SWOLLEN FEET WITH PREDNISOLONE

[CarrieP]

Been on 15mg pred since March 2016 and now on 14mg. My feet have swollen up and the Dr says this is a side effect of the pred. What can I do to help my feet and will they go down as I reduce steroids?

[piglette]

I have very swollen feet and ankles and legs. I am told it is a side effect of pred. I do get leg massage which I find very pleasant, but it does not make much difference. The only suggestion from my doctor was put your feet up! There are water tablets, but you should not take them with pred apparently. I did try manual lymphatic drainage which did not work for me, I am none too sure how good the therapist was though.

[AnthonyH in reply to piglette]

Hi - I was diagnosed with GCA and have now been on Prednisolone for 15 months; starting at 40mg and currently down to 8mg. My feet swelled up pretty much straight away and have only just (in the last month or so) reduced enough to wear normal sized shoes. I found putting my feet up only temporary and as soon as I was on them again they would swell up again. I think you may have to live with it until the dosage is reduced. In my case around the 8mg mark

[rogerthegov in reply to piglette]

I have same problem and my Diabetic Nurse sent me back to Doc who put me on Diuretics as well as Pred and my ankles have gone down even after flying to the States

[piglette in reply to rogerthegov]

My doctor was adamant about not taking diuretics. I did notice on drugs.com that there can be problems with pred and water pills. I am not diabetic, at least according to my blood test two weeks ago I am not, so I don't know if that makes a difference.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Unlike piglette, manual lymphatic drainage helped my swollen ankles. Now they often swell a bit during the day but not very much. They go up like balloons when travelling though! That I tend to put down to food with far too much salt - because it happens every time we eat out a few times in a row. Flying just makes it worse though flight socks do help a bit there. Ask your doctor or the nurse to check whether that would be OK - you should have your ankle BP checked before wearing compression stockings. Whenever you sit you should try to put your feet up, but try not to compress your calves as that doesn't help the flow of blood or lymphatic fluid back to the centre.

My feet got bigger due to PMR itself - not just the pred. It was particularly bad with Medrol and since I switched to a form of prednisone it is far better.

[Nap1]

I wear compression stockings and it helps quite a bit. I also take water pills three times a week very mild. That helps too. Swelling will go away eventually.

[CarrieP]

Thank you all. I am not diabetic either, according to my blood tests, but will check my feet again with the Doctor next week.