Prednisone for spine artritic pain

[Jack-of-all-trades]

I found out from the nurse that brought my last batch of steroids out to my house that her home health agency has quite a few on maintenance prednisone. Obviously, it is a long way from first choice but if the side effects are tolerable it has a good chance of success. For back type pain she advised it was usually in the 10-20 mg a day range. I have know people with Crohn's or Rheumatoid Arthritis on maintance. It sure beats the heck out of suicide for pain control. I suspect it would have to be asked for after a trial of other stuff.

About a month or so ago, I was started on 200 mg of Prednisone a day for 5 days, then a tapering dose. By the third day, my C-spine pain was gone, plus no more popping a cracking. A repeat MRI after the Prednisone confirmed the MS. One of the C-spine lesions no longer enhanced, but another C-spine and possibly a third enhanced. The two in my Medulla were still enhancing with one now across the midline. I just finished a 5 day run of daily IV Solu-Medrol 1000 mg a day and am on the taper. If I can get BCBS to pony up the money, I'll start Tysabri IV once a month. HEY Justin, Bet you don't know what that drug is?

[KBear]

That is really great that the steroids took away your pain! Did it come back when you tapered off the steroids? Or is it still gone? Would also be curious to know about the last medication you mentioned? Is it like a steroid?

I'm glad you have your diagnosis as to what is wrong and sorry that it is MS. Still thinking about you and praying for you.

[Hooch]

Gday, sorry to hear the news. It's amazing what a steroid can do to the body.

[Jack-of-all-trades]

C-spine pain came back a little, after the first dose of Prednisone but not like before. Since 200 mg PO is a fairly big dose of oral steroids, it was more like getting an injections at the spine site, or at least that is what I figured. Only it affects everything and not just my neck. Solu-medrol is IV methyprednisolone. It is the active form of what our bodies metabolize Prednisone into. Normally the starting dose is a heck of a lot less than 1000 mg a day. When the nurse showed up with the IV sets and I read the label it was one of those WTHeck moments. They do, at least on this kind of a dose, give you a kick in the pants kind of stimulus. Can't sleep, want to go 24-7 kind of thing. I can see why the IOC bans it. It doesn't increase muscle, those are the anabolic steroids.

I'm just now on my 2nd day of taper at 200 mg oral a day of Prednisone. Still to much to take long term. That is the problem with these kinds of drugs as they come with baggage. Methylprednisolone - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Cindylou]

Michael, good to hear from you, always. What is IOC? Is that International Olympic Committee? Was the only thing I could think of, but I could be way off. Just curious. I did some reading up on your new drug and infusion treatments, Tysabri, and it does look like it could hold some definite promise for you, albeit always with potentially not good side effects, but hey.....sometimes the quality of life or lack thereof, supersedes any side effects, you know? So, I will be quite anxious to read how your body responds to this treatment. When are you scheduled to have your first IV infusion of it? I will definitely keep you in my prayers, Mike, that this offers some hope and improvement in function for you. Always wishing you only the best, and so good to hear from you. I've missed you! Hugs, CL

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Cindylou,

Yes, the Olympic folks. The cortisone type of steroids don't really build muscle. They just decrease inflammation. I'm sure it would be used if legal to cope with over training maybe even stress type fractures. No telling what else. I didn't realize the energy boost was there. I've felt so fatigue for so long I suppose it wasn't just a boost but a return to normal. Whatever, I'll take it. I'll probably start the new drug in about 2-3 weeks, pending insurance.

The thing about Tysabri is that insurance in the past has not wanted to pay for it as a first use drug and is not on their approved drug list as a first use drug. I've done some research on it and one that is on their list. The one on their list requires more follow-ups (like expensive MRIs and the like). After 6 months on something else like this other drug, I can switch to Tysabri following there printed policy. End results, more money out of the insurance companies pocket than if I would have been allowed to go on Tysabri in the first place. I'm not above using their rules to game the system so to speak if it results in better health care. I'll flash them my research if I need to.

[Cindylou]

I forgot to mention in my last post Mike that my mother-in-law has been on a low maintenance dose of Prednisone for years for her rheumatoid arthritis and has managed just fine on it, and it has really helped her immensely, in terms of pain reduction. I'm sure she has to have the routine blood work to check liver function and all that while on it, but it has proved to be a very important adjunct therapy to her well-being. She is 88. She also receives infusion therapy once a month, but I cannot recall what drug is used for that. When hubby wakes up I will ask him. A hunch is telling me it is the same one you are hoping to get coverage for, but I'll check to be sure. I hope you can get first time around coverage for it. Good to hear from you, CL