Medication question

Thank you for suggestion - did he have prednisone addiction?

@catartist I think the addiction you are talking about is actually adrenal insufficiency. The way my rhumatologist talked about it was that the prednisone you take makes the adrenal glad quit secreting cortisol. He said the adrenal gland “goes to sleep” or “shuts down” and when you wean off prednisone it comes awake and starts secreting the amount your body needs again. But if this goes on too long, the adrenal gland won’t be able to wake up again. I wish someone had educated me to that fact when I first started taking it years ago.

That makes sense. Prednisone is definitely a mixed bag. Do any of you follow a gluten free diet? I went completely vegan for over a year but now follow an anti inflammatory paleo diet as I lost too much weight.
Have any of you tried the Paddison program?
I feel like I’ve been down so many roads and tried so many supplements and strategies..
At this point, all I know is to be hopeful and keep moving. My dog and I walk miles every day. I listen to the morning.

After watching various videos and eating a giant piece of very fancy, sugary cake, the next morning the fact that sugar causes inflammation hit home for me. I had intense pain, more than usual. I could suddenly physically see the connection and sugar (and thus carbs) no longer appeal to me. I started cooking my own fresh vegetables every night that I don’t have a salad. I do still have a frozen or prepared entree several nights a week. I’ve lost weight and just feel better. When I look at sugary pastries I no longer want them…almost to the point of being repelled by them. I’ve cut carbs because of this and look forward to my next bloodwork. I’m hoping to see my A1C pre-diabetic diagnosis go away. So I guess what I’m advocating is for public awareness at a gut level of the connection: sugar + carbs = inflammation = pain.

My only comment is with RA ( and OA) for over 35 years I have never been without pain! But prednisone ( presently 5 mg) worked best always tho addiction and now muscle atrophy has been the price. Also take methotrexate, Tylenol , IV Orencia biological, and Cymbalta. Still so much pain - good luck! Tips welcome…

As someone who is autoimmune prone (and born with migraines) pain and I are old friends. My neurologist swares by Low dose Naltrexone for chronic pain. You can not use it with opiates and I have found Cymbalta counter-productive. So, watch out. Read about it first and you decide.

As someone who is autoimmune prone (and born with migraines) pain and I are old friends. My neurologist swares by Low dose Naltrexone for chronic pain. You can not use it with opiates and I have found Cymbalta counter-productive. So, watch out. Read about it first and you decide.

That makes sense. Prednisone is definitely a mixed bag. Do any of you follow a gluten free diet? I went completely vegan for over a year but now follow an anti inflammatory paleo diet as I lost too much weight.
Have any of you tried the Paddison program?
I feel like I’ve been down so many roads and tried so many supplements and strategies..
At this point, all I know is to be hopeful and keep moving. My dog and I walk miles every day. I listen to the morning.

@catartist I think the addiction you are talking about is actually adrenal insufficiency. The way my rhumatologist talked about it was that the prednisone you take makes the adrenal glad quit secreting cortisol. He said the adrenal gland “goes to sleep” or “shuts down” and when you wean off prednisone it comes awake and starts secreting the amount your body needs again. But if this goes on too long, the adrenal gland won’t be able to wake up again. I wish someone had educated me to that fact when I first started taking it years ago.