What is Prednisone supposed to do? Releive inflammation, pain or what? Is it supposed to make symptoms totally go away?
How long does it take to work? When you stop taking it will the symptoms return immediately?
What should I expect?
I'm not sure your pain will TOTALLY go away; but it will help dramatically. It should start working with in 24 hours I'd say. (If not sooner)
In my experience with predisone my doctor has always prescribed it while he adjusted my medications. (Increased a dosage or started a new medication such as MTX or Humira) When I started to come off the predisone my other medications have had a chance to start working so I have not gotten worse when I stopped predisone. BUT; if you are on predisone and don't take something else to reduce your symptoms chances are high that you'll be right back where you were before you started predisone.
The predisone should reduce inflammation and as a result your pain should ease.
What else are you taking?
Prednisone has been great for me. I have been taking it while I wait for the MTX & remicade to 'work'. (or not work!!ugh.), the only way to take these 'super' drugs is to try them out for a period of time and see what happens. Not a great process but that's how it is. I had an injection and now take 15mgs every day. It helps a lot.....Becareful of the outrageous hunger all of the time, though. I gained 10 lbs in 2 weeks, eating Cocoa Puffs!! I' never feel full. Also, you have to plan to 'get off of them' ASAP and take as little as you can....please read other posts about that. I just can't do without them.
sarah
Nothing yet...I have not been dx'd yet. I have an appt with ortho tomorrow and rheumy May10. My pc prescribed me a 2nd (5 day round) of 40mg prednisone. He gave it to me about 3 weeks ago and it helped, but after I stopped it, symptoms came back. Not all the way but about 50%-75%.
If you've responded well to predisone that's a good indicator that you have an inflammatory disease. I'm sure once you get in the see the RD he'll see that as well. Hopefully once you get an apoointment he'll start you on some sort of DMARD (Disease Modifying agent to slow the progression of the disease) and you'll slowly but surely be able to get off the predisone.
Although it's a great medication used in the short term; it really shouldn't be used long term if you can help it. It can be more harmful than good used long term.
Also prednisone masks your pain and inflammation, sometimes. Just thought I would mention that.