Can painkillers cause swelling?

[hollie1586]

My mum has capsulitis and bursitis of her shoulder joint and had previously been taking ibuprofen and paracetamol at regular intervals everyday until she had a cortisone injection into the joint 3 weeks ago. She had noticed that one foot started to swell and for no apparent reason. She asked the doctor about it and she didn't seem concerned. Now since the injection has taken the pain away, she no longer takes painkillers and we have also noticed that the foot doesn't swell anymore so we were wondering if some painkillers can cause swelling?

[bednobs]

no

[Sqad]

I agree with bednobs.......the swelling of the foot is extremely unlikely to be due to the pain killers.

More likely due to an inflammatory process in the foot which has been relieved by the cortisone injection.

[hollie1586]

Wouldn't the cortisone just stay in the shoulder joint though, if I'm understanding correctly?!

[Sqad]

Possibly, but there would bound to be some leakage into the surrounding tissues and into the blood stream and hence throughout the body.