I agree - Prednisone is awesome for pain - I was on it a long time ago and couldn't believe how much better I felt - but that was before the side effects kicked in for me.
On prednisone I start having really bad panic attacks, was claustrophobic, constantly anxious, minor hallucinations... it got to the point I couldn't go in an elevator if anyone else was in it, car washes were out of the question, if the grocery store felt too busy I'd abandoned my shopping cart and left. It serverly impacted my life - I will never again take that drug.
I was lucky I didn't suffer wieht the puffy face or weight gain - but it was not the drug for me.

it's excellent for inflammation and pain but has horrible long term side effects....

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/steroids/HQ01431

from the mayo clinic:
When taking oral corticosteroids longer term, you may experience:

Clouding of the lens in one or both eyes (cataracts)
High blood sugar, which can trigger or worsen diabetes
Increased risk of infections
Thinning bones (osteoporosis) and fractures
Suppressed adrenal gland hormone production
Thin skin, easy bruising and slower wound healing

there is truly a need to weight the benefits and risks.

It's so mystical to me when I read about how certain drugs impact others and when I take it, it literally does nothing for me. I was in total pain and my doctor had called in a power pack of Prednisone. The only benefit I found with it was that I had gained a bit of my energy back. Other than that, nothing. Glad to hear that it is working so well for you. I hate MTX and the long term effects of that drug but I'm with you....I succumb to it knowing how it makes me feel the rest of the week I don't have the flu like symptoms.

that's good news deanma. my mom has been taking it for 42 years, she has Addison's. over time she and her doc kept working down the dose until they found the absolute minimum that she had to have, forget the amount but it's quite small. good luck.

Most of us do.
It's big help to me but there's a reason they call prednisone
"Good guy, bad Guy"
Not one of my doctors will prescribe the dosage my RA does.
Not even my pain management doctor.
That speaks volumes.
To bad as it does provide such good relief.
It can bite you in the bum. I was on it for oh 8-9 months yrs ago.
When I went to ween off I had such terrible with drawl like symptoms.
That was weening in quarter doses.
As much as it helps I remind myself what I went through.
Enjoy this relief, Sammy

Oh yes prednisone is good for the pain and inflammation...but it affected my eye - gives me glaucoma but once off of it my pressure goes back down... then after long term use I ended up with diabetes... not a good drug for me.

See....i knew it was too good to be true. My pain gets worse towards evening...and flu like feel comes back...it is slowly starting to dawn on me...i have this disease and am going to have to accept it. I am all over the place emotionally. I suspect thats normal... thank you all for your feedback as it helps me a lot.

Hi deanma.... you say your emotions are all over the place? That of course is normal with a dx of RA... but with me, prednisone put me in a emotional rollercoaster ride. Happy one minute and ready to bite anyones head off the next! LOL Emotionally I can not afford to take prednisone, I didn't like ME while I was on it.
I also got very frequent muscle cramps in my legs while on prednisone, which are not fun either!
I stopped the prednisone when I started Humira and I don't plan on going on it again. Rhumey will give it to me... my regular doc does not want me on it.
Good luck!
Cindy

Depending on the dose you may be able to take part in morning part in evening. Although it may keep you up. Something to ask about if evenings are rough.

On the positive side now you know there is something that will help you get through the tough times.

Sweetie I'm past 2 yrs with my diagnosis & with this latest flare, which has been the worst I feel like I'm starting over again accepting.
I find it much harder this time then when I was originally diagnosed.
It can be an on going process.
That's why a group like this is a saving grace.
Understanding goes a long way.
Hang in there & hey enjoy yourself while you have relief.
Sammy

just not the drug for me also.

it's always offered to me as bridges during infections that kind of thing. after having the worse rebounds and huge incredible energy low see saws when weening appropriately after pneumonias, i became a pred refuser.

it's not worth my withdrawal.

I also just remember my mom's death from adrenal disease (she had long term use of prednisone for pancreatitis and other issues leading to adrenal insufficiency)

when on pred, the pain go away magically. where does it go? and why? why does it come back 10 times worse despite an appropriate wean?

glad it is working for you and that you have relief.

Ros

This is a very interesting discussion. I've only used it twice, and it was like a miracle cure for the very intense pain of a flare. Now I will be wary of taking it, but as miserable as I was at the time, I don't know if I would refuse it, when it happens again. Do you think that it is the long time use that cause the problems, or does that matter?

RetiredNow1, my prednisone problems were from long time use just to let you know.

The first time I took it I literally lost 15lbs, went from not walking to walking, Michelin Man to me, Mickey Mouse hands to hand model in 5 hours. Yes, I had that much inflammation and it worked that well.

I'm also a type one diabetic and it is living hell with diabetes. It causes me to use 8 times. Yes, 8 times as much insulin as I normally would in a day even at a 1mg dose. I am quite a certain "normies" poor pancrease can get burnt out responding to such needs for insulin thus the chances of increased risk of type 2 from being on it.

Some people who are already at risk for type 2 may even have to take meds as if they were a type two when on it and a lot of doctors will not check your blood glucose while you are taking prednisone. So if you find yourself thirsty, more lethargic (as it should actually give you more pep as another poster said), and peeing a lot have your blood glucose checked!

Also for those who notice that if you take it in the morning and by night some of the aches and pains come back - from experience and working with some of the best endocrinologists looking at how it spikes the sugar levels we know that the oral prednisone takes about 10 to 30 minutes to start taking affect and remains "active" for somewhere between 6 to 10 hours. So if you can split your dose it might help resolve the aches and pains (but as mention cause sleeplessness).

I'll also admit I was at one time on an 80mg daily dose and I did not sleep for 9 days. Seriously no naps, no resting eyes, no sleep whatsoever and I didn't want sleep either! The people I worked with hated me as even simple things I coded recursively and that is a nightmare but being awake 24x7 I had nothing to do but code creatively and eat. Yes, the munchies hit me big time. They don't seem to kick in for me until around 30mg but boy do I become a bottomless pit at that dose and higher.

So yeah I gained 80lbs in the time span of 3 months. I also got a moon face, a nice back hump, adrenal fatigue, and my skin became very translucent and showed every single vein. The lightest touch and I would bruise. But boy did I love being pain free and zippy.

It does some wonderful things but mercy you really do rob Peter to pay Paul with it.

excellent contribution, smith - lots of great information.

Cindy- I've had similar side effects with prednisone- crazy mood swings and leg and foot cramp, especially at night (the cramps that is). Have just weaned myself off of it for the first time in almost 4 months. Did refill the prescription, because if I have a flare, that will be the first thing I will go to. Don't know if it's the drug we love to hate or the drug we hate to love!