Hello. I haven’t posted lately. I have been diligently tapering .5 mg every 5 to 6 weeks, previously on 9 years of pred with flare and set backs along the way including Avascular necrosis, osteoarthritis DDD to name a few. I am waiting for pain clinic spine injections and a referral to my back Dr. because my MRI has showed deterioration but that’s all I know. Months to wait apparently.
Anyway, currently over the last few days I have found it harder and harder to walk. Severe back pain, OK at rest, improves over the day. Today I can barely shuffle a few steps because of pain.
All my fears of osteoporosis and drugs have disappeared as I was referred to a specialist who absolutely reassured me that I am nowhere near osteoporosis, not to worry, my 30 years on HRT had protected me, and do my best with exercise. This, after 9 years of wrangling with my rheumatologist about taking meds. So my back problem is not likely to be an osteoporosis fracture.
So finally my questions. My history is to flare when I am about 8 mg. I am on 8.5 now. I am having horrible bed soaking night sweats and shivering episodes. Arthritis in hands worse. Hip bursitis very sore. Fatigue not too bad. I want to do so much more than I can. Grief ongoing because my daughter has metastatic cancer. Do you think an extra 5 mg for a few days will help? I am now taking my whole dose at 2 am and before this had found it worked better than 9.30 am. sorry for the long post. I am so conflicted because I have to get off or reduce Pred because of the Avascular necrosis, hypertension and diabetes.
Thank you so much for being there. X