Increase prednisone to help pain temporarily

[arvine]

as posted few times have to get MRI done on both hips this Sat, tried to get left hip done about a month ago, couldnt tolerate on MRI table , because if excrutiating pain in right groin, they had to stop process, I was in tears from pain, report to dr said patient needs sedation for pain , now ortho dr booked me for right and left hip, this coming Sat, I am still having severe right groin, and right front thigh, GP said take 2 t3 s( tylenol with codeine) and a .5 lorezapam an hr before, today is wenesday windering if I take an extra 5 mgs of prednisone for next 3 days, if that would rlieve some pain, allow me to get these MRI s done, then drop right back to my 4 mgs of pred which have been down to for last 3 mios now, I must get this done so ortho will have results for my aug 7th appt with him, diagnosis, please anyone , need your opinions tjank you

[SnazzyD]

On the face of it, it sounds like a logical thing to do if it will work; you really need this MRI. I can’t say if it is a bad idea medically or not or which possible diagnoses they have in mind might be affected by it. Is there no chance of asking the team that ordered the MRI?

[arvine in reply to SnazzyD]

Thank you, no I dont believe they give any medical advice, Ive just hrard on this site, people suffering with different areas of painehether flare, withdrawal, pain in knees, arms back etc have done yhis 5 mg increase

[SnazzyD in reply to arvine]

You can try. You need the MRI. If it works it might help with knowing which parts of this growing cocktail of meds is doing any good. If Tylenol doesn’t help I wouldn’t keep taking it because it isn’t good for the liver.

[arvine in reply to SnazzyD]

Didnt hear back from rheumy today now he s on holidays, so think I ll go ahead take an extra 5 mgs of pred for next 3 days, hope by Sat at 5:20 pm can tolerate pain to get MRI done

[arvine]

yes agreed, actually all our meds processed through liver, and when you have a buffet of med s like some of us, it s a wonder how we can have a healthy liver, been on pred far too long, Im sure it s responsible for tears in hip, glutes, hamstring, muscle atrophy and list goes on, so viscious circle cant taper when have all these other issues going on, and tealize aging is big factor too, but this last 2 years has really got me down, feel at my wits end some days, sorry for the rant, but been overwhelming,

[powerwalk in reply to arvine]

Hope your scan goes ok. I understand, also getting more scans after two back surgeries now the hip is involved and more lower back issues. The lorazepam should help you. I would take the painkillers too with it, as it has been prescribed by doctor to get the scan done. You dont have to take it all the time. Is there someone going with you to the scan, then it would be ok to be a bit medicated just as a once off. I do agree about pred, my knee is bunched also. Best of luck, let us know how you get on.

[arvine in reply to powerwalk]

Thanks so much , yes someone is taking me, I ll let you know how it goes, Ive had a few MRI s over past years, very anxious this time because of the pain I experienced when tried to do left hip, hoping meds work

[SnazzyD in reply to arvine]

Tylenol is very hard on the liver.

[Pixix]

I have a lot of pain in my groin, & can understand your problem. Sad to say, my groin pain does not ease at all with increased steroids. I had Covid with asthma complications six weeks ago & my Dr put my steroids up from 2mg to 10mg, & it made no difference. Of course, you don’t know what’s causing your pain so who can tell if an increase would help? Personally, I find good painkillers help my groin pain & I also have bursitis, for which I have steroid injections. It’s purely your choice. I had a dreadful time getting down to 2mg & had to go back up to 5mg twice & only the ‘threat’ of hospitalisation would make me go up again! We are all different, some people raise their steroids to go on holiday! Good luck.

[arvine in reply to Pixix]

Thanks so much, can I ask please what are considered “good painkillers “

[Pixix in reply to arvine]

In my book ‘good painkillers’ are ones that relieve 80% of my chronic pain! I don’t expect them to deal with the pain that I get when I dislocated a bone through my hypermobility disease last week, or when I broke my Coccyx recently, falling off our rockery. Acute pain needs short term painkillers…&, imho those have been ibuprofen (though I can’t take that nowadays, not just pred, other reasons), Oramorph, or short courses of tramadol, for examples only. Morphine & tramadol are drugs used only for severe pain, & are classified drugs. I’ve been prescribed them for broken bones, & results of car crashes.I suffer fromPolymyalgia Rheumatica, Fibromyalgia, Raynauds Syndrome, Osteoarthritis, Hypermobility, Essential Tremor, Vertigo, Trochanteric Bursitis, Haemangioma - spinal, Asthma, Sciatica, Orthostatic Hypertension, Blepharitis & macular Degeneration, so I need a high level of painkillers on an ongoing basis. I believe tylenol with codeine is a strong pain killer, but I’ve only tried it in the USA, & I guess the lorezapam is to relax you so you can get through the MRI. I don’t find that increasing pred helps any of the pain from my diseases, other than PMR. I think you will find they talk about pain relief to you more when they know what the problem is! First they need to find out what’s going on!! Hope that explains it better!

[arvine in reply to Pixix]

Thank you

[Suffererc]

as you have fine out a question on here. All the help you need will be available 🙂

[Mewy]

Dear Arvine;I am not an expert but her are my thoughts.

I am inclined to suggest that increasing prednisone should be done with your doctor's advice. Prednisone based on my understanding is primarily intended to reduce inflammation which reduces the pain of PMR. I would take the medication prescribed by your doctor to relieve the pain of your MRI. I hope you get through this and find relief soon.

Mewy (Canada)

[arvine in reply to Mewy]

Thank you, my rheumy has agreed for me to increase pred for 3 days, as well my GP has advised painkillers