Anyone have torn rotator cuff/muscle and issues with daily prednisone?

Posted by Ms. Mac @donnamac, Oct 11 11:22am

I am not a young woman and have a severe torn rotator cuff and muscle tear. This happened a year ago and I decided no surgery. In about 8 months, my arm felt fine and BANG, torn rotator cuff. I did it again 3 months ago. Only this time, an arm muscle was torn as well. It cannot be repaired with just surgery but with a replacement of shoulder joint. I have many issues including Alpha Gal mammal allergy and am terrified of staff members not following strict medication/medical changes for any surgeries. So to help me with pain I was given Prednisone 5 mg once a day as needed until pain stopped and use as needed thereafter.

Well I took "just one" yesterday and felt okay but then arms felt numb, tingly, and not right. I react to every medication I've ever taken. Then I could not sleep last night and finally fell asleep only to wake up with terrible pain in left upper abdomen. Lasted about 15 minutes and went away. I do have bowel issues but usually on right side. Gone now, but here it is the second day and I am really tired, feeling woozy, and just upset stomach. BP up just a little from prednisone. I am on BP meds.
I thought low dose as needed prednisone would be a good thing until I read all that is connected to steroidal therapy. And to add to "pain" anti-inflammatory drugs" are not my friend as my blood pressure spikes with any combination with ibuprofen in it. I am down to Tylenol or surgery. Heart irregularities from Long Covid, calcium deposits throughout my body, scoliosis, asthma, COPD, heart murmurs, does not make for a good candidate of surgery in my opinion. What do other people do with any or all of these issues? And what do you think about Prednisone? My arm (after only one) is less painful today but....it might not be worth the cost of reactions.

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Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | Nov 1 10:09am

@donnamac I see that you posted some time ago, have you gotten any relief? You are correct that prednisone is a steroid, but 5mg is a very low dose - some people are on it for years for certain medical conditions. Long-term use of prednisone as a pain reliever for musculo-skeletal issues can be problematic. I am not sure whether "as needed" use of prednisone is even helpful - that is why it is usually prescribed for 3-5-20 days. I recently spent several months on prednisone while "ramping up" treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, and had many side effects including severe bruising from any light bump.

If you are determined to avoid surgery, perhaps your best option is to find a pain rehabilitation clinic where they may have some strategies to help you cope. These offer options like targeted physical therapy, meditation and guided imagery, and counseling, and finally some non-opioid pain relievers if needed. This is not a "pain management clinic" where the focus is on finding a long-term medication regimen, but a wholistic approach.

Do you have a doctor who can refer you?