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Prednisone - steroid use questions?
Neuropathy | Last Active: Jan 28, 2023 | Replies (9)Comment receiving replies
Hi @julbpat, It sounds like you have a lot going on also. I have small fiber PN but I have taken prednisone in the past when my polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) was active and I was hurting all over. You are right, for something like PMR, the relief is almost immediate or within a few hours after taking the prednisone. Immediate pain relief after taking prednisone is one of the ways rheumatologists use for diagnosing PMR. I had not heard of PMR before when was first diagnosed and my rheumatologist explained it to me in layman's terms that it was like arthritis all over the body.
Here is some information on the topic:
"Why would a patient be prescribed prednisone?
Prednisone treats many conditions such as asthma, allergic reactions, arthritis, inflammatory bowel diseases, adrenal, and blood or bone marrow disorders. It works by decreasing inflammation, slowing down an overactive immune system, or replacing cortisol normally made in the body."
-- Prednisone: Uses & Side Effects: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/drugs/20469-prednisone-tablets
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My rheumatologist did a trial with Prednisone a year or so ago, checking for changes in my sed rate. It didn’t change, so he concluded that I didn’t have PMR. Steroids certainly do help my pain! I think lately I’ve been taking them about half the time. My overall pain comes on more quickly these days than it did even six months ago. I tried a 2 mile hike recently that I was doing every week as recently as last Spring. It was painful from the very first step, but I stubbornly persisted. My physical therapist gently reminded me that the pain was my body’s way of telling me not to do it! But sometimes I just want to try. It’s scary how the neuropathy is progressing.