I'm trying to remember back 5 years when I had foot surgery. I think I was told that prednisone stays in your system for a long time so it's not worth stopping it.

This,

If you've been on pred for more than 2 weeks, do NOT stop it cold turkey - messes with your adrenal glands, and can send you into adrenal crisis which if untreated can be life threatening.

I have been on pred pretty much the past 4 years - and have had 4 surgeries while on it - so yes, they were slow healing - mostly just my R elbow as it was a long incision - about 4-5 inches. My smaller incisions (1/2-1 inch) healed up nicely...I just kept them dry. When I had problems with my R elbow healing, the orthopedist told me to get OTC vitamin A and take one a day - I believe it was 5000 IU strength (there was only 1 strength when I bought it) I took it daily for 2 weeks, and it really helped with speeding up the healing process! You might want to ask your doc. My ortho guy had just read a research article on the effect of vit A on wound healing - I'm sure you could google it too.

Good luck - hope you heal fast! Hope the pain stays tolerable...

I didn't think of that, but you're right, you can't just stop taking it. You can cut it back by 1/2 a pill, but I wouldn't do it without asking the doctor first.

I had foot surgery almost 8 weeks ago. Both doctors told me to stop the mtx because that can slow the healing process. I asked about the prednisone and they said it was fine to continue with that.

thanks, all.....:) I really really appreciate the input. I have not had any pred since the surgery on Thurs but after reading all this I'm going to take one today. just 5mg.
i have been on pred since I think the beginning of Feb; was on 10 mg then 20 then 10, then 5 and have been maintaining at 5-
after being on it a couple times before for lung problems (which is how I first noticed my only help with pain before RA dx)
I do know you are not supposed to stop it suddenly but my rheumy , who I just met recently and have seen only the one time..he gave me more with refills (5mg) and told me to take whenever I need it. (he also gave me the anti malaria drug which I have not started yet ; I needed to get through my little surgery situation before trying that)
anyway he told me I can take 1 or even 2 , if I need it and he said "you might find you only need it every other day or maybe even every 3 days"........which makes me feel good to think I can actually get to know my own body and what it needs and medicate correspondingly to my own personal response.......
but I was surprised and said to him "OH........I did not know I can take it THAT way" and he told me it is fine to do......
anyway I have no idea if that is common or good in other doctor's view points but this guy has been doing this a long time; about 30 years so I hope it is true.
My skin doc did give me some antibiotics 'just in case' the pred fails my healing process......but I am telling you all, I have not taken it as it happens to be a specific type of antibiotic which in my mind, scares me......something from my past I don't know what.

it is a type of doxycicline....

I get these emails a bit out of date or would have said too dont suddenly stop prednisone. I think it is unusual to take something like 5mg every other day. I am wondering if there is an advantage in this? (as opposed to 2.5 every day) Wonder if anyone on here takes it in a similar way.

Wonder if melanoma or squamous type. The melanoma takes a lot longer as they go deeper. Agree re Vit C and even though a few days ago now if you handy to homeopathic remedies arnica 30c always useful for the deep trauma or injury. There is another one, ledum 30c, that also helps with cut wounding. Very best wishes for healing.

your comment is not too late......thank you. as far as Vit C I can do that.....Vit A however I am supposed to avoid due to liver disease.
:(
however I am taking Vit D which has some A in it.
It is not either type of cancer you asked about ; it is basal cell which is the slower growing kind. Never had squamous but have had a couple pre melanomas.
this on my face this time is a difficult one as he had to sew me up in a big L /almost a Z actually, without the bottom _(at least it's only about an inch and a half or a bit more)
really hard to bandage , though.. ouch.
I know last time another doc had me on 10mg pred for something else, it was every other day.
I assume if it would be 2.5 mg , I'd have to cut it ?? or do they come in that size?
thanks tons, everyone ! I feel so less alone thanks to you all.

Camba, I forgot to tell you, I love your avatar, and I had a counselor long long ago , who had that drawing in her office and I got a copy (which I no longer have) and I drew it myself, onto something else which I also no longer have...:( So it's nice to see it again. A very funny cute way to remember to not give up !

ThisToo, you can pretty much take pred nearly any way...When I taper, I go down by 1 mg/week per my rheumy. When I can get to 1 mg/day, then I do 1/2 mg a day, for a week, then every other day for a week, then every 3rd day for a week, or maybe even 2 weeks...I always have to taper verrrrrry slowly, or the pain comes back in force.