Hi Bob,
Since last one month I'm diagnosed have costochondraitis. Phisio, Osteo & Nurofen.. Nothing is working!!!same pain
Just started "prednisolone"
Do you think it works
Please share your treatments
? no ideas? I'm experiencing this same thing, but like Bob said, I'm looking for feedback.. is there a place to expand the comments or is this all that was written?
I know this is a super old post, and the chances of me getting a response are slim, but I figured I’d try.. Most of these responses are very helpful, but I’m concerned about being on high doses of prednisone for an extended period of time. A lot of you talk about increased pain being an indicator of not enough prednisone; however, I’ve been told by many doctors that it isn’t safe to be on prednisone for a long time/in high doses. What about all of the problems that come with taking so much? :( I hate that I need these medications that come with all of these new ailments.. I feel like I take one step forward with pain or with a specific problem just to take two steps back because of side effects. It’s very discouraging!
This post is over 5 years old - what you see on the thread is what you get but there are 2 pages to it so scroll down to read it all.
I don't understand doctors, they prescribe us with pred then go on about how dangerous it is taking it and we should get off it, even though we have discovered it has helped the pain. Yes we know there are side effects, but we do know a lot about them as it is an old drug, not like some of the horrendous side effects you can get from some of the biologic monoclonal antibody type drugs or the cancer drugs. What dose of pred are you on? If it is for PMR it probably will not be that high dose as such anyway.
I'm still here and so is ptolemy!! Like the proverbial bad penny, we keep on turning up :)
I have been on pred at above 10mg for much of the last 10 years - it gives me my life back. I only take the lowest dose that works - and that is the primary aim, you start on a dose that is probably too much for you and then taper it carefully to identify the lowest dose that YOU need. I have no identifiable problems - over the years I have learned how to manage the potential adverse effects. I gained weight - I lost over 35lbs by cutting carbs drastically. My bone density was good at the outset, last time it was checked after over 7 years on pred it was hardly changed. My skin is fine, my hair varies, I have no signs of diabetes, probably because I eat a low carb diet and although overweight, that is nothing new for me.
A fairly recent study:
https://www.medpagetoday.org/rheumatology/generalrheumatology/66912?vpass=1
done by experts at the Mayo found the claimed adverse effects of pred are no worse in patients with PMR taking pred at the usual sort of doses required long term for PMR than in a matched population not on pred. They also found PMR lasts far longer than most doctors admit - and 40% of patients still require some pred at 10 years. The link to the original paper is at the bottom of the article.
Hi all,
As the original poster of this Costochondritis thread, I thought I'd give everyone an update.
First of all, I'm still on prednisone. I actually got down to 0.5 mg/day but experienced a severe flare at that level. I took 5 mg one day, 4 the next, and then started the slow taper again at 3.0 mg/day. I'm currently at 2.5 mg/day.
The rather severe Costochondritis symptoms gradually subsided. In fact, they are currently non-existent. I can't remember when they disappeared -- I'd say maybe a year ago.
The only reason I won't start tapering again is because of shoulder pain. It's not severe by any means, but it's always there.
In summary, my symptoms have more-or-less travelled over the last 5 years. I have a doctor who is very open to reading anything I send him from this forum -- and he's perfectly okay for me to dwell at 2.5 mg the rest of my life if necessary.
So hang in there everyone, and most importantly find a doctor that you can PARTNER with in this journey.