Re: PA Diagnosis and Questions - Thing to Remember about Prednisone

[Guest guest]

Good morning from Texas everyone!

Have been reading lots of posts about prednisone and wanted to add

my 2 cents worth! HA! Due to asthma and chronic inflammation I

have taken prednisone MANY times in my life; pills, back injections

and direct IV infusions (for severe asthma attacks).

It can do wonders, BUT now at 47 I am experiencing bone thinning in

several joints; including both hips. Bone thinning, among other

things, is a common side effect of the drug.

All of the drugs that we must use to stay mobile and SANE have risks

involved. I believe it's up to us to pay attention and play an

active part in our healthcare. I've now had 7 Remicade infusions

and they are working well for me. It has given me more relief in my

back than anything I've used.

I do have a question and would appreciate any sharing of experiences.

My spine is fusing in 3 places. Anybody out there been thru this?

Take care and keep posting!

n

[Guest guest]

Hi n,

I'm on Celebrex 200 X 2 and a low dose of prednisone - 5mg - and they

make the pain bareable for the most part. It wouldn't be if I went

back to full time. I now work 5/8 of a full-time position that offers

me much flexibility in my schedule and how I conduct my work

(sitting, standing, on an exercise ball, computing, writing by hand,

etc.) I have had a bone scan for a base-line reading. (It started

out as normal. My BP has gone up a few points (10) and I am

monitoring that to make sure it stays as such. I have gained 10

pounds - and that is OK but I want no more. New exercise program is

slated to begin on Tuesday. so far so good.)

In terms of fused vertibrae, about 80% of my spine is immobile, as

are my sacro-illiac (SI) joints. Though my body is fairly

inflexible, the flexibility that I have with my job, keeps me working

and staying sharp. I think I'd be fully disabled if weren't in

charge of my how and when I provide my service delivery. Luckily, I

don't have to travel much ( I live 8km from my work places ). I am

planning to go to a conference in January that is 4 hours away (over

high mountain passes) in good weather. It is a major decision to

attend. I was considering presenting at this conference a number of

months back, but I have since declined fearing it would take too much

out of me. Though I will be staying in a top Vancouver hotel, until

I lie down, I will remain curious as to whether the bed will allow me

to get some good sleep. I worry that the road trip will aggravate my

sacral nerves to the point where contenance is not just a little

issue. When my spine sells, the neurons controlling my bladder get

squeezed - and it pisses them off!

Take care, Brent

>

> Good morning from Texas everyone!

>

> Have been reading lots of posts about prednisone and wanted to add

> my 2 cents worth! HA! Due to asthma and chronic inflammation I

> have taken prednisone MANY times in my life; pills, back injections

> and direct IV infusions (for severe asthma attacks).

>

> It can do wonders, BUT now at 47 I am experiencing bone thinning in

> several joints; including both hips. Bone thinning, among other

> things, is a common side effect of the drug.

>

> All of the drugs that we must use to stay mobile and SANE have

risks

> involved. I believe it's up to us to pay attention and play an

> active part in our healthcare. I've now had 7 Remicade infusions

> and they are working well for me. It has given me more relief in

my

> back than anything I've used.

>

> I do have a question and would appreciate any sharing of

experiences.

> My spine is fusing in 3 places. Anybody out there been thru this?

>

> Take care and keep posting!

>

> n

>