broken arm - reduce steroids?
Posted , 7 users are following.
Now I've broken my arm, and it hurts enough to need di something codeine, as well as paracetemol, and is/was effectively an open fracture so I'm also an antibiotic, so shall I try and reduce pred from 8 mg/day to 5?
thoughts please?
1 like, 10 replies
BettyE rachel24455
Posted
I wouldn't think that reducing after such trauma would be a good idea and from 8 to 5 in one jump is a bit drastic My only experience anything shock making was a dramatic adverse reaction to penicillin and the hospital raised my Pred.to 20. for, I think, ten days and then straight back to my previous dose which I think had been 10.
To go from 8 to 5 is a lot more than the 10% often recommended as a tolerable reduction.
What does your GP say? Did the fracture clinic know you are on steroids?
rachel24455 BettyE
Posted
yes, I did tell them about steroids which I think is one of the reasons they put me on antibiotics as the steroids are suppressing my immune system.
hoping I can reduce to 7.5 then....
EileenH rachel24455
Posted
NO!!!! At least - certainly NOT in a single step.
This is the stage (8mg and below) that your body is going to need to start making its own steroid, cortisol, again to top up the lowering dose of pred. Your body needs the cortisol (or pred, it isn't bothered which) to function properly and especially in response to stress - and stress includes trauma and infection. If you had recently reduced below 8mg a good doctor would have considered RAISING the dose a bit to be sure you are coping well with the injury.
I have had injuries while on pred, they healed perfectly well and I was on aconsiderably higher dose than you are. I assume you did tell the doctors you were on pred? What were you up to? Hope it heals well.
rachel24455 EileenH
Posted
Hello Eileen.
i was moving horses. Carelessly!
i just feel so well now that I keep thinking I've got this didease under control, and want to get off the Meds.
Now im having to demand a DEXA scan as my arm shouldn't have broken so easily. I just feel too young....
EileenH rachel24455
Posted
rachel24455 EileenH
Posted
i broke the radial bone - the big bone, and had to have the two broken ends pulled back into place. Under a local. Ouch!
EileenH rachel24455
Posted
Rotten lot!!! They should have to suffer it!
It is the most common fracture. Even young and healthy bones will break with the force of falling onto your hand - is that what you did? Did the orthopods suggest a dexascan? It's when you break something without significant force it is time to worry. Let us know how you get on - and who is looking after your 4 footed friends now?
rachel24455 EileenH
Posted
Eileen I put my hand out to stop one barging thru' and it snapped. I don't think it should have done, but as I'm on the Alendronic acid tablets anyway my GP is not referring me for DEXA scan.
Luckily I can buy in labour to help with the ingrates.
and I have fracture clinic appt. on Monday next.
def not reducing steroids
EileenH rachel24455
Posted
Hum - I'd say a barging horse would be sufficient force!!! What to they weigh?????????????? They have b£**%" big feet - I do remember that.
Do please ask the fracture clinic - your GP is an idiot. How long have you been on AA? There is evidence it can lead to bones developing cracks which make them more likely to break.and that must be ruled out if you have been on AA for any length of time.
ptolemy rachel24455
Posted