There are numerous potential side effects associated with these natural steroids including: hyperglycemia , insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, cataract, anxiety, depression, arthritis, joint deterioration, mood swings, irritability, colitis, hypertension, ictus, erectile dysfunction, hypogonasim, hypothyroidism, amenorrhoea, retinopathy, steroid psychosis, etc.

Corticosteroids have been associated with a few birth defects per 1000 pregnant women treated with them, so they should not be used during pregnancy.

This said, in an emergency situation where severe Carpal Tunnel Pain is causing intense stress with which the patient is having trouble coping, then it would be appropriate to seek a Corticosteroid Injection for short term relief from the symptoms of this uncomfortable syndrome.

Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory agents and are effective in reducing pain due to inflammation. Patients report differing responses to these steroid injections. The steroid is injected in the Carpal Tunnel area on the palm side at the base of the hand. The success rate is around 50% to 60% of the patient population suffering with Carpal Tunnel. Usually the symptoms will go into remission for two to three months when the injections are effective.

Some people report severe pain from the injection and say they would never allow it to be performed again. Others say there is no more pain than any other injection they have received, such as an ordinary immunization.   Some get no relief at all from the injection. Some get complete relief from the syndrome for up to six months after the shot. Once again people have differing response to this intense therapeutic action as they do with most Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatments.

Medical text books suggest that a person should not have more than two Corticosteroids in any one joint over a lifetime.   So, at best, for a chronic syndrome like Carpal Tunnel, steroid injections represent a temporary emergency treatment for people who are suffering intense discomfort and cannot cope with the situation any longer.

Learn More about Carpal Tunnel Treatment from Doctors

 
While Corticosteroids are synthetic drugs made to closely resemble cortisol, a natural occurring hormone that your body produces in your adrenal glands naturally – The level of steroid in a treatment injection for Carpal Tunnel Treatment is over 1000 times the level of cortisol that the body produces naturally.

In animal studies medical researchers have found that injections of corticosteroids can lead to deterioration of soft tissue in the joint where it is being injected when it is repeatedly exposed. So, medical text books have drawn the line at 2 injections per joint. Steroid injections are only temporary stop-gap treatments that are effective to give the patient time to find a long-term solution or natural treatment that they can depend upon.

Some physicians offer Prednisone (another steroid) in pills to mitigate Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. The doctors at First Hand Medical suggest that patients stay away from oral pain medical for the treatment of a chronic syndrome like Carpal Tunnel.

There are too many side effects with serious complications for long-term use of Prednisone orally or Corticosteroid Injections. These should only be used in an emergency for a short time period of less than 2 months.

The possibility of side effects depends on many factors including the dose levels, the type of steroid being applied, and length of treatment and or the frequency of treatment. Some side effects are more serious than others.

Common side effects of steroid treatment include:

• Increased appetite, weight gain (bad for Carpal Tunnel and your overall health)
• Nervousness, restlessness
• Irritability and Sudden unexplainable mood swings
• Muscle loss and Muscle weakness
• Blurred vision – Cataracts or glaucoma
• Increased growth of body hair
• Lower Immunity to disease
• Lower resistance to infection
• Swollen, “puffy” face or round face syndrome
• Acne and skin disorders
• Osteoporosis – weakening bones and joints
• Aggravation of diabetes
• Increased Blood Pressure Measurements
• Upset Stomach
• Bloating Digestive System
• Sleep interruption – irregular sleep patterns
• Difficulty getting sufficient REM sleep
• Water retention, swelling
• Easy Bruising