scarring from steroid injections

charleeh
charleeh Member Posts: 173
edited 15. Feb 2013, 11:01 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hiya

I was wondering has anyone else had scarring from steroid injections (given in the bottom?) - sorry can't think of a better term :lol:

I had been having steroid injections without any problems for about 4 years (during flares) and then the last two I had left rather large deep scars that are sort of impressed about half an inch deep and about an inch across.

I told my nurse I won't have any more as the scars are really noticeable and the nurse and Doc both agreed.

I just wondered if anyone else has had a similar problem?? .... I am fine with IV steroids?

Best wishes Charleeh

Comments

  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,764
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Sorry, charlee, but no. I've had a fair few of these over the years but never noticed any scars.

    I know this sounds a daft question but are you sure yours came from steroid jabs? After all, it's only an injection. I don't understand how a needle can leave one of those dimensions.

    Even if they are the culprits I'd never say never. Steroid jabs can be very useful things to get us over a bad patch.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,298
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Gosh Charlee no :(

    That's not good

    Love

    Toni xxx
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi charleeh
    I was told that you can sometimes get an abscess after having an injection, but it is quite rare...wounder if this is what has happened...x
    Love
    Barbara
  • toady
    toady Member Posts: 2,661
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi charleeh, I've got one of these, if it's any help to you. :) It wasn't an abscess, just a reaction/side effect of the steroid under the skin (is what I understand from googling) - reasonably rare apparently. Mine's like a largeish dimple effect, sunken in but not really like a scar as such, just a loss of fatty tissue I assume. It developed a while after I had the injection & presumably got larger until I noticed it, it settled at the size it is now. That seems to be what other people say, it's a delayed reaction thing.. there's some suggestion they might plump up a bit again with time? guess it depends.

    I had to have a few of these injections over time so I suppose I'm lucky I don't have half a dozen. I didn't mention it to my rheumatologist as I haven't needed any more jabs.

    Hope that helps.
  • charleeh
    charleeh Member Posts: 173
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    toady wrote:
    Hi charleeh, I've got one of these, if it's any help to you. :) It wasn't an abscess, just a reaction/side effect of the steroid under the skin (is what I understand from googling) - reasonably rare apparently. Mine's like a largeish dimple effect, sunken in but not really like a scar as such, just a loss of fatty tissue I assume. It developed a while after I had the injection & presumably got larger until I noticed it, it settled at the size it is now. That seems to be what other people say, it's a delayed reaction thing.. there's some suggestion they might plump up a bit again with time? guess it depends.

    I had to have a few of these injections over time so I suppose I'm lucky I don't have half a dozen. I didn't mention it to my rheumatologist as I haven't needed any more jabs.

    Hope that helps.


    Hiya,

    Yes this is what mine looks like. Mine happened as a delayed reaction too (a couple of weeks after). Both are sunken in and have white-ish colours like a scar.

    I tried google searching stuff but I couldn't find anything - must be me typing the wrong things lol!

    Thanks so much for your reply! .... It's nice to know I am not the only one lol

    And thanks to everyone else who replied too!

    Best Wishes.

    Charleeh
  • lizzy100
    lizzy100 Member Posts: 235
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    they're striae/stretch marks and they go, just takes some weeks to fade. u can get them with oral steroids too, its a common side effect, esp stomach and hip/bum area.