side affects long term prednisone

[arvine]

Been on pred since oct 2016, year ago was put on 40 mgs again, suspected GCA, but test showed negative , have reduced to 6 mgs so far, been fee mos on that dose, as lots has happened, lost son in July, had nerve root impingement last May , treated with spinal decimpression therapy, this fall had Rsv , then month later covid again, and nerve pain in right front thigh started up again about 3 wks before Christmas, started therapy again, but on Jan 1st, was stretching to make bed, felt twist and snap in left buttocks, extremely painful, had exray and now ultrasound showed haematoma in deep tissue, Im thinking blood vessels affected by long term pred, anyone out there had this experience?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I have been on pred for well over 14 years and have never had such an experience. Maybe I've been lucky.

[arvine in reply to PMRpro]

Ok and what dose have you been on for years ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to arvine]

Until the last year never below 10mg for more than a short time. I'm on Actemra now and that has got me down to 6 or 7mg pred. For over 3 years during and after Covid I was on 15 to 20mg.

[arvine in reply to PMRpro]

Oh wow, ok thank you , well have rheumy appt on 16th , virtual going to see about tapering to 5 mgs

[Dcctrains in reply to PMRpro]

Been on pred for nearly 24 years (March), no reaction as yet, except weight gain (Probably my own fault). Now down to 5mg, but cannot seem to get lower

[arvine in reply to Dcctrains]

Thank you

[Merryfield]

Arvine, I offer deepest condolences on the loss of your son.

[arvine in reply to Merryfield]

Thank you

[powerwalk]

Probably go with you on feeling pred weakens everything. Thats how I feel anyway. Two back surgeries in last few months from nerve/disc issues and general feeling that body is weak, for want of a better word!! So very sorry on the loss of your son. 💐

[arvine in reply to powerwalk]

Thank you

[Megams]

~You have had a lot to contend with - please accept my heartfelt sympathy on the loss of your son - we are not meant to outlive our children.

Been on steroids 2014 & many more issues since (Sjogrens/RA/myositis/PMR (still there some where?) +multiple cardiac challenges - its hard to sort which fatigue is related to what complaint and/or if its drug related - not to mention torn tendons/ligaments - the list goes on

Healing hugs to you~

[arvine in reply to Megams]

Thank you

[greengages]

so sorry about the loss of your son, you really are going through the mill. Only been on pred four years now, only cataracts, bursitis in hip and thinning bones, nothing like yourself. Hope your blood vessels haven’t been affected.

[Missus835]

So very sorry to hear about the loss of your son. Hugs to you.

I did have a large hematoma, lower back either prior to or during my vertebroplasties surgery in September. Unsure what caused it. Plagued with osteoporosis and fractured vertebrae (9). From the current additional pain, I think perhaps 10. Pain is from back muscles which I assume are trying to keep spine erect. The pain is helped with tylenol/codeine for about 3 hrs. Now at 19mg Pred, down from 20. Was at 14.5 prior to a flare of PMR Now slowly reducing. GP wants me to reduce by 2.5 monthly, but found the 2.5 mg. too much. An so on...

[arvine in reply to Missus835]

Thank you

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Condolences on the loss of your son… and you certainly have been through a lot, but not sure all is down to Pred. Life has a habit of kicking you when you are down, and some of those things may well have happened with or without the steroids.

Hope you soon feel better.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

"all is" or "not all is"?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Not all is -have amended -ta 😊

[arvine in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you

[2013mayo]

I’m sorry to hear about your son. What are they going to do re your buttock .

[arvine in reply to 2013mayo]

Thsnk you , dont know yet see dr this ties they will have results and believe send me gor MRI

[Maisiek]

just sending hugs 😘xx

[arvine in reply to Maisiek]

Thank you

[Nightingales]

I have also been on Pred for seven years, lowest has been 3 mg and highest 30 for various reasons like suspected GCA. I was OK re side effects except for well controlled Diabetes Type 2.However, last year all that pred use seemed to start to cause severe problems, Avascular necrosis of the hip, tendinitis, muscle wasting, fast growing cataracts, difficulty in controlling bp and Dm2. I regret not trying harder to taper but I was dealing with travelling to America to help my 40 year old daughter and grandchild with breast cancer. Tapering was not my focus. I also have inflamed nerves and now a full thickness tear in the gluteus medias. I am trying to taper with the help of Leflunomide. But I am still on 12.5 going very slow. Coukd I ask what kind of spinal compression therapy you had. I have degenerative Disc Disease and it’s very painful at the moment.

I am so very sorry over the loss of your son. My daughter now has mestastic breast cancer and it consumes my thoughts. I do hope you get some relief from your physical pain at least.

[arvine in reply to Nightingales]

Hello Nightingale, well you have so much in common wotj me, and so sorry to hear about your daughter s illness and wish her the best, I too have degenerstive dics, along with spinal stenosis,arthritis , etc, the spinal decompttession therapy is done at a facility that uses machines that calibrate which discs to target, you are strapped im on a bed , snd then spine is stretched by traction, millimeters at each session, taking pressure off trapped nerve, it is a different type of no hands on physical therapy and ideally you would go once a month after merve pain relieved to maintain that , I dont know if there is facility where you are, Im in ontario Canada, I am having hard days , and many tears still, and thank you for your kind words, and wish you better health going forward

[arvine in reply to Nightingales]

Oh meant to ask how did they treat that tear in the gluteus maximus muscle, and what are you taking for pain, I felt a twist and snap in lower right buttocks which I still think could be a tear, its been6 days now still painful, see dr on tues , techs report on ultrasound said MRI suggested, so hope can get that done and sooner the better

[Nightingales in reply to arvine]

It was on the side that I had the total hip replacement for Avascular necrosis. I was so dissapointed because I recovered so well after the op and was walking straight and pain free. Then I got this sudden severe pain and ultrasound showed the tear. My hip dr says my tissues are too weak from the Pred and with my age cannot be operated on. So I am doing exercises to try to strengthen the surrounding muscles. He mentioned shock wave therapy but I haven’t investigated it yet. It doesn’t hurt as much now. But now I have horrendous Meralgia Parasthetica in the other leg. Worst pain ever I think. Waiting for pain clinic apt. I am a tough old bird but I am sure as you know sometimes I feel defeated.

[arvine in reply to Nightingales]

Oh gosh sounds terrible, ai know the nerve pain causing meralgia parasethetics, I too have that in front right thigh, nothing much relieves that, these chronic pains get us down, wears on us physically and mentally,

[Nightingales in reply to arvine]

It certainly does and I feel so much for you. My GP has recently prescribed Oro morph and although I am reluctant just knowing it is in the house for the really bad times helps me to get some sleep.

[arvine in reply to Nightingales]

Not familiar with that sleep aid, my dr has prescribed a anti anxiety med for me, so I do get some sleep,

[Nightingales in reply to arvine]

it’s morphine , opioid pain reliever. It knocks me out so I only take it very occasionally at night. I figure at 77 I am not too likely to get addicted 🥴

[arvine in reply to Nightingales]

how long have you been taking prednisone and what dose?

[Nightingales in reply to arvine]

I was diagnosed with PMR 7 years ago. Started at 20 mags. Tapered to 3 over two years and all looked rosy 😊. Then a flare just like the beginning with high inflammatory blood markers. Since then I have been up and down from 30 . Lowest I got since then was 8. But my flares are always full blown with ESR and CRP in the 100s. I can’t calculate my intake over the years. My GP was generous with the prescriptions.

[arvine in reply to Nightingales]

Oh wow, long time on pred, like myself, Im sure it s responsible for some of my issues, have been down to 4 mgs year ago, hope can get down some more soon, good luck to you

[arvine in reply to arvine]

Ah yes that would certainly put you to sleep, but body needs sleep for sure, hopefully help in some healing, best wishes for some pain free days ahead then

[Sumojo in reply to arvine]

I had that same feeling when my gluteal tendon tore. I thought that’s what you had. MRI will show it.

[Sumojo in reply to Nightingales]

Hi, Just wondering what your symptoms are as regards the gluteal tear? Has any suggestions been made as to treatment? What are your symptoms.

[arvine in reply to Sumojo]

Well I was just stretching a bit , making up bed sheets, when I felt like a snap in lower left buttocks, and it was immediate severe pain, enough to make me cry out , that was Jan 1, last Monday,saw dr last wed, was still painful, when he felt that area, right now I can still walk , use a walker as have nerve pain in frint thigh of right leg, but when I move my left leg , or bending , still painful, see dr tues for ultrasound reports and exrays, I have seen report already, accessible on “pocket health” and doea say MRI warranted, dint understand all the other medical jargon, how did you tear your tendon and what was treatment?

[Sumojo in reply to arvine]

I’ve already had my right gluteal tendons repaired. Gluteal medius and minimus. Big op. The Left has gone the same. Booked in to have the repairs in April, nine months after the other op.

The pain was awful for months. Hard to walk. Then I felt it tear. Breathtaking pain. After a week hardly any pain. However without the repair what is the future? Who knows.

Six weeks two crutches, then one. I was driving at five weeks. Surgeon said it was too bad to repair, I was too old etc. I think I gave him a piece of my mind. He agreed to do it. I’ve showed him that we can do anything the young ones can do. He did say it was the worst he’d done though. In my opinion it’s the pred. Weakens tendons. I really don’t want to do it again but…

If you do get to see a surgeon, tell him mine was Gluteal Repair with LARS. That means using artificial tendons to strengthen.

[softekcom]

You absolute hero - handling everything you are. So sorry for your loss.

I have been on Pred since Aug 2020 - from a high of 50mg to 6 mg currently. The major effect has been weight gain - most of which I have now lost - and glaucoma. The other effects - thin, infection prone skin, reflux - only bother me now and then.

I too had a disc prolapse, now removed. Another one that is pressurising a nerve that makes my right arm ache. Waiting for an MRI. But these predate Pred.

[arvine in reply to softekcom]

Thank you