Orthopedics Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Injuries Forum - Feet Bursa_cortizone Injection_serious Complications?
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Feet Bursa_cortizone Injection_serious Complications?

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Medical Questions-> Health Forums -> Orthopedics Hip, Knee, and Shoulder Injuries -> Feet Bursa_cortizone Injection_serious Complications?
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zakaro

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 23 Mar 2005
Posts: 1
Feet Bursa_cortizone Injection_serious Complications?
Posted: 03-23-05 17:30pm

Hello,

if someone can please help.... I have inflamed heel bursas on my calcaneous (dont know if they are anterior, posterior - or both. I had an xray done which ruled out heel spurs but showed a dint in the bone where the bursa is located at the back of the heel.

I am unfortunately currently in a third world country that apparently does not have feet specialists and after two incorrect diagnosises by completely incompetent orthopedic doctors I did the xray.

I have had pain in both heels for three months now and this developed after carrying excessive weight up steep rocky hills. I did not rest my feet enough and continued carrying weight up the hill once or twice a week. My running shoes which are a bit narrow at the heel may have contributed to the problem. 6 weeks after the original strain on my feet I develeped the pain heel upon rising in the morning or after periods of rest or after carrying any weight and or walking more than a couple of hours.

I think I also have slight plantar fascia but this has improved drastically with rest and hot/cold contrast foot baths. I am also using orthopedic inserts that have support for the plantar fascia and a soft heel. I do not have pain upon walking first thing in the morning anymore.

Since three months I have had pain upon touch on the bursa area - mainly at the back of the heel but also on the inside side of teh foot (about a cm or two away from the middle of the back of the foot).

Yesterday after the x-ray the doctor injected the back of my heels (possibly bursa area) with a couple shots of cortizone in each heel. Seconds later there was a large swelling (1/2 to 1 cm) on the area where he injected. He used cortizone and an anaestetic and he seemed to have to press very hard to inject into the area. I could walk afterwards and felt only numbnesss in my heels. About 45 minutes later the pain began. It was intense and seemed to affect my lower legs as well. My feet were hot and red and maybe swollen. I used cold on my feet and that took the heat away.

Since then I can not walk. Well, I can walk but I can only use my lower leg muscles lifting and placing my feet on the ground but not with the foot. Specifically, I can not use the muscles or tendons to lift my heels off the ground. I also can not lift my toes - or pull my toes towards me with the strength of my feet. It is as if I have lost my muscle strength.

I have done a couple of hot/cold feet baths and do not know if this is the correct thing to do.

Is it normal to have such a reaction to these cortizone shots? I am concerned that perhaps he filled the bursas too full of liquid and or injected into the tendons. Perhaps he injected into the muscles and nerves also?! Something feels very very wrong and he injected directly into the areas I showed him that were my painful spots on the feet. Perhaps I need to have the bursas drained. Or perhaps the cortizone will simply disolve (how long?) and my feet will again be normal. I have also read about risks of a ruptured tendon if the cortizone is injected into a tendon and do not know if I should completely stay off of my feet and for how long, stetch the calves and feet or?! I have absolutely no way to get correct information from any doctors in this country.

I can find no research on the internet of such a reaction of a cortizone injection. If anyone can please help I would be very grateful. Any advise and information please.

Many thanks
brenda
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wakkochic17

Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 01 Mar 2004
Posts: 494
Location: South Carolina

Posted: 03-24-05 22:34pm

I wish I knew what to tell you, but I have had two cortizone injections (one in the shoulder and one in the hip) and neither gave such a reaction. I wonder if they injected it wrong. I don't think you can inject "too much" but it may be that he hit something he shouldn't have(?) I don't know how common it is for people to have allergic reactions to cortisone. I have read that in some cases it can swell up but that it should go down within 36 hours.. Maybe just wait and see.
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44lori

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 2

Posted: 05-17-05 18:41pm

I have had three cortizone injections in my heel for plantar fasciitis. The first one was excruciatingly painful. I ended up in the hospital emergency room because I was passing out from the pain. I could not put any weight on the foot for a week after the injection and I had a limp for quite sometime after. However once the swelling came down, the heel felt much better. The two subsequent injections were not as painful. I think it was just a reaction to a new foregn substance in my body.
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