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Posted 3/30/2007 12:07 AM (GMT 0)
Questions,

I have 2 inflammatory markers, high CRP and SED rate, many painful joints ( neck,hips wrists meta tarsals knee), stiffness reaccurring swollen lymph nodes and fatigue. The fatigue is probably due to lack of restful sleep due to pain. My Rhuemy has decided to try me on Prednisone "as an experiment"? If prednisone reduces my pain, what would this tell him? Will this help lead to a diagnosis? I know that I have Osteo in my knee. Will Prednisone make that less painful? I am having a MRI of my cervical spine tommorow. The xray showed C2-3 probably congentinal fusing and bone spurs. Would this be Osteo? So many questions and so few answers!

Thanks to anyone who responds!

NanMac

Posted 3/30/2007 2:51 AM (GMT 0)
Hey NanMac.. Welcome to Healing Well. Prednisone is often used to reduce swelling and for pain. It should help everywhere you have the swelling/pain. You mentioned something about fusing, has your rheumy said anything about AS? Or Spondylitis? What time is your MRI tomorrow? Keep us posted and hang in there!

Duck
Posted 3/30/2007 1:11 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Nanmac,

Your response, or lack of response, to prednisone can tell your rheumy alot about what is going on with you. If you respond to it, that would most likely be an indication that you have inflammatory arthritis.  Your osteoarthritis should NOT be affected by the prednisone.  I know when I first tried prednisone, I was amazed at how much better I felt in a very short period of time.  I hope it does the same for you.

Elcamino

Posted 3/30/2007 2:32 PM (GMT 0)

Hi there,

I am also undiagnosed, but have the symptoms of rheumatoid, but negative testing...and when I use the steroids, wow, what a difference! all I can say is relief :-)   but when I stop taking them, I rebound and the pain and swelling comes back twice as much sad

I hope the prednisone will help you, I have finally decided to take it myself, so I think the benefits out weigh the negatives of it for sure, especially when you hurt so much!!  Just be sure to take it in early in the day, other wise it will keep you awake! I have taken it for asthma in the past, and I learned that early on.

Feel better.

Posted 3/30/2007 7:51 PM (GMT 0)

Thanks for your responses! I am on vacation until Monday so its a good time to try something new. I started the Prednisone this morning. I am feeling flushed already. I guess that means that it is working. My MRI is at 2 today. I was suprised that I got an appointment so quickly. I am very concerned about the side effects of this med. I am overweight and have been slowly losing weight. My stomach started growling at 12. I am treated for HBP and I am concerned that it might rise. Do people stay on Prednisone for long term? I also really need to figure out how to get a good nights sleep. Right now I take Ambien 1-2 times a week to get by. I have tried many pain relivers but most of them make me vomit or nauseas. I also want to be able to think clearly as I work as a Occupational Therapist for a school dist. Thank goodness I have good insurance or I wouldn't be able to afford all of this. My husband had a HA a year ago and even with my good insurance we have paid quite abit out of pocket. Hope everyone has a great day!

NanMac

Posted 3/30/2007 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
NanMac, why did they say that the fusing was congenital? Reason I ask is that spontaneous fusing of vertebrae is a definitive sign of Ankylosing Spondylitis. You can read up on it here: Spondylitis Association of America They have great information on the Spondylitis group of diseases.
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