September 23 2008, 8:32 am PT | Posted in: Drugs (Cause Hair Loss)
Can epidural steroid injection in the lumbar spine cause hair loss?Thanks
I would not think that this would happen. The systemic dose of a single shot of steroid in the epidural space should not be high enough to impact your hair.
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It definitely can! A year and a half ago I had 3 intramuscular steroid injections in my lower back and a couple months later my hair started falling out by the handfulls. It quit just as fast as it started but it did last several months. New hair did come back in when it stopped falling out. Then in January my second doctor told me he wanted to try a series of 3 epidurals. I told him I was concerned about hair loss. He thought it would not affect it since the steroid would be staying in the spinal canal. Well, guess what?? Here it is June and my hair has been falling out starting the end of April and is continuing to fall out by the handfulls now. Hopefully it will stop soon and start regrowth. My dermatologist told me this is definitely a side effect to steroid injections and about the time you start freaking out about it because your hair is getting so thin, it seems to suddenly stop. Keep your fingers crossed!! I know I will never have another steroid injection again!
I thought I was molting!! I had a series of 3 epidural steroid injections into my neck within a period of 2 months. Shortly after I noticed my hair falling out by the hand fulls. I can’t imagine after seeing all that has come out that I could still have hair left!! I have hair down to the middle of my back. So much has fallen out that I am going to have it cut above the shoulders so it doesn’t look so thin!! Steroid injections definably can cause your hair to fall out…. and most likely it will!!! Hmmm blinding migraine headaches or no hair… decisions, decisions…
I’ve been so worried the past couple of weeks because my hair is falling out. I had 3 epidural steriod shots 4 months ago and it seemed as though I didnt lose any hair for several months. I had noticed this because I do (or did) have thick curly hair and it got thicker. But all of a sudden it started falling out and now everywhere I look I see my hair, in my purse, on my coat, my hands get tangled in it when I wash my hair, now it’s thinner than I’ve ever seen it. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow.
Does anyone know what can be done about this?
I had shots twice in my neck one in March, one in April, at the end of July my hair started falling out in frightening amounts. It is still falling out. The shots didn’t even help me at all but I think I got every side effect in the book. My menstrual was all out of wack and now my hair if falling out.
I had spinal surgery about 4 months ago, prior to that i also had 3 Epidural shots, my hair started falling out about 1 1/2 months ago. now I’ m undergoing another series of 3 shots and I’ m afraid i won’t have any hair left. i was always proud of my long healthy hair and now it diminished to probably half of what it was before. Unfortunately the pain is too intense to be able to stop the shots. From what i am reading it will eventually grow back.
I get epidural injections all the time-they save my life, I couldnt live with the pain I have all the time and yes I started to lose my hair also, it is everywhere in my house and when I am in the shower I pull it out in clumps. very sad.but i guess when we are in pain and dont want to be all drugged up on pain meds this is what i have to do. best of luck to you all
I’ve always been blessed with a full head of thick hair. This past September 29th and October 20th, I had transforminal epidural steroid injections in my lower back to alleviate pains in my left leg caused by two bulging discs. After the first set of two shots, I noticed my hair was falling out in globs everytime I washed/conditioned it. Strands of my hair were all over my home, car, clothes, purse, workplace. I went to my primary care doctor then to a dermatologist. Both doctors requested blood work, checking for different diagnoses. All tests came back normal. The dermatologist determined I have telogen effluvium. I firmly believe the steroid shots caused my extreme hair loss. It is especially thin on top of my head. I’m now using Rogaine and pray my hair will come back to the way it always has been. I never thought I’d be experiencing this being my hair has always been so thick. The texture feels completely different; very dry and unruly. I’d much rather suffer w/leg pain than to get those shots again.
I have been gettting the ESI’s since May of last year and I can not stop due to pain. To continue the proof. Yes my hair falls out by the handfulls. Especially when I wash it. Guess I will have to deal with it because I can not take the pain. I have also lost almost 40 pounds since then? Has anyone else lost weight like that?
I experienced the exact same thing as others after cortisone shot in my low back. It didn’t happen with the first few shots, just the last time - flushing of my skin (like hot flashes), hair falling out by the handful, and menstrual cycle went seriously out of whack with several weeks of heavy bleeding followed by erratic spotting and bleeding heavy or light for several months. Your hair does grow back though. In spite of worsening back problems I will not have another cortisone injection no matter what - it is not as bad as the side effects.
It’s been nearly a year since my first steriod shots in my lower back. My hair continues to fall out, although not as badly. My dermatologist and hairdresser say what I’m experiencing is normal (I get the “losing 100 to 200 strands a day is normal” line from both). I hate washing and conditioning it cause of all the hair that comes out and only do so once a week (luckily, my hair is dry and not oily). Only used Rogaine for about 3 weeks. It made the top of my head feel weird. I don’t know why this happened, perhaps stress or it’s part of getting older, but I do know I will never get those steriod shots again! During a follow-up visit w/my ortho doc, he said hair loss IS a side effect after steriod shots! Good luck ladies, I feel your angst!
I had four shots for bulging discs at L3,4,5,S1 in a period of 4 months. My pain lessened and I felt pretty good. Then, as the pain began to creep back, my hair started to fall out… particularly when i washed my hair. My scalp was pink, itchy and spotted with red bumps. I was diagnosed with a variety of issues. Hormonal balding ( I am 53, going through menopause and have terrible hot flashes that make my scalp sweat,) low iron or ferritin levels and a systemic reaction to four epidural steroid injections. I not only have chronic sciatica pain going down my right buttock to toes, I’m losing my hair and feeling like a sad sack. I am taking iron sulfate with vitamin C. I am taking doxycycline as an anti-inflammatory and to fight possible staff from the folliculitis in my scalp. I wash my hair occasionally with a prescribed steroid shampoo but use Selsun Blue and Head and Shoulders conditioner with zinc most days. It’s a very strange phase of life. I can take a lot of the symptoms to a point but being an agin bald female in chronic pain is no fun. I try to do things that make me happy but it’s an everyday effort. I am lucky that my injury only left me in pain and not paralyzed or dead. So, I’m just taking each day as it comes. Get your blood tested, try alternative medicine if the steroid injections don’t work, stretch everyday, and remain optimistic. I know it’s hard. But, my dermatologist assured me that I wasn’t going to go bald. My regular doctor told me that I would lose my hair for a while and it would come back. Yet, it would take three or four months to self regulate. Good luck everyone!
After returning today from my doctor who had given me the 2nd series of epidural steroid injections to the neck and shoulders, I noticed my hair had suddenlty become much thinner, but only on top of my scull…i was not pulling out hair in clumps. Also, just prior to these neck injections, i had also received 3 epidural steriod injections in the spine’s lumber region for arthritis. Today, I was frieked out and then came to this chat blog for possible answers/solutions and to also share my experiences. By the way, I am a 59 yr. old male in fairly good health. Becasue I take no other medications for any health condition (i.e in the recent past, i even played contact ice hockey and football), I believe steroid injections have caused my hair loss.
Many thanks to all who provided me with emotional relief by suggesting your original hair eventually grows back adn this is good for me to know…i’m a vain person and the cost for my hair replacement is estimated at $15,000,000. Also, many thanks for the Rogaine recommedations. Is it sold in Toronto, Ontario, Canada…if so, where? Or perhaps nearby? Marc
Hi everyone and Happy New Year! My hair finally stopped coming out in droves! Sure, I still lose some stands when washing/conditioning it, but not as much now. It took me a little over a year to get my hair back on track. It’s not as thick as it used to be, but the thinness on top is filling in. I can finally resume looking at the back of my hair with a mirror again. I wouldn’t do it when it was so thin on my crown! Please don’t give up hope, your hair will come back.
Earlier this year, my dermatologist put me on Spironolactone 50 mg tablets (twice daily, but I only take one a day), which may be helping, I dunno. I didn’t care for Rogaine for Women cause it made my scalp feel weird and you haveta continue using it the rest of your life. If you stop using it after doing so for a long time, I was told your hair will come out again.
I know how disheartened you feel, but hang in there and try your best to overcome stress in your life. Stress causes hair loss - and losing your hair stresses you out; it’s a vicious cycle - as well as menopause (for us ladies) and especially those dang transforminal epidural steriod injections, which cost me so much $$$ out of pocket and only made me pain-free for about a month! Never again! I find stretching eases my leg pain now. Good luck and happy and healthy 2012 to all!
Back in August I received facet joint injections. Things appeared to be going well. They seemed to take the pain away and I did not notice any side effects until one day while car shopping with a friend. During our visit with the salesman she quietly let me know that my hair was falling different than usual. I paid little attention to it at the time. However, after a few weeks it was becoming evident that my hair was thinning. Then but I didn’t put it together with the steriod shot yet. So in 3 months I had another. This time the hair loss was much worse and it seemed to get worse as the pain came back about one month later. Now I am taking saw palmetto and applying Rogaine daily hoping my hair will hurry up and return. Right now it’s thin on top. So I do not plan to take anymore shots as a result unless of course I can not tolerate the pain but I will be seeking alternative methods such as anti-inflammatory supplements.
Well I had A 4 Wheeler to wreck my back i had the left siatic nerve pain so severe i opted for epidural shots i had two sets of 5 injections in august& sept 2011 i had a full head of silver hair and was always getting comments on my hair it was natural style,, i started loosing it by the hand fulls arouned by the last of dec 2011 it is now the 28th of Jan 2012 and it did not all come out but its 35% thinner it still has a tiny bit on each mornings comb or wash to fall out, i now hope it stops i feel like i was blessed to have such a head full of hair to start with but i personally will say this what ever you do that can help you be less pain free try any alternative other than Epidural shots they might provide temp relief but the hair loss is bad news i was told it will grow back i hope so but now im having to undergo neck and all the way down invasive surgery, i will never have any shots again its a waste of time& Money Plus the Pain Comes Back And the hair loss on top of that is to much to handle,, i recommend seek out a spine and joint center and go from there save the agony, of hair loss and wasted time.. Tom