking from experience.
Deb

In the case of my husband's injections they used Kenalog 40 along with Marcaine and Sensorcaine,numbing agent under flouroscopy. Kenalog is a corticosteroid. Not advised to be used epidurally or intrathecally. Or mixed with any other drug.I have had to go to the 'Freedom Of Information Act to get the adverse effects that I think my husband had.He had a spontaneous fracture of L1 and Burst fracture of T12.No trauma at all. Out of 958 reported cases there were 4 cases of spinal fracture. This is just the reported cases by consumews, companys and doctors. Who knows how many have not even been thought about as the cause of their problem." As it could all be in your head."
This shattering of L1 caused him to be paralysed, but now after 9 months we have gotten on with partial paralysis. He is finally on his feet but looks like a toddler. Can you imagine a 6 foot toddler? But Hey I think it is great. One of the side effects of the Kenalog is Spontaneous fracture. And that is what happened to him. If I had only done the research before, but you would think that a prominent pain management in Houston Texas would do things right? Either they didn't do enough research or the way I figure it is easy money very fast. For a series of three injections our insurance company was charged over $11,000.00.Something is terrible wrong with this picture.
I can get no Lawyer to look at this as it seems they are in each others pocket. I am thinking that this could eventually become a class action suit, as I know of one person who was injected that was awarded a settlement, but is now being appealled. So if there is one expert witness that put himself on the line for her, then he would surely do it for others if he hasn't been paid off yet, by the pharmaceutical company's.
Sorry didn't mean to get going so strong this morning. Just a few things for ya'll to think about. I would gert my medical records just to have them.Who knows what could happen to them.
Deb