Prednisone…

I never took oral prednisone, but was on weeklysolumedrol infusions for 21 months, which served only to keep me out of the nursing home. Solumedrol is a form of steroids, it knocks down inflammation, allowing nerves to work better. It also increases strength by doing this, & does mask pain significantly. But both prednisone & solumedrol come with significant risks.

In addition to the obvious, the weight gain (I gained 80# in 21 months), irritability, sleeplessness the day of & then being dog tired the day after that, I also developed cataracts in both eyes, skin ulcerations all over my body, especially in my lower legs, etc. I could add so much more, but had my last infusion in Feb of 2004 & one tends to forget. How I wish I never would have needed to take them; I wish I could have had cytoxan infusions instead. But it was only a few months into my illness & no doctor would have prescribed that back then. Just be real careful with the higher dose steroids.