healing on prednisone

[Whitner]

I recently rolled my ankle playing pickle ball. It’s not broken but very swollen and sore. Does being on prednisone slow recovery?

[SnazzyD]

Depends on your dose to an extent. What are you on? However, soft tissue injuries in ankles can take a long time to resolve at the best of times. How long ago did you do it? How have you treated it since?

[Whitner in reply to SnazzyD]

I was having a flare prior so I’m on 15 mg for a week. I have one more day at 15 then down to 10mg. I was on 1 mg prior to flare. I hurt it last Friday so it’s now Tuesday and I iced it for two days and kept it up and wrapped. I have been told this kind of injury can take a while. I guess I’ll learn patience 😉

[Wizards in reply to Whitner]

Hi WhitnerI've spained my ankels at least 12 times and broken 1 too.

While on prednisone I rolled over and did a nasty sprain. I literally crawled 10 meters to my car( friend not home).

Old school was to ice, new school is to apply heat and lightly walk. I was walking next day. In the past I would have been out of commission like you.

This was something my son learned when doing some of his studies for kinesiology.

Hopefully not a next time but keep it in mind.

[Karenjaninaz in reply to Wizards]

Wizards: for a new injury cold applied the first 12 hours to reduce pain and swelling. After that heat to increase circulation. On the other hand if cold helps the pain after that - then use it; if heat works better use that.

Everyone is different but physiology doesn’t change.

( Retired nurse anesthetist here)

[Whitner in reply to Wizards]

thanks Wizards I read that too. I did walk on it the Sunday after and continue to pump it to help move fluid but the pain is worse so I’m going to see a foot and ankle specialist today.

[Sharitone]

I'm at a low level of pred, but every little injury still drags on for weeks.

Are you sure it's not a ligament injury? that can be worse than a break.

[Whitner in reply to Sharitone]

I’m sure I stretched ligaments, black and blue and sore!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think it depends on the damage and the person. As Snazzy says, soft tissue injuries can be an utter pain and you sometimes get over a break faster!

[Whitner in reply to PMRpro]

thanks. Uuugh

[HeronNS in reply to Whitner]

Yes that's true. I had a broken bone a few years ago and although it took time it didn't take long. However I think the main reason the other injury, which was a knee injury, took so long to get better and I needed to find ways to help it along was because I didn't know properly how to deal with it, and being covid lockdown at the time I was getting virtual advice from doctor and physio. So just be patient and take your time before you stress that liimb too much. Icing and elevation really helped me and I had to continue that for a long time. Just a few minutes icing at a time.

[Whitner in reply to HeronNS]

thanks heronNS. I stopped icing because I’m on the 5th day. You think icing is still a good idea?

[HeronNS in reply to Whitner]

Well I found I needed to but I had a lot of associated swelling. The usual recommendation is, I believe, to switch to warmth after a couple of days, or maybe even to alternate although I haven't ever tried that! So do what works for you. In the past with painful feet for example and a doctor suggesting icing it was awful, and I needed to get my feet warm instead.

[GOOD_GRIEF]

In a word, yes.

[squashie]

When I was on higher doses (10mg+) I found I was more prone to soft tissue injury such as muscle tears. Recovery was certainly slower. On low doses I've not had the same propensity.

[jackaboo]

I badly broke my ankle last May and also had a lot swelling and ligament damage. I`m also on roids and i`m still getting an incredible amount of pain etc. Have been told to ice, rest etc still, I`ve even seen the physio recently and he said that it`s something i`ve just got to live with for the time being with the meds i`m on and my health xx

[Suet3942 in reply to jackaboo]

I got Achilles tendinitis 7 years ago and it has never fully healed. It’s currently playing me up. So painful !

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Suet3942]

Mine wakes up periodically too ...

[Whitner in reply to jackaboo]

sorry jacksboo you’re still in pain. Pain is not fun. Hope you feel better soon.

[Blossom751]

I'm on a relatively low dose (7,5mg) and find that any cold/flu/injury lingers for much longer than previously (pre starting the treatment). I've been slowly tapering down and the recovery time is improving.

Strained ligaments can take a long time to recover even in fully healthy people. I think the average recovery time is around 6 weeks. Be gentle with yourself and follow your physio's advice and exercise plan. Good luck!

[Whitner in reply to Blossom751]

will do!

[Twopies]

I sprained my ankle badly in august, was black; it’s still swollen and sore, went to urgent care that day, they gave me a brace (that I couldn’t tolerate with pmr for one minute), said to ice and elevate for 2 days, then switch to heat and elevate. Saw ortho clinic in October, they said to walk 2 1/2 minutes total a couple times a day and go to physiotherapy (which made it worse). Went to foot and ankle clinic couple weeks ago, doc said pred and pmr slows healing, said to heat 5 minutes, then ice 5 minutes, then elevate 30 minutes 3 x day. I’ve been trying. He also said X-ray showed a spot where the tendon is separated from the tissue due to the swelling. And my gp gave me a lace up brace that I can sorta tolerate because it’s more adjustable. I also use arnicare cream that the foot and ankle doc liked. Best wishes to you for a speedy recovery!

[Karenjaninaz in reply to Twopies]

No studies have shown arnica really helps and if it is a homeopathic preparation then hardly if any arnica is there.

I recently tried pure arnica oil on significant painful bruising on my legs. Not sure it did anything but arnica’s yellow color masks the bruise to some extent.

[Whitner in reply to Twopies]

wow your situation sounds so similar. I am concerned about the level of pain, excruciating, while the blood goes to my ankle upon standing. I’m beginning to think I have a superficial clot and I was able to get an appointment today with a foot and ankle specialist today. I’ll let you all know what he says.

[Whitner]

doctor not terribly concerned about my very painful bruise/hematoma. I’m trying laser treatments to help the inflammation so we’ll see. He tells me to ice and stay off it as you all said and to be patient 😞