Chronic Pain Support Group
Physicians and professionalsdefine pain as chronic if it lasts longer than three to six months and is persistent. It's distinct from acute pain that is a direct result of injury or trauma. This support group is dedicated to those suffering from chronic pain. Discuss treatments that have worked for you, find advice for your specific experience, and find support. You're not...
I've been MIA for the last week or so and am really missing the support here. The pain specialist put me on a round of steroids for my recent flare up and it really didn't help with the pain- it never seems to help. Anyway, on about the third day I started with a sore throat and then remembered that each time they hit me up with steroids, I end up getting sick because of what it does to my immune system. I figured I would just deal with it and let my body fight it off. BIG mistake!! Almost 3 weeks later, finally saw a Dr. today and started antibiotics. I just kept getting worse and ended up with a sinus infection and bronchitis! Spent the last 3 days delirious with a high fever and more pain than usual (I guess from inflamation from the virus). Does this happen to anyone else when they take or get injected with steroids? It seems each time I get a little worse than the last and I'm afraid it's destroying my immune system!
when i had my steroids shots i was never so miserable in my life, so when my doctors gave me the metro packs i just didn't take them, of course i am not saying to do that i am just letting you know i know how you feel.
just keep up the dialogue with your doctors and hopefully you can get off those buggers sooner then later.
I had an assortment of problems with them, i know they are meant to help but dang you would think they had less side effects
i hope the worst is over and we will be hearing from you soon
I'm so sorry to hear about your sickness due to the steroids....as if you needed even more crap to deal with!! Here's the thing about the Medrol packs...these are the most powerful anti-inflammatories that doctors have to work with....unfortunately the side effects almost always outweigh the benefits...at least in my experience. That's why the Medrol pack comes with a gigantic foldout paper listing all the things that "may" go wrong. You're right...they totally screw your immune system. It seems the only way not to get sick on them is to roll around in a glass bubble afterwards. They also mess up your hormones! After taking a 6 day methylprednisolone pack once I didn't have a normal menstrual cycle for 6 months! They can also alter your psychological or mental state while you're on them...making your more anxious,etc....some people even hallucinate while taking them! I try to avoid steroids at all costs for these very reasons. It seems that it takes your body months to rebound from the negative effects of a medrol pack....well after your flare would've been gone if you hadn't taken them. If you take steroids regularly, this can facilitate the breakdown of connective tissues in the body, leading to increased chronic pain.
In case you can't tell...I've had very bad experiences with the steroid packs, and I can totally sympathize with you. If you can get by with a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory during your next flare, I would opt for that.
Again, I'm very sorry this happened to you and I really hope you feel better!
With lots of caring,
Orchid