anyone taken oral steroids a few days for pain despite osteoporosis?

I only do 4mg methylprednisolone for a similar reason. I once went as high as 8mg and tapered down immediately. I get palpitations if I go higher. My rheumatologist once told me 5mg or less is okay for bones. Other specialists seem to freak out even with inhaled steroids and I think they have just heard that steroids are bad for bones. Short term, lower dose, taper fast is what rheumatologist was okay with.

I’ve had a few instances where I had short bursts of oral steroids and more than enough injections for pain management. Docs will prescribe, on a very limited basis, oral steroids when OP is present.

My “spine doc” said that steroids should be avoided - this was after I had several doc-administered pain management injections in my back and hip. Steroids, according to my spine doc cause weight gain that is difficult to get rid of and dosages need to be increased as pain/inflammation increases. It’s known that steroids interfere with the bone-building process and can also contribute to diabetes - he recommended NOT having additional injections. I’m listening to his advice.

Cheers!

Steroid injections hang around for awhile. Short oral bursts leave the body more quickly, I believe. My spine doc was concerned I had taken a mere 4mg for two days but my rheumatologist said it was fine. I would not do a high dose with taper, but for some it might be necessary.

Very interesting replies. We are sometimes in a damned if you do, damned if you don't, situation. I've been pounding the ibuprofen -- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories, worried about internal bleed. I see pain management today and will tell him what you say -- he was set for steroid injection to the neck which sounded awful -- under anesthesia -- but thought oral steroids would be worse for my bones.

This is an interesting topic I had not considered in light of osteoporosis. I have osteoporosis and I'm on the 12 month course of Evenity (I had a sacrum fracture last year). In the past two years I've had two short courses of prednisone for upper respiratory infections. I'm going to ask my endocrinologist about this and will come back here to let you all know what he says.

I’ve had the “pill packs” and docs are reluctant to prescribe them even without having an OP diagnosis. I think, at this point, a little won’t hurt, but always talk it over with your doc.

My spine guy is pretty much anti-steroid, and he explained why - I’m good without ever getting another steroid injection.

Also, I’ve never taken a small dose steroid (4mg) for two days - how do you taper off or does that dosage not require it and if not, how does that little bit help?

Keep smiling! Cheers!

Agreed on the “damned if you do . . .” With issues from Tymlos, I, too, pounded the ibuprofen and acetaminophen. Not much, if any, pain relief, but a great way to ruin your liver and stomach - I ended up with GERD and gastritis.

And, I had the injections in my mid- and lower back with anesthesia. The anesthesia was just a local one and the procedure was leaning over a table with a drape and most of my clothes on (wait, what?!). The pain spec I saw was formerly an anesthesiologist so I trusted his knowledge about Tymlos/Evenity, steroids, and pain meds.

I did enjoy pain relief from the injections and the pains (with the exception of sciatica) completely resolved. With Tymlos as the real culprit, the pains may have resolved on their own once I discontinued taking it and I wouldn’t have needed the injections in the first place; that would’ve made a whole bunch of people happy. Hmmm, something else I’ll never know.

Best thoughts to you on your decisions. Cheers!