Has an alternative been invented as of yet?
Im young and unfortunately need this product and just can't come off of it. They have me on 5mg a day, but I am totally swollen everywhere, hurting very bad and need to be back on the other dose. Even my eyelids and face is swollen.
Anway, being young, the long term will require new knees etc. if I stay on this product and was just wondering if anyone knew of an item that actually works either medication or herbal that can take the place.
Than you.
Bump yourself back up dude. I was kinda concerned when my dr raised me to 20 mg. He then had me taper down but told me that I know best what dose makes me feel okay. I have gon from 10mg to 20mg plenty of times and am now at 9mg slowly bringing myself down, 1mg every two weeks but if I get great pain again i will go back up. Right now the mtx and enbrel seem to bee working real well. Oh yeah, have your dr give you codiene.You face is probably swollen from the pred. My face swells up terribly from pred. I am on 7.5 but I sure miss being off of it. If you read the long term effects of prednisone, hopefully you will find another med mix that will keep the inflammation down. There are plenty of DMARDS for inflammation. I take relafin. There are many others people can tell you about. You have to be careful - when the pain is covered up - you don't know if meds are working or not. That is my concern. I feel fine but it is because of the painkillersI tried to cut back celebrex once but i over flame.
I did get the ultram and celebrex both down to two pills a day, but any less than that and i have trouble.
I finally havea good day today though. Flair seems to be going down and I feel like i did on higher dose.
I found an article talking about how when you go down on pred you can have a bad flair for weeks or even a month and that you need to wait it out.
Next month I go down to 2.5 if I stay like i feel today.
Thanks for you advice.
Hhhhm, I'm taking 15 mg a day. I'm all excited that my puffyness is going down and i can move. I have more energy too. BUT, I also have a hard time "calming down" and going to sleep. A side effect? I'll take it...over not being able to move. I know it's only been 4 days on this, and I'm sure it's not good long term. I'm thinking my doctor will have me on this for a while, as he gave me 100 pills, with 3 refills. I was a tad concerned about that, and he's planning on adding something else next visit. I guess it's a guessing game what mix will work.
How long can you be on Prednisone without it being really not good for you? How do you feel on it Bubbagump?
From what I hear, it varies on how long you can be on it by the actual person.
I have been on pred between 10mg and 5mg up and down for about a year now. I do have a deformed knuckle on one of my middle fingers caused by the combo of Ra and the prednisone. So, within a years time, my finger now has two corners on the bend instead of round edges.
My knees also hurt quite a bit without inflammation when i have a good day, so i wonder how much my knees have changed shape as well.
I have looked for a long time on the internet trying to find a long term date, but can't find one.
I am actually doing ok, it is odd how one day i feel so very very great that i can walk forward down stairs slowly instead of sidways. Then the next day i can't and on the 3rd day i don't want to leave the house because i hurt so much.
It just varies and all I can do is hop for the best.
Well Bubbagump, guess it's not a good thing. I know what you mean about one day you can do something and the next you can't. I've just been going through this for a few months but I don't like the reaction I get from some people when they see me "inching" sideways down the stairs at work one day, and the next heading on down straight and walking more quickly. I wonder if they think there is a faking issue going on. I'm just happy for the good days. I wonder how so many people have been doing this for years can keep a smile on their face though. I guess there isn't a big choice, eh?
I wish you well Bubbagump. Hope you find your answers