headache & wooziness, 5 weeks after steroid injection

[Han1]

Hello lovely community 😊

Can you help?

About 5/6 weeks ago I had a steroid injection to help an RA flare, not for the first time…

I have been having a blinder of a headache for at least a week and a disconcerting dizzy woozy feeling. Has anyone else experienced this as the steroid is coming to an end?

I’ve had to resort to codeine, but nothing is really helping 😕

Any advice?

Thank you 😊 xx

[medway-lady]

We can’t give you medical advice and I’d urge you to contact your GP tomorrow. It might be just coincidence and best to be sure. I hop your feeling better soon.

[Han1 in reply to medway-lady]

ok, thank you for your reply 🙏😊

[TheBoys]

hi

Not how I’ve experienced a steroid shot at all - quite the reverse but it’s probably best to speak to your Dr when they open for business.

Good luck

[Han1 in reply to TheBoys]

thank you 😊

[helixhelix]

have yiu taken your temperatire? If it is raised phone your GP to orrow morning. (And if it’s not raised phone your GP anyway! )

[Han1 in reply to helixhelix]

thank you. Yes I’ve made an appointment for today to see Dr 🙏😊

[Runrig01]

I would see your gp urgently. Steroids interfere with the HPA axis which involves your own production of cortisol. When your natural cortisol is low you can get the symptoms you describe: headaches, lightheadedness, fatigue, nausea etc. I have severe adrenal insufficiency from steroids, it’s a serious Illness. Your GP will need to do an 8-9am blood cortisol to check your body is producing cortisol, your bodies natural steroid. Unfortunately it’s a side effect of steroids that is rarely discussed.

[Han1 in reply to Runrig01]

Good morning Runrig01, thank you so much for your reply. This makes a lot of sense to me as I had a hunch it was to do with the crossover from artificial cortisol and the body making its own again. It’s happened before that I’ve felt so rubbish at the end of steroid injections but this headache has been something else! 🙁

I’ve just booked an appointment to be seen today by gp. And a cranial osteopath appointment later on 🙏😊

I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been so affected on top of, presumably other conditions.

Thanks again 😊

[Runrig01 in reply to Han1]

your welcome, and hopefully your GP will agree to test your cortisol level. It should be over 400 at that time of the morning. Unfortunately I had a severe stroke due to an adrenal crisis, 3 weeks before my first endocrinology appointment. I was taking 4mg prednisolone at the time, as well as steroid inhalers. My levels were undetectable when tested and when injected with the hormone to stimulate production only went to 72, when it should have been over 500. 90% of my adrenal cortex is destroyed and I need steroids for life. However if AI is detected early enough, before atrophy it is possible to reverse it. Do it’s in their best interest to confirm your adrenal function is ok. I had dreadful headaches for months leading to diagnosis. I regularly have to use my injection as I suffer severe migraines with repeated vomiting, which risks another crisis. Please push for them to check cortisol. It is a very rare side effect, and gps knowledge of it is poor. I was my gps first patient, and he’s 60. Sadly rare doesn’t mean you can’t have it, and given your symptoms it needs excluding 🤗