Steroid injections hindering weight loss?

kauaibaby · January 2012

This question is for anybody out there who may have experience or knowledge with spinal injections for arthritis. I am battling Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia. In August of 2011, I underwent a series of spinal injections. I also had injections in my elbow, shoulder, and achilles tendon. My weight went from 159lbs to 182lbs in 6 months time. My m.cycle was completely out of whack and my medical doctor said I had an overdose of steroids. She felt I would continue to see my weight climb through December 2011. I also had Remicade IV infusions last spring. I was so frustrated with all of my weight gain that I discontinued all of my arthritis medications. I joined the gym January 1st and I joined MFP. Even though I'm in severe pain daily, I suck it up and go to the gym anyway. I have been able to drop 12 pounds in the first few weeks but I'm now back up 2 pounds and can't get the scale to move. I purchased a fitbit and linked it with the MFP site. I have met or exceeded my fitness goal with my fitbit everyday. I eat very healthy food and I have consumed anywhere from 600 calories to 2,000 calories a day. I lost 90 pounds within a two year time period a couple of years ago; so I feel I know how many calories I can eat and how many I need to net in order for the scale to move downward. I just can't seem to figure out what more to do in order to flush these steroids out of my system. I drink 6 16.9 ounces of water a day. My family and I are going on vacation in Hawaii over spring break and I'm desperate to lose weight before this trip. Please accept me as a friend if you feel you can help me out. My doctors tell me to just keep waiting and keep doing what I'm doing and I'll eventually lose it. I can't wait for eventually anymore---I'm frustrated! Thanks for reading this and thanks for any advice anybody may be willing to share!

myopus · January 2012

Hi there. I don't have experience with this topic, but there are some groups that might benefit you. Under Community - Groups - search for "rheumatoid" and you'll see at least 1 group for RA, and then search for "fibromyalgia" and there are a few there.
Best of luck to you!

kauaibaby · January 2012

Thank you- I'll check that out!

bellawares · January 2012

I'm not an expert on this subject but I will let you know what helps me. Your diary looks really quite good but try cutting down on the processed foods as much as you can. Add more protein and add more greens to your diet. A great way to add greens is to drink 1 to 2 Green Smoothies a day. You will be amazed at how much this helps with your body's inflammation. If you have not read the book Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman M.D. or Green for Life by Victoria Boutenko I highly recommend reading them.

Here's a couple of links you can research.

http://www.rawfamily.com/

http://www.drfuhrman.com/

grannygethealthy1111 · January 2012

The most common side effect is pain – which is temporary. The other risk involve spinal puncture with headaches, infection, bleeding inside the Epidural space with nerve damage, worsening of symptoms etc. The other risks are related to the side effects of cortisone: These include weight gain, increase in blood sugar (mainly in diabetics), water retention, suppression of body’s own natural production of cortisone, etc.

LabRat529 · January 2012

Yes, steroid injections could be hindering your weight loss.

Unfortunately, you're not going to flush the steroids out of your system by drinking water. They just don't work that way. They're not water soluble. They have to be broken down by your body. You can't do anything to help that process.

This website might help you understand what probably happened: http://www.practicalpainmanagement.com/treatments/interventional/injections/understanding-potential-complications-epidural-steroid?page=0,0

The good news is, you're probably in the recovery phase from the injection, but weight loss might still be hard. You should be patient with yourself and with the process. Keep doing what you're doing and have faith that the scale will eventually move. (I guess that makes me the same as your doctors, doesn't it. I'm sorry

)

And have a heart to heart with that Dr. of yours. She should be doing more to help you. There ARE non-steroidal options for treating arthritis and fibromyalgia. She should be pursuing those with you. You do not have to be in constant pain.

ladyplaz · January 2012

I to have fibromyalgia. I also have asthma. I take inhaled steriods and get steriod shots. Remember going off your meds is going to cause inflamation. Inflamation is going to keep the scale from moving. According to my rheumotolgist yoga and the pool are some of the best things we can do. Good luck!:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

kauaibaby · January 2012

Thank you everyone for your help, I'm reading up on the links you sent me and will try to get more greens in to my diet. I appreciate your responses and respect all of your suggestions! I LOVE MFP!

JenniferInNY · January 2012

Hi Kauai Baby,

I have been on oral steroids because I have Crohn's disease, another autoimmune disease. It sounds like you usually take steroid shots, which tend not to cause as much weight gain unless you overdose, but when you take steroids orally they do tend to cause dramatic steady weight gain (and not just when you overdose -- it's a normal side effect). These are some of the things my doctors suggest to keep my weight down on oral steroids, in case it's helpful:

1) It helps to severely limit sodium. Steroids cause electrolyte imbalances and water retention, and sodium increases this significantly. Water retention will make you gain weight and look bloated, especially around your torso, waist, wrists, ankles, and knees.

2) Steroids also increase hunger, unfortunately. There's not a lot you can do about this, but it helps me to be aware of it. I know when I'm on steroids that even though I might feel hungry, if I've already eaten enough calories for a normal person, I don't really need more food if I can manage to ignore the hunger.

3) Steroids can make you feel jittery and euphoric and disrupt your sleep cycles. For me, if I've been on oral steroids for a few months, I sometimes find myself awake at 3 AM, unable to sleep -- and eating in the night. :-(

4) Steroids can also make you more emotional. So if you're feeling more upset about your weight, or other things in your life, than you normally would -- it might be the steroids.

Hope this helps...good luck. I'm lucky not to be on steroids right now, so the extra pounds are going away more easily.

Steroid injections hindering weight loss?

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