Prednisone and surgery effects on GCA treatment. Anyone experience effects related to surgical procedures while on Prednisone?

[Carver63]

I recently had to surgical procedures , oral implant on lower right jaw and a prostrate biopsy. the week knocked me off the smooth decline of prednisone and flared up my GCA to near earth quake levels again. Pred was ramped up from 6 to 25 and headaches subsided. Actimra weekly dosage did not change. So one month later i am back on the road to recovery down to 10mg Pred and feeling pretty good. My concern here is about waiting for flareups or should i be anticipating the flare and increasing Pred to prevent flareups. could the meds be the problem with surgical stresses to the body? my doctors were all aware of my current condition and nothing was mentioned until after the flare.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Surgery of any sort is a stress on the body, and that upsets the immune system. Many of us have flares when under any sort of stress.

How can you anticipate a flare? And why would doctors who haven't personal experience suggest to a patient they wiil flare - many would consider that alone might persuade patients into having a flare.

[Carver63 in reply to PMRpro]

it seems the rheumatologist is fully aware of pred and Actimra effects when asked. apparently the use of opioid based pain killer does not always react well with these drugs. heads up to those considering or having to consider surgery in the future

[MrsNails]

You may find these links helpful

patient.info/doctor/precaut...

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

MrsN

[piglette]

My CRP went up to 415 after surgery. It does have an effect.

[Carver63 in reply to piglette]

yes indeed! wiith what i have learned about my body and this drug i hope minimize the negative effects of the drug and shorten my disease decency on it.

[piglette in reply to Carver63]

If you now take things steadily and are not in too much hurry to taper things should go smoothly, unless you encounter any nasty stresses along the way.

[Sophiestree]

I'm not surprised you had a flare with those two things going on for you. Great you're down to 10 now. I'm guessing with the implant there'll be more intervention so maybe take that into account beforehand. Good luck

[Nightingales]

I have had two surgeries, back and shoulder whilst on pred for PMR. I think I was lucky because both times the anaesthesiologist came to see me and said they would give me a steroid boost by injection. Surgery is like being assaulted and we need extra steroid to cope. I had no problems afterwards.