13,000 Got Suspect Steroid Shots; Risk Uncertain

[Gracemary]

Or are the Doctors still doing the same injections? I am so glad that I did not get the injections in my neck. Two Doctors wanted to give them to me. I refused. It was in July & August. I am thankful that I listen to that little voice in my head.

[mrsD]

This article answers Dubious' question about other injection sites and risk:

http://news.yahoo.com/cdc-meningitis...201601881.html

Mentioned in this article is an ankle injection.

[mrsalkire]

So grateful it wasnt mine! Or in my state for that matter. Praying for those whose lives have been effected

[ginnie]

Thank you for the information about the injections. I have a friend in Chicago area, who had this shot in the time frame mentioned. Her family, and me,( a friend )are worried. she has no symptoms yet, or anything negative happening but she is also 83 years old and scared. The psychological worry this has caused is severe to many. Plenty of blame to go around, and I do hope this never happens again. ginnie

[eva5667faliure]

to all thank you for all the information
you all post so we can educate ourselves

i myself have had
2 steroid shots about 2 years
a disco gram
8 shots in total for that
then the myelogram 9-11-12
this is when 8cc of spinal fluid
was taken


someone who cares

[mrsD]

More bad news :

http://news.yahoo.com/fda-pharmacys-...190649992.html

As I feared, the facility had poor protocols, poor equipment, and
sloppy technique. With two more drugs now being considered tainted, it looks like a global problem there. Much of the time consumed in compounding injections is maintaining sterile technique. It is a huge job and full of responsibility, and cutting corners, or improperly trained employees just cannot be allowed!

[mrsD]

As I feared.... I am afraid this is only the tip of the iceberg and
previously those damaged were not caught or revealed soon enough:

http://news.yahoo.com/fungal-meningi...--finance.html

There were hints of looming trouble before the meningitis outbreak. The Boston Globe cited several employees who expressed concern about pressure to work fast and disregard of safety in the push to profit. At least one of the Ameridose employees, Ronnie Leger, made official complaints last year with the FDA and Occupational Safety and Health Administration and says he got fired for doing so, according to the Globe.

An FDA inspection in 2008 detected deficiencies at Ameridose, including shipping drugs prior to ensuring their sterility.

When elderly patients have strokes, die unexpectedly, etc they usually are not researched. I have to wonder how long this was actually going on at this compounding center. Most of the deaths so far involve elderly patients who developed strokes as a result of this infection.

[Gracemary]

The Doctors are still giving injections. Why? People are scared to death. With worry that they are going to get sick. Since they had the injections. Do the Doctors really care or is it just the cash their getting. I just don't get it. I hope everyone that had a injection are okay. God bless

[mrsD]

This article explains the "safety issues" involved with epidurals.

There has always been a risk with this route of treatment near the spine (CNS). Should the needle be placed imperfectly by just a tiny amount...the drug would pierce the dura and enter the CNS. The preservatives in the brand name are not FDA approved for use inside the spinal cord because animal experiments have shown damage.

So the doctors order the preservative free compounded product instead.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/n...eroid/1616653/

The brand name product comes with a dry powder that is mixed with a sterile diluent liquid before use. This takes time and care and I can see the premixed type from a compounding pharmacy would be easier, and the dosage would be already figured out and less errors would be likely. But preservative free means that extreme care must be taken. Most sterile products have preservatives in them to keep down the growth of any accidental organisms present.

SoluMedrol, comes in a preservative free version and is a brand name, and as such is much more expensive than the compounded types.
At the bottom of this link is a diagram of how to reconstitute the product with the diluent:
http://dailymed.nlm.nih.gov/dailymed...o.cfm?id=58932
When looking at this link, it is very apparent how complex this treatment really is.

This article explains the complications possible with epidural steroids:
http://www.apsf.org/newsletters/html...8_epidural.htm

[mrsD]

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/2...436/1409/rss36

more and more disturbing facts coming to light.

Horrifying!

http://news.yahoo.com/u-meningitis-o...062256456.html