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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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NetWellness provides the highest quality health information and education services created and evaluated by faculty of our partner universities.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
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Arthritis and Rheumatism |
Predisone and back pain05/02/2008 08:30AM |
I`m 51 yrs old and have chronic back pain. Mostly between shoulder blades. I`m talking like I`ve been hit with a hammer between the blades. Slight lower pain also. I`ve had CT scans, xrays, stress tests. You name it. Chiropractors, pain mgmt specialist, nothing helps. All test possible. Finally went to a rhomatoligist. They prescribed 20 mg of predisone. Instantly felt like a million dollars. I`ve slowly gone down to 10mgs. It`s been about a year now. The problem is, any less than 10mgs I can`t get out of bed. As much as I`d rather play frisbee with the kids vs watching them, am I setting myself up for an early grave due to other organ failures in the future? I appreciate your help.
The typical goal when using corticosteroids (steroids) to treat a disease is to use the lowest dose possible for the shortest period of time that allows disease remission, control, or maintenance. This rationale is based on the risk of side effects that may occur with steroids, particularly with chronic use. The side effects are not universal, but they certainly do occur. For example, in an observational study by Proven, et al published in Arthritis Care and Research in 2003, 103 of 120 patients treated with high-dose corticosteroids for Giant Cell Arteritis experienced some adverse event inclusive of hypertension, bone fracture, high glucose, cataract, or others.The risk of side effects may be correlated with the dose and duration of steroid that you receive. In certain diseases, steroid-sparing medicines may play a role in helping to decrease your corticosteroid dose. Speak to your doctor further on your need for chronic corticosteroids and the utility of steroid-sparing agents.
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Raymond Hong, MD, MBA, FACR Assistant Professor Division of Rheumatology University Hospitals School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University |
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