Unexplained bruising

[Annodomini]

I often have dark purple bruising, fading to red and eventually disappearing, on my wrists and forearms. Is this a symptom of polymyalgia or is it a side effect of prednisolone? There is usually no apparent reason for the bruising. it can appear overnight. Should I be reporting this to my GP?

[spotshouse]

I no longer take prednisone and this was actually one of the reasons. Among the many side effects I had (even at very low doses), one was that my skin became so fragile, I literally bruised just from contact to my skin. After sleeping I often woke up with terrible bruising on my arms and hands. I think you should tell your doctor, but I did have this as a side effect.

[Polywotsit PMRGCAuk team member]

Hi Annodomini (nice alias!)

Bruising of the skin isn't listed as one of the most common side effects of prednisolone, but it is a longterm side-effect of the drug. This can happen, as you say overnight, without any apparent injury. You should mention it to your GP as s/he may want to check that your blood clotting is ok. However, you don't need to worry about any risk of internal bleeding - this side effect only seems to happen in the skin. Once you come off the steroids it will stop.

[Annodomini]

Thanks Kate. I've made an appointment with the doc next week. I think the bruised patches might have faded by then though they have been bad this week.

[marjelill]

yes tell yr doctor, but I fear the answer is, as it is for me, the side effects of steroids. But I have taken them on and off for many years for other conditions.. I put my hand in a drawer and come out with a bruise

luv Marje

[Lawrie]

I know this is an old post, however, I too have bruising , around my knee caps and ankles! I know I did not run into anything, They last a long time also!

[Annodomini]

It happens mostly on my wrists and forearms, Travelling is especially traumatic as I always seem to bump myself on something or scrape my arm with the strap of a shoulder bag. I turn up at my destination looking as if I'd been in a fight. I now use Double Base gel on my arms to keep my skin moisturised but am still getting a lot of bruising.

[Hidden]

Hi Anno,

'Appears overnight' - that's interesting. Often, so do my bruises. Why? Well I wonder if we could see how we move around when we sleep and, therefore with pred in the driving seat, how disrupted our sleep must be. Laying in odd positions, often for far too long. That means for me that my watch strap or pendant around my neck are digging into my skin - result, bruises.

Pred has a weakening effect on skin tissue and that means not just our outer skin, but the skin within our bodies, i.e. skin around our veins. Blood vessles become more fragile and fracture more easily. When I was on doses of pred above 10mg I had awful bruises, but my body seems to have become more resilient as the doses have reduced below 10mg. I do not bruise as easily now. If your bruising seems really bad then try vit C suppliments.

Moisturising the skin is essential as it thickens skin and also makes it much more elastic and resilient to trauma.

I find that I still get bruising when I carry my handbag on my arm when shopping, but saying that, I can now carry my handbag for more than a few hundred yards before my partner has to carry it for me because my strength gives out. In a year, I've come so far. On 9.5mg, and after nearly 2 years, yesterday, I was out in my yard hurling buckets of water around -- swilling big time, and brushing it away. Today, I got up and cleaned my windows inside. Tomorrow I will attempt to hang the decorations for Christmas.

A year ago these tasks put me in bed!!!!

Don't lose hope - the side effects of pred. diminish for most of us as the doses are reduced.

The major 'nasties' like diabetes, high blood pressure and osteoporosis can be avoided by being sensible and obeying the given advice. By the way the bruising is a common effect of pred.

Pats.