Prednisolone and joint pain

[Lumo27]

Hi all, im currently on s weaning dose of pred, which ive been trying to get off for a long time now but my respiratory consultant wants to keep me on them until I'm seen at a specialist respiratory hospital, which is fine but I've been having severe joint pain particularly in my power limbs I.E hips, knees and ankles, during my last stay I had injections in my knees to reduce swelling and lessen the pain ir seemed to work for a while but now its back with a vengeance, I already take calcium supplements, adcal D3 and alendronic acid etc but I don't want to be taking painkillers everyday im 28 years old but feel about 90 I take plenty of medication as it is! I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience with joint pain and steroids and if there is any alternative to taking painkillers constantly?

Thank you

[MELNEL]

Hello Limo, yes I have to say that I suffered as well from pain in my legs when I took them more as a week. I had no swelling only that I got cramps when I was in bed, it was not really nice, I drank more water and took Magnesium to help and support my muscle function.

One of the major problems of using steroids such as prednisone is they cause muscle wasting and weakness when taken long term.

After only two days I didn't got the pain anymore, I take now magnesium regular. Maybe it will be helpful for you to.

Hope you getting better again 🌹🌹🌹

[Lumo27 in reply to MELNEL]

Brilliant I'll give that a go thank you xx

[MELNEL in reply to Lumo27]

Glad I could help 🤗🤗 hope it will do the trick, let me know. I got the magnesium pills, as supplement, and take extra multivitamin once a Day. 🌹🌹🌹

[AutumnHedgerow]

I’m not sure if the joint pain is like arthritis or not, but in case here just thought I’d mention that home laser treatment seems to be proving very helpful for some (including a close friend who’s seen a massive improvement in their mobility). The machine is very expensive though so is a bit of a costly risk. But thought I’d mention it as there are new things coming along all the time and things we worry about now may be better treated in the near future.

The magnesium supplement sounds a good idea.

[Foxy79]

Hello lumo I'm 38years and I experienced same I was 60ml then 40mg can't come down tried soo much I get chest infection been admitted twice even alacdronic acid didn't work I get zoleondronic acid infusion every year pain is cause bones are weak can't take your own weight In best answer wean off 1ml a week and have codine with paracetamol and try to walk bit by bit even 2-3times a day it's hard I know but perdiesoline helps soo much but has big side effects take care best of luck

[Kendavis359 in reply to Foxy79]

Hi, do u suffer with copd or asthma as your on high dose of steroids ? I find they save me but coming off them is a nightmare mentally and physically. I have to take codeine 60 ml four times a day to take me out if this pain in my body all over. Do u find the codeine helps you or am I needing something stronger now as I lye in this bed midday in pain reading this website wondering how much more of this I can stick? Sorry to pester you but I think your life can’t be easy. Thanks ken

[Lumo27 in reply to Kendavis359]

You are not pestering at all yes i have brittle asthma ive just come out of a 6 month hospital stay in which time I was intubated in intensive care. Without the steroids I would most probably be dead but the side effects are horrendous, I was taking Codeine but I found it wasn't really helping with the pain and my GP has now started me on oramorph which helps with the pain but has its own side effects such as nausea and drowsiness. Life is far from easy with three ITU admissions within last year, along with the side effects from these steroids and the pain I struggle to get out of bed everyday but I'm a single mum with a two year old so I have to grin and bear it. They've found nothing else works for me except steroids and without them I would no doubtably be back in hospital now.

[Foxy79]

Hi yes I have copd broncechtisis respiratory type 2 asthma I'm on nebulizer bibep machine and oxygen with soo many other tablets I'm weaning iff know on 18ml from 40ml some week I go down 5ml some week 1ml but I take tramadol very strong some time codeine very hard there's is a way might work for you how often and how many times you have chest infection

[Lumo27 in reply to Foxy79]

Im constantly getting chest infections and sometimes non infective exacerbations, I've been intubated in intensive care 3 times last year. I didn't find codeine helped very much and my GP has given me oramorph now and that seems to take the edge off but doesn't completely get rid of the pain.

[Foxy79]

That's opiate very addictive you will build a tolarence over the time what I believe you got odiema and pseudomnas for that you will need ciprofloxacin and for long run antibiotics nebulizer so you can get of streiods with out getting of will get worse best will be if tho in to hospital get IVF then they will know what to priscribe you and will help you get of it will work it's gonna take few weeks or months but need to know your lung capacity as well best is to go in volunteer

[K8ty25]

I have unstable brittle asthma. The first time i came fully off pred after a year and a half of being on it constantly i suffered hugely with general joint pain but in particular in my knee and hip. Tje most effective treatment i found was steroid injection directly into the joint and acupuncture combined. Once i had the pain under control then light walking helped to improve symptoms. It took a year but it did eventually go away. When my asthma flares the pain comes back with it.

[Lumo27 in reply to K8ty25]

I've had the injections intomy knees nit didn't seem yo help much but I'll give acupuncture a go

[K8ty25 in reply to Lumo27]

It can be very effective. I hope it helps

[Shellc]

If u are getting pains coming off steroids , this is not it means your cortisol levels are low , u need to come off them slower , so if u have been on them a very long time , I suggest 1m every two weeks this should stop the pain, the pain is your body going into a shock , it can be dangerous so come off them very slowly

[Lumo27]

Thank you ive heard that before i am coming off them slowly it's taken me 3 months to drop 5 mg I seem to be stuck at the minute at any lower I seem to end up back in hospital .