Tapering off of pred... bad back pain

So I'm tapering off of prednisone, going down by 5 mg every week. I always have random aches and pains, but ever since I got to about 20 mg (started at 40), I've been having really bad back pain in the morning. It's been almost unbearable the past few days since going to 15. I wake up with pain and stiffness in my upper back so bad I can barely move or even talk. After using a heating pad and pain medication, it goes away after a couple of hours, and then I just get twinges of pain throughout the day. Do you think it's the prednisone, or possibly something else? I don't want to keep taking medicine for it... any other suggestions on how to get rid of the pain? It's really interfering with my sleep, too; I wake up early in a lot of pain and can't get back to sleep.

(not sure why my signature is showing I'm at 20 mg of prednisone... I'm actually on 15)

I experienced something similar on my last pred taper. It started with aches and pains the day following a dose reduced, then became pain down my legs that was severe enough to wake me in every night and I couldn't manage the stairs until strong painkillers had kicked in (I was a fit 29 year old at the time).

In my case it *was* the pred which had resulted in an electrolyte imbalance which was causing muscle spasms and cramping. This was really easy to resolve once the doc confirmed the issue.

Equally for a friend of mine it was the taper (too fast for them) causing aches and pains - similar symptoms, completely different cause.

So yeah, it may be the pred, but given you're clearly in a lot of pain I'd probably see the doc before you next drop dose.

I've been on it since early September. Never higher than 50, and I think 10 was the lowest I got to before I had to go back up.

May want to have a blood test and have your electrolyte levels looked at. I was told steriods can impact the potassium level. I'm at 15mg of Pred from 40mg and my potassium level was quite low so I started drinking coconut water - Zico brand. It contains all the electrolytes.

May want to check your hormon balance, testosterone, and thyroid levels too.

Have you had a bone density (DX) test done before steriod? This give you a baseline incase of bone lose from steriods.

DHEA may help replensh any inefficient estrogen levels. 

Have you ever heard of Mineral of Life or Bone Support from World Health Mall? I started taking the liquid bone density formula as my teeth were getting sensitve..maybe bone lose or because my roots are exposed. Hurts to drink cold tab water! Here the product link: http://www.worldhealthmall.com/bone-support-1/

I found alot of useful information here on suppliments: http://holistichealthshoppe.com/index.php#24.  Don't have to buy them there but it's informative.

I'll be going to 10mg this Sat.  Wish me luck!