1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Ankylosing Spondylitis

Help from Prednisone

Posted , 4 users are following.

peter21326
peter21326

Hi all,

  I've heard it said by numerous people that they had good outcomes with Prednisone.  Someone also mentioned that a good response to Prednisone is a positive indicator of AS.  A couple of years ago I had a cervical fusion to try to fix a problem I had at C5-6.  After coming out of surgery and for a brief period after thereafter not only did my symptoms from the neck problems subside but my lower back felt better than it has in years.  I kidded with the neurosurgeon that he was so good that he fixed two problems at once.  But he had no way to explain why my lumbar back felt better.  While talking it over with my wife she mentioned that after my surgery the surgeon came out to see her and mentioned that the surgery went well and that they gave me a good dose of Prednisone in surgery to ward off any inflammation from the fusion procedure.  He said that this is standard procedure.  Sadly and predictably the effect was temporary and soon I was back to my old self.

  Since that surgery I have been given oral doses of prednisone on a few occasions for flares of various kinds and NEVER had that kind of dramatic effect.  I have been given standard dose packs and even slightly higher oral doses with very little effect on my back.

  I really do believe that my lumbar back relief was due to the prednisone given during the surgery.  There is nothing else I could attribute it to.  I can only guess that the difference is a matter of dosage.  Maybe the amount I was given IV during surgery was a more significant dosage than I get in oral applications.

  So I was wondering what you have found.  To anyone that got relief from prednisone I was wondering what dosage level were you using and how long were you taking it before relief?  

  This is mainly a question for my curiosity.  I have no thought of taking prednisone long term even if I could get an oral dose to work.  My wife has had rheumatoid arthritis for many years now.  Before getting miraculous results from Remicade they had her on Prednisone.  It worked pretty well for her but she ended up needing a shoulder replacement.  The surgeon who did the procedure was adamant that Prednisone was the cause of the shoulder problem.  He said that it eventually impeded circulation in the shoulder area effectively killing that joint.  That was really all the evidence I needed to not take it long term.  But again, I am curious about what doses and durations of oral Prednisone was successful against AS.

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • JenInCali
    JenInCali peter21326

    Posted

    Hi Peter, I have been given steroids IV before and the results were miraculous until, after several days, the effect wore off. Here's the catch: they use a different steroid by IV in the hospital called Solumedrol. It is Very strong and long-lasting. Therfore you feel on top of the world for several days then the symptoms return. It really sucks. For me personally I think I will use prednisone for flares and not long term. It has too many bad side effects that I don't want to take on. I hope this helps.

  • gloria55119
    gloria55119 peter21326

    Posted

    Hello Peter, I was on Prednisone after seeing a specialist in Thailand but I must say that it certainly didn't suit me..I put on so much weight that it made my condition much worse due to the pressure on the joints. The weight will not come off now as I cannot excersize to get rid of it..much too painful to walk. It may be a good idea if you look on the "net" and make your decision on the information there...just type in "Prednisone" and you will be amazed at the side effects.

  • edward61102
    edward61102 peter21326

    Posted

    Hi Peter! My experience with Prednisone has been very mixed. Early in my disease process I had excruciating pain in my SI/Buttocks. The pain ran down my legs and and made it very difficult to even pick up my feet. A simple steroid burst for one week significantly improved my symptoms.

    I found later when I took Prednisone for a longer period of time, that it didn't work as well.

    Recently, I had neck pain and stiffness that wouldn't subside with my usual pain control process. I was prescribed Prednisone and had zero relief from it`s use. I needed a steroid injection in my neck.

    I've developed Osteoporosis and my Doc thinks it's probably due to my steroid use.

    So, a mixed bag of results is certainly not unique.

    Best wishes for a straight back!

    • gloria55119
      gloria55119 edward61102

      Posted

      Hello Edward..I agree with your doctor about Prednisone...but others may not agree....everyone is individual and what suits one may not suit another...which is what makes this disease so difficult to understand and treat. I have been lucky with Amitriptalyne ( ? spelling )...it has helped me so much. G with hugs.
  • drliz
    drliz peter21326

    Posted

    Hi Prednisone in highish doses does reduce inflammation but it has a lot of bade side effects if it is taken continuously. So it can be used short term under a doctor' guidance. Psoriatic arthritis gets worse after Prednisone: on rebound.

Back to top

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.