Dowagers hump: I’ve just noticed that I’ve got quite a... - NRAS

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Dowagers hump

Nanabrodie profile image
21 Replies

I’ve just noticed that I’ve got quite a dowagers hump appearing and have read that it is one of the side effects of taking Prednisilone. I only have a few more weeks left on this drug and wonder if anyone else has had this problem and did it go once the medication was stopped and how long did it take to go?

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Nanabrodie profile image
Nanabrodie
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21 Replies
helixhelix profile image
helixhelix

10 weeks of prednisone is probably not the root cause as that's a very short time. Talk to your GP to get to the bottom of it, as it may be that you should be checked for osteoporosis. Otherwise the most common reason is poor posture which can be corrected.

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply to helixhelix

I agree hh.....DH is caused by pressure on the thoracic spine & is likelyb to be caused by osteoporosis.

Poor old Prednisolone (which I hate) gets blamed for a lot of things, but I don't believe it can be accused of causing Dowager's Hump......that was around hundreds of years before Pred!

helixhelix profile image
helixhelix in reply to AgedCrone

Long term use of pred does cause fat redistribution, including on back of neck (buffalo hump) but I believe it takes quite a long time for that to happen.

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply to helixhelix

Yes I have friends who have been incubating their DH's for 10/15 years & have never touched Pred.

Unfortunately it's a fact of life...you either get it or you don't.

By some miracle that is one little gift I have missed out on! Maybe breaking my neck & having a c/spine fusion at c3/4/5 frightened it away!

Nanabrodie says she only has a few weeks left on drug, but doesn't say how long she's been on it?

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels in reply to

Nanabrodie has been on pred approx 9 weeks Nettie, a relatively short course really & on a taper plan.

You ok?

in reply to nomoreheels

Ah Ok. Got confused as didn't understand that bit. I'm easily confused!:-D

Yes I'm ok ta.

nomoreheels profile image
nomoreheels

If it is Dowager's Hump it occurs over quite a while so if you have only just noticed it have you not had pain in your lower neck & mid-back area? I would think that it would have been progressing over some time so you would have been aware of something not being right. You see a DH is caused by excessive stress in these areas, certainly you'd be reaching for pain relief or asking for it. I agree with hh & AC, prednisolone won't be the culprit, not after such a short period of time, more likely bad posture, normal if you think about it when we're in pain we do tend to hunch up to some degree or other, I know I do & it does nothing for my OA in my neck & back. Pred can cause DH (or kyphosis) but when you've been on it a long time at quite high doses, & then it's only 0.2%, very low considering.

If you're really concerned about it I'd mention it a your next review or see your GP if you're in pain. It could be OA setting in possibly, if you have OA anywhere else that would make more sense.

Magymay profile image
Magymay

My two aunts have osteoporosis and have this ,don't know if it's prednisolone .Should get a second opinion x

Nanabrodie profile image
Nanabrodie

Thank you everyone for your comments . I’m not in any pain with my neck or upper back generally, the only time it does become uncomfortable is when I’m reading or similar activities, so guess it’s just age related. I knew I had a slight hump but yesterday looking in a mirror in changing room it seemed so much more pronounced. Ah well part of getting older 👵🏼

Jesnaskah profile image
Jesnaskah in reply to Nanabrodie

It's probably fat, from the Pred. I have it. I took pred about 12 years ago for only a week and ate normal, as in whatever I wanted even tho everybody warned me not to eat salt, etc. I didnt know of the side effects of Pred. I have had it ever since, it never went away and last year as I was diagnosed with RA, been on pred almost a year now, eating more cautiously, but it has gotten worse. Ppl think I have bad posture, but when I push the fat down or the other way, it goes away, so clearly showing that it's fat and not my spine. Also, I've had a neck MRI and my cervical spine is fine, you can literally see layers of fat in the side view of the MRI. It sucks. What can we do, liposuction to the back of the neck? I feel like that's too sad 🙄😫

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply to Nanabrodie

I'm sure Changing room mirrors are designed to make you spend money!

How many times do we look wonderful in the changing room but Rubbish when we get the garment home?

As long as you aren't in pain I agree with you.....put it down to age & milk it for all the help you can get!

Peep44 profile image
Peep44

I had mine before prednisone. Must be bad posture. Neck stretches help with the pain (yes it hurts) but I think I'll have it forever. I have the bloated abdomen too. Thought it was Cushings at one stage!

in reply to Peep44

Somehow it’s good to know I’m not alone. Thanks to one and all.

HappykindaGal profile image
HappykindaGal

I've been on Pred for two years - I don't have any fat at the back of my neck as some people do. I don't think it's one of the side effects of Pred (though I could be wrong!)

Jesnaskah profile image
Jesnaskah in reply to HappykindaGal

You're just fortunate! Most get what is very lovingly termed the "buffalo hump."

girli1111 profile image
girli1111

I have one... I’m only 49, not on prednisalone..

And no neck or upper back pain.... pretty good posture, as dance trained for many years. And bone density good when checked last year......l so all a bit of a mystery to me too!

Jamie345 profile image
Jamie345

I have only been on predisinone for 10 months but just been diagnosed with osteoporosis of the spine I noticed I was getting a bit of a hump and don't like it at all but I think it's causes are an accumulation of things one posture I was leaning forward for a long time before I had my operation on my back as that was making me feel more comfortable plus the disease itself but I do try and straighten up now,

Nanabrodie profile image
Nanabrodie

I spent over 20 years on a computer up until retirement a couple of years ago so I guess this hasn’t helped 😐

Evaflo10s profile image
Evaflo10s

Hi . I’ve been on it 7 months now and I have it :(

marie66 profile image
marie66

Me too although as I'm reducing the pred it seems to be going down! M x

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