Addison's Disease Support Group

Thank you all for your thoughts and suggestions. I have been using the dollar store heat patches and putting on knees and they help but fall off in the middle of the night (when I need them most). Will try the heat tape.

Question: does the prednisone help the inflammation of the joints or cause problems with the joints? Most doctors have told me that taking the steroid should relieve the pain and I shouldn't be having the pain. Chicken or egg. What do you guys think? Does the prednisone cause the joint problem, does the auto immune system destroy the joints regardless of the steroid?

Prednisone is anti-inflammatory and most people have reduced joint pain when they take it. That is why they do steroid injections into the joints to relieve the pain as well. However, it is not a good fix because of all the side effects it causes - like bone loss and osteoporosis. That being said, doses for adrenal replacement are usually way too small to provide relief of joint pain.

Gosh you are smart. That answers my question and makes complete sense.

What state are you in? Are you satisfied with the healthcare there? Are you or have you been in healthcare?

I am in Kentucky (thus KY connie) and go to Bowling Green for medical care.

Have you had stomach issues because of the steroids?

Hi Connie. Are you on prednisone? I had bad joint and bone pain on prednisone ( and soemtimes on the HC although not as as bad), but it was mostly while tapering down off high doses that I had that.
Ice helps me with my low back issues...I know heat feels better and heat does work too ( I use Thermacare Heat Patches...I get the menstrual cramp ones as they are smaller and I can move them around my back), but an ice pack applied actually helps the pain and inflammation more.
I tried those heat patches from Dollar Stores and they did not really work. You could try applying an ice pack wrapped with an ace bandage..although it will not stay cold all night.

Connie,
I am in Alaska. THe healthcare here is dismal. I am a Nurse Practitioner. I think the medical system in this country is going down the drain. Doctors don't care one whit about anything but money. The cost is beyond absurd. You get shuffled from one idiot specialist to another and no one wants to deal with the whole picture. The drug companies run the show. I am disgusted with it and hate to admit I work in the field.
Prednisone or any steroids can effect the stomach and cause problems. It basically effects everything in the body in one way or another. Very potent stuff - cortisol - and extremely important to life. Yet too much is very bad for us as well. Quite a two edged sword. At one time they thought it was the miracle drug that was going to cure all ills. Not so. Still, for us, it is unavoidable as we don't make our own cortisol and have no choice but to replace it. This in turn effects every other system in our bodies. And its not just prednisone - any of the steroids are pretty much the same - they differ mostly in how long they last and in minor chemical ways. They all mimic cortisol.

Vanyel

Thank you all for your comments and discussion.

Seems like either not taking enough steroid or taking too much causes physical pain. When body is stressed, one needs more but the stressors come without notice and they can be physical or emotional. I have found that emotional stress sucks up the steroid more than physical stressors.

What I'm hearing from many people with adrenal insufficiency is that the conventional medical system doesn't understand what is happening with all the auto-immune problems occurring right now. I'm seeing young people having thyroid, arthritis, and other auto-immune problems. Guess we will never know if it is coming from our food supply, environment, or some other source. This is an epidemic that will need much research and attention. Doctors seem to try to appease until next visit or shuffle us from specialist to specialist. Treating the symptoms is difficult and re-energizing our adrenals doesn't seem to be a logical goal -- although I have heard it is possible. I'm hearing that ice/heat/exercise/diet can help alleviate some of the symptoms. Keeping a positive attitude can be difficult while taking steroids -- especially when our healthcare providers cannot empathize. Knowing that we are not alone and what we are experiencing is not just mental instability is reassuring! We are actually experiencing what we are experiencing!!! Hang in there, adrenal friends. There is a reason we are still here and we have things to contribute. May be more challenging for us to accomplish things, but we can. Keep the faith.