Advice after going on a “ trip”

[Jackoh]

Well I Saturday I had the most horrendous fall.I got out of the car at my mother’s nursing home very near a curb and plant patch. I thought I could traverse that quite easily but since my slow reduction down from 7.5 to 7.0 ( still in taper)I have been very tired and a bit unsure on my feet. So it was basically my fault as I tripped over the whole area in a kind of running motion and the ended up on my back. As a result the one, right foot hurt amazingly. I went home and used RICE - rest, ice, compression and elevation. The other foot, the left, is always very weak due to peripheral neuropathy and I was putting more pressure on it so had pain and difficulty walking with that one also. Got up in the middle of the night feeling faint and nauseous and wanting to go to the loo. Overnight both feet not working so collapsed on the landing and burnt face with carpet burn.

In all of this I am really pleased to say I don’t appear to have any significant breaks. My left weak foot is fine now I’m not putting so much weight on it. The right foot is getting much better as the swelling and bruising has come out. I think I was very, very fortunate.

I did stop the taper, I was at the beginning of a slow taper , for the second time as I stopped the previous one with a very bad cold. My concern has been the level that I’m on or heading for and the lack of adrenaline function. I think I have now got over the shock and am starting to heal and can walk , albeit a bit wobbly. When do you think I should resume my taper?

Thanks for reading.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

oh dear, but as you say could have been worse.

As for resuming taper- definitely not for a while until you had a good time to get over your ‘adventure’…. I’d be looking at 3-4 weeks. As you say you are at the levels your adrenals need to be thinking about functioning again, so don’t be adding pressure on them.

Hope not, but you may find you get a reaction to this within the next week or so, so just be mindful that you may flare, and need a little extra Pred rather than less.

Hope you soon recover, but there is no rush to resume tapering, these accidents sometimes take more out of us than we realise…

[Jackoh in reply to DorsetLady]

thank you DL X

[SheffieldJane]

No, not yet, not your fault either. Honestly, these bizarre accidents! Your poor Adrenal system, totally unable to rise to the occasion. I might have been inclined to do an extra 5 mgs for a week, to help with the shock of it all. Heal soon. X🌷

[Jackoh in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks Jane.. Yes had thought about that to be honest. 💐

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not until you are recovered - and be careful, a fall is documented in the literature as the potential cause of a flare! I think Sick Day Rules should have applied as well to be honest.

Did you go to the ED to make sure there is nothing broken? It is never a good idea to ignore a potential break as that may make the realignment much much harder and even impossible except under anaesthetic due to swelling,

Get well soon!

[YuliK in reply to PMRpro]

good morning PP, you are so correct. I fell over 8 months ago, X-rays didn’t find anything.. but my back was in agony. Couple of months ago I needed CT for my oncologist and it was found I have cracked vertebrae ,and wait for it. Osteoporosis.

I have managed to fluctuate between 1-1.5mg.prednisone and that keeps things in control.

I am also walking very cautiously since the fall At home I’m using a walker, taking no chances ..

YuliK 🌻

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to YuliK]

Ouch!!! Is it improving?

[Jackoh in reply to YuliK]

Yes it does make you more cautious and more aware of what action you should take or should have taken. Do hope things improve for you soon. 💐

[Jackoh in reply to PMRpro]

No I didn’t go to A&E . I read up on it and decided perhaps they couldn’t do much if it was just a few small bones in the foot. No more than I could do with RICE and it was a Saturday evening. But I will monitor it over the next few days and see if I need to go. The bruising is quite spectacular but I can move my toes but yes I have to consider that and the increase of pred that I have been mulling over. Thanks for your adviice.💐

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Jackoh]

They maybe couldn't - but if they are displaced, they need to be put back where they belong or you end up with long term problems. And it is our generation that is least likely to go!!!

[Jackoh in reply to PMRpro]

Very true!

[YuliK]

hope you feel better quickly Jackoh.

[Jackoh in reply to YuliK]

Thank you. Yupik 💐

[Charlie1boy]

Hi,

Well - that was a trip you could have done without; poor you. I guess, as we get older, we all become more vulnerable to this type of situation. 😩

Certainly, I am more careful than ever after I fell last year - fortunately without doing any damage ( just didn’t pick my feet up properly!). Also, my older brother had a bad fall in January, and managed to break his femur and damage a hip replacement resulting in four weeks in hospital.

Anyway, you’ve had good advice about your prednisolone dose, so there is nothing useful I can add other than to wish you a speedy recovery. Hopefully we will see you again later in the year at one of our local get togethers.

Blessings.

Paddy

[Jackoh in reply to Charlie1boy]

Thank you Paddy. Yes hope to see you all soon. 💐

[Bcol]

Nothing to add to the very sensible advice already offered but just to send best wishes and hope you start to mend soon.

[Jackoh in reply to Bcol]

Thank you Bicol 💐

[Blossom20]

Aah poor you! It must have been a shock to the system. You've done well to recover quickly, and with no broken bones!.I would rest and take it easy until you feel back to normal before reducing.

Perhaps think about some strengthening and balance exercises for your legs and feet?

[Jackoh]

Thanks for the advice Blossom20 💐