Rs sufferer

[Rocky07]

I would like to know what experience people have had with prednisolone short and long term low doses and high doses and tapering off and their mobility

[helixhelix]

A few years old now, but there's a useful summary about pros and cons of steroids on arthritis research who are a reputable source of information. Here's the link

arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

[LesBev]

Hi, I started on high doses over a year ago and after 3-4 months I reduced this to 10mg as a maintenance dose. Apart from a telling off from the hospital for doingthismyself (don't do it basically!) I have been fine. I have put on 2 stone in weight but honestly.....this disease depresses me having lost my job, hobbies and lots of friends so I have been comfort eating. Sad but true. Don't fear medication is my view, we all react differently and it just might be the thing for you. Warmest wishes on a snowy day.

[BoneyC]

Steroids are brilliant at reducing inflammation quickly. High doses can cause insomnia. I've taken steroids on and off for 46 years, ok so far.

[Mandalou]

Oral steroids brought me back from total incapacitation as I had explosive polyarthritis that descended on me like a tonne of bricks in 2015.

Once DMARDS and Biologics took over I was able to decrease my dose and am now steroid free and back at work after 11months sickness.

The high rescue dose gave me steroid induced Diabetes which took about six months to get under control and was probably one of the most uncomfortable and unenjoyable part of my whole scenario, as in turn this made me go from perfect vision to having to wear glasses in the space of a week.

All the above is resolved now however, I'm not diabetic, I'm functioning within an arthritic spectrum ( as those with inflammatory arthritis will attest to) and my bone density is fine, I had a scan to check this.

Hope this is some small help to you.

All the best

Mx

[Mandalou in reply to Mandalou]

PS, no specs needed either! Yay

[DC56]

Everyone is different but I was on a high dose to start with then gradually had to reduce the amount if it's done slowly you won't notice to much , (that's best way ) but you get weight gain with the steroids because they seem to make you hungry or should I say they did me . I hope this helps 🌹Dawn

[lovekittys]

They are very useful if you are in alot of pain, just make sure you keep an eye on your glucose level. I have now been told I have steroid induced diabetes. Just an FYI, good luck.

[Agough]

I've been on steroids for 6 years I was put on a low amount to begin with but the more my RA got worse higher it went. The highest amount was 20mg to 30mg. I'm now on 7.5mg. The problems I got was hunger, water retention, mood swings and insomnia.I get water retention in my face and belly. This can be a side affect of the predisione for a lot of people. With the hunger it's like I could eat a big dinner but still I'm not full and I would snack on junk food, I now fine its about having a control diet and taking out any naughty foods. I only get insomnia if I take a predisione couple of hours before bed seems silly to take one that late but I get loads of pain in the morning and struggle through the night with the pain sometimes. But if you have any side affect your not sure of contact your doctor. Predisione is a great quick fix just to give you some peace from the pain.

[Rocky07 in reply to Agough]

Hi agouph I have been on prednisolone for a long time after a while I took myself down to 5mg as I had a bleeding ulcwr for awhile which I havent had since I lowered the dose I have osteoporosis also have issues with the lining of my stomach but I take slippery elm bark which helps I probably shouldn't have lowered my dose as I refuse other medications due to the side effects of prednisolone as it is a life saving drug for many conditions but along with it comes nasty side effects and you can become dependent on it I am am at present wheelchair bound but with hope and positivity I will walk properly again I hope after all these centuries the medical field can work things out without complications at present I am looking into low dose naltrexone I am from australia I also hope to look into hospital for special surgery new york. Which has got a lot of people back on their feet their specialality is ra and orthopaedics we are now in 2016 surely the medical feild can get us all healthy and pain free