Post steroid come down

[NicT]

After being given a steroid injection at my first rheumatologist appointment I was so happy to say it was working, less pain more energy, improved mood and like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I had barely dared to hope that it would work so well!

Now 2 weeks on as the Dr predicted I have "dropped off the cliff", back to normal.

While this is upsetting it reiterates to me just how much better I was feeling and that there is a way of feeling better again!

Hoping this pattern will be useful when I follow up in a couple of weeks, proves to some extent that there is inflammation causing my symptoms.

Does anyone know if they would be willing to give me another one at the next appointment?

In the meantime I guess it's back to normal for now!

[AimeeA]

Long term use of steroids can have serious side effects so doctors tend to try to use them for shorter periods or only when really necessary and will look for other ways to manage your issues.

They can be a godsend when necessary but you do need to be aware of side effects and problems from long term usage so work with your doctor to find ways to manage your pain etc that don't require perpetual use of steroids.

[NicT in reply to AimeeA]

Thank you,

I know it's not a good idea or a long term solution to be on them but I did wonder what the procedure was in terms of how many they might give you before stopping? Maybe to help whilst any other medication kicks in?

Just so grateful to have had those couple of good weeks! 😊 even if I am suffering for it now!

Hopefully the Dr will have an idea of a way forward without the steroids when I see him x

[AimeeA in reply to NicT]

Every doctor is different.. but the good news about lupus flares is they do usually die down after a while. I had a bad spell a long time ago with pain in my knees so bad that if I tried to rollover in bed while asleep it would wake me up. But that subsided and I've never had trouble with it since.

With lupus it important to get on a long term care plan and identify your particular triggers so that you can change your lifestyle to avoid them and don't get flares or only mild ones.

So work with your doctor and they will get you on longer term ways to manage it, and might give you steroids for a bit but do the other things the doctor suggests because they usually won't repeat the steroids for long periods of time unless you have more serious life threatening symptoms.