Been on a 7 day Prednisone Pack for 5 days now

[Cindylou]

Hi guys,

Man, I just have to tell you, 5 days into my Prednisone pack, and I had completely forgotten what it felt like to live and enjoy life, mostly pain-free. Unbelievable. I can clearly see that a lot (most?) of my pain is inflammatory-based. I have not enjoyed one of these holidays from pain in almost 4 years, the last time I took one of these. Where've I been? On "slow" street, clearly. I recognize that Prednisone is not a faint medication w/o serious risk and side effects, but I guess what I don't get is, why, why, why, is there not a comparable medication to address inflammation so successfully as it, without all the problems?? Why has a drug not been invented for people, all the world over, okay me, I'm thinking about me right now....lol, to take advantage of, so I don't have to live such a crippled, painful life? Does the system not want us to get better and be more productive? I just don't get it. Isn't there anything someone like me can take that could give me the relief this Prednisone is giving me? I sit here thinking of how my pain will be completely back in the next day or two, and I just want to lay down and die. My husband says I have laughed more, danced around the house more, skipped, slept better (can you believe it, on this?), then he can hardly remember. Gosh, sounds like I've actually been fun to be around. Imagine that? My poor husband. All that he has had to put up with all these years. I'm happy. I'm sad. It's all gonna end soon. Thanks for listening. CL

[KBear]

CL- Glad you are getting relief from the steroids. It's unreal the amount we give up when dealing with spine pain, slowly we forget what it was like to be normal and I know I wasn't much fun to live with either. I know I'm scared thinking that as I get bigger that my pain will return, but I also know that it will most likely go away with the birth of the baby. So, I can't imagine feeling so great and knowing it will be over in a couple of days.

It definitely sucks they don't have something that could be taken long term. Not a human story, but last year when Jack (dog) was so sick the vet put him on steroids long term. We decided to go for quality of life not quantity, but they did tell me that the steroids would speed up his demise because they are so hard on the liver/ kidneys (I'm thinking that's the organs they said and he was already having liver problems.) It's such a catch 22, even though he's a dog, I hated that I was giving him something that was killing him faster, even though making him feel better for the short term. I'm assuming that this is why they don't give them to people long term? I wonder if one of the other inflammation medications might help you? Might be worth a try, but I think they can be pretty hard on the tummy too.

[mmarsh]

CL

It is a swell break from pain, though, isn't it? I'm super glad you're getting relief and super sad it will end. I have a friend who has lupus and she was on long term steoids and they ate her hip joints. She's since had both hips replaced (she's only 53!). So be careful what you wish for! I think perhaps, it's not cost effective for the pharmas to develop a med that reduces inflamation that doesn't cause awful side effects. Maybe as more and more people age with active lifestyles, they'll figure something out. I'll think about you for awhile, too! Best to you.