Bipolar and steroid injections

I'm seeing a neurosurgeon for an extreme lumbar injury. I read that steroids can induce mania!!?? Has anyone had steroid treatment who is prone to mania or psychosis? I've had the hip shots. But I think these will be a higher level and I'll probably need them more than once.

There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.

Erma Bombeck

i haven't heard that. your would have to know the accuracy of where you are reading the information. is it a reliable source? a medical journal is a reliable source. the mayo clinic is a reliable source. Wikipedia is not.

I don't base my information on Wikipedia.

http://www.currentpsychiatry.com/hom...b255060bc.html

There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.

Erma Bombeck

The highest risk is from taking long-term low dose steroid pills. There are a lot of other really bad side effects, too, but mental and emotional problems can occur that can be quite severe.

I have a rheumatological disorder where the recommended treatment is taking low-dose steroid pills for one-three years. I can't bring myself to do it. 85% of the time, the symptoms are just serious pain and stiffness. That's what I have. 15% of the time, there's a complication that can be fatal. My doctor and I decided together that I wouldn't take long-term steroids unless it was to save my life.

So, in the meantime, I take a 5 day course of pills 2-3 times per year, when the pain gets too bad. I also get steroid shots in various body parts when the pain is localized and severe.

The 5 day course of pills gives me some emotional symptoms. I feel more irritable and less patient. But I really don't know if that's from the pills themselves or what I'm taking the pills for -- serious pain.

Within two days after stopping the pills, I'm back to myself. There are no long-lasting emotional side effects for me. Maybe I've been lucky. I don't know.

I have never had any emotional symptoms at all from steroid shots, which I've had in my shoulders, hips, bursa, spinal areas, sacroiliac joint area and both feet. I've also had long-acting steroid shots for severe allergic reactions. It's a lot of shots, but it's been a maximum of three a year.

My experience with shots has all been good. Some people report not so good experiences. But for me it's been a godsend. I hope it works for you.

Ugh ... I am one of the "special people" that go manic if I need steroid shot or pills. Needless to say I try to avoid at all cost , but sometimes there no option. The only way my pdoc , pcp and I have figured out is I take Haldol for 4-6 days after an injection or oral steroids.. It keeps me level .

I hope things work out for you

I don't have bipolar, but prednisone makes me psychotic and suicidal when I take it orally or by IV. (I've had to take it for an autoimmune disease.) However, if you're talking about steroid injections into a joint (I assume that's what you're talking about since you mentioned lumbar issues), those have never had that effect on me. I had five steroid injections in my lumbar spine and sacroiliac joint over the course of about 18 months with no side effects, and they did help a lot with my pain levels. I know that's just anecdotal, but I thought it might help.

That is a good idea, thank you.

There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.

Erma Bombeck

Geis

Oh my gosh that's horrible!

My Dr also told me back surgery has a 50% rate of reducing pain.

There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.

Erma Bombeck

Snake Charmer - im going to reread your post and ask you some ? On your profile page. Thanks so much for all the info ☺

There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.

Erma Bombeck

I'll be glad to answer any questions I can.