Bruising

[Jude62]

Is it normal to get bruising when on Prednisolone? My body looks battered- started on 20 mg for PMR December - and now on 12.5mg.

Also what do you do when pain returns while reducing slowly? Go back to higher dose and steady the ship before trying again?

Thanks for listening- you are all such a source of great help to me.

[Freddie01]

Hi I was diagnosed with GCA last October was put on 60mg pred for 4 weeks then a slow reduction every 2 weeks. I was black and blue covered in bruising, checked with my GP who advised this is normal. Twice during the reduction some symptoms returned, my consultant increased the dose whilst waiting for blood results before reducing further again.

[olive2709]

If you're fair skinned like me slighted nock black and blue pred can affect balance so add two together fun times

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi there,

Bruising very normal. You may also get bloodshot eyes occasionally- all related to the tiny blood capillaries being fragile. I used Arnica cream for bruising, also recommend using a cream like DoubleBase as an all over moisturiser, (although any will do) -helps the skin. Pred makes it very thin and less pliant than usual. So watch the sun as well - more likely to burn

Don't ever continue reducing if you have a return of original pains. Sometimes you get steroid withdrawal pain which comes on virtually straight away but then goes after a few days - a flare (return of symptoms usually takes about a week to surface - you need to know the difference.

If you don't follow one already a slower taper may be easier now you are getting to lower doses. Less likely to get flare or steroid withdrawal

I used following -

1st week - Sun & Thurs new dose

2nd week - Sun, Tues & Thurs new dose

3rd week - Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs new dose

4th week - Sun, Tues, Wed, Thurs & Sat new dose

5th week - all week new dose

[Tj2017 in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi DorsetLady,

You have mentioned Arnica cream a few times and I was hopeful you could provide me with further information regarding the history, uses, etc. It was not easy for me to find it here by my home. I found some at a homeopathic drug store and it was really expensive. 25 dollars for 2 ounces.

Thanks in advance,

TJ

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Tj2017]

Hi TJ,

It's derived from a European alpine plant - Arnica Montana -which like many others used medicinally can be toxic in it's natural state. Been used for centuries in one way or another.

The extract used is considered to be anti-inflammatory and an analgesic. Shouldn't be used on broken skin (like many others) but is good for bruising (seem to heal quicker and maybe take away some pain, if there is any) and I think there has been some research on osteoarthritis.

It seems quite regularly available in Europe nowadays you can buy in most chemists (pharmacies) and many of the larger supermarkets, although I think when I first bought it I had to get it from a health food outlet or via Amazon.

Your price does seem quite expensive (try Amazon if it works for you) but if course it may be purer. Plus, if it's not produced in US it will be costlier.

You should only need a very fine film applied gently to skin, so it does last a long time.

Hope it works for you.

[Tj2017 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DorsetLady,

A wonderful member of this forum offered to ship some to me via friends visiting the US. After reading her message, I decided to check Amazon and the same tube I saw at the homeopathic store was listed for 8 dollars. I purchased a tube and look forward to trying it soon.

Best,

TJ

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Tj2017]

I got some in Canada at a general drug store - I know it isn't the US but I'd be surprised if you can't get it from somewhere a little less esoteric than a homeopathic store! I think I paid 12 $ Canadian for about 2oz - but it does go a VERY long way, you don't need much!

[Celtic PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Jude, the answer is yes to all your questions. Use arnica for the bruising and, if the steroids are thinning/drying your skin, use Double Base Gel as a moisturiser, at the same time avoiding all harsh soaps when showering. Things will improve as you reduce the steroid dose.

[Annodomini]

My arms and wrists were a battleground for several years, but with gradual reductions, the bruising has gone, so yours will also disappear with time. Good luck.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Bruising? Afraid so! I don't bruise much which is surprising as I am also on anticoagulant therapy. Nor is my skin delicate. Like another lady on the forums, I am sure it is because soap gets nowhere near anything but my hair (other than the bubbles that then run down in the shower! Anything that foams on skin strips the natural oils from the skin and makes it fragile - I don't care what the marketing tells you!

How slowly is slowly? How big are the steps and at what dose?