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Is it PMR (and/) or Osteoarthritis?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 14 hours ago | Replies (64)Comment receiving replies
Hi,
You have many good stories. I like this one especially for several reasons. First you documented what happens to early injuries in later life. Kids need to know that, especially concussions. Then your IV cortisone while in surgery. Would you allow that today? It seems that the potential problems caused by prednisone even at small dosages are only being recognized more recently. You're one of those who've taken prednisone such a long time, but I never hear you speak about side effects. And I'm only 2 days post-op and can't now remember what else I planned to say and I can't scroll to reread it. Maybe I better just quiet down.
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@mlz
I try not to dwell on the side effects of prednisone too much. When I do write about the side effects it is about "long term prednisone use" and not "short term prednisone use." The side effects from my long term prednisone use were a huge negative in my life. On the other hand, the pain relief that prednisone provided was a huge positive. When I weigh out the positives and negatives in those terms it makes me neutral.
I mostly wish to share my positive experience of being off prednisone for the last 5 years. The biologic I currently take has greatly enhanced my quality of life. The equation is different when I weigh the positives of pain relief + being on a biologic + being OFF prednisone. When there are 3 big positives with only a couple of small negatives ...the net result is hugely positive!
There needs to be alternatives to long term prednisone to treat PMR/GCA.