Prednisone and injury

[christi48]

Why are people who are taking Prednisone more prone to injury?

[Grammy80]

I've been on pred since 2019 and it is my understanding that it makes our skin thinner. More importantly we will heal slower. I've gotten bumps and scrapes over the past few years that might only have been a black and blue. When I was taking more, 20 mg a day, some of those scrapes had to be treated at wound care to avoid infection and my skin just seemed to peel back. Hope it helps~💞

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

What sort of injury?

If you just mean skin abrasions etc, Grammy80 has explained…

[christi48 in reply to DorsetLady]

I don't know. I just read an entry on this forum where someone stated people taking Prednisone are more prone to injury...there was no explanation.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to christi48]

Okay.. well not necessarily- except for the skin being more delicate and maybe healing taking a little longer than normal.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to christi48]

The sort of info gathered over the years without really registering a reference to it. But the link I put up mentions it

"corticosteroids weaken muscles and tendons. Myopathy can affect patients in the form of muscle weakness and can become troublesome in everyday life (climbing stairs, lifting). Usually, there is no muscle pain. Cortisone can also weaken the tendons but symptoms are usually non-existent and cases of tendon rupture are rare. "

[Jackoh]

I do think too that as I have come down to the 7.5/7. mg range I have become less steady on my feet, sometimes a bit “ wobbly” I’m sure this could cause falls and subsequent injuries. 💐

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Pred also does tend to make soft tissues like ligaments and tendons more delicate in some patients

cortisone-info.com/en/side-....

It isn't always the case - everyone is different. I had myopathy on one form of corticosteroid but nothing at all with prednisolone or prednisone and healing wasn't affected at all. In fact, when I totally tore a knee ligament and the orthopod decided to use conservative treatment, it was healed in the time you would expect for a healthy person.

[anutycrixp]

Could be underlying condition makes one more prone to injury .The condition being treated with prednisolone which also may have some influence.