taking it to relieve sciatica in my legs, and to reduce swellling in disk area
Prednisone - presnisone for bulging or herniated disk, how well does it work?
Question posted by strugglin on 7 July 2012
Last updated on 10 July 2012 by Happy4now
3 Answers
Happy4now
10 July 2012
Hello struggling.. Predisone was very helpful to me. It took down the swelling in no time. I didn't really want to take it but found the medicine brought about quick relief until i could go in for a cordisone injection. Take care!
endlessPred
8 July 2012
Hello, strugglin. Many us are doing just that. Prednisone is often used to reduce inflammation prior to other medications being used. While taking the prednisone, assuming you are talking oral and not a shot of cortisone, it will be slowly reduced over time. Often almost immediate pain relief occurs if at a high enough level. Certainly it will be reduced. However, often insurance plans will not pay for other treatments without trying it first and the doctor gains important information with how you respond and your condition changes.
Just take it as prescribed and report back to doctor if you notice changes. Write on a list so you have them for your next visit. never stop cold turkey as that can be dangerous. People have different responses to this med. higher doses, over thirty should be split as half dose in am and half dose in pm. (say for a 40mg dose it would be 20mg with breakfast and 20mg at dinner) Be sure to always have some food with it. If your stomach is bothered contact the doc for something to take. Not all OTC drugs work for this.
I have been on it for seven years. it keeps me alive. Nothing else works. So long term use is not as big a deal as some might think. Most problems arise with long term use. You may feel flushing and jittery. Perhaps more talkative or a little harder to sleep. Considering the benefits, this is not a big deal. Compared to the pain you have, take your time to acclimate to it. It is doable. Write me privately if you wish. Karen
kaismama
8 July 2012
I was hoping you'd see this question so I could learn more. Do you mean the insurance company forces people to try cortisone before anything else? Why, because its cheap?
endlessPred
8 July 2012
Yes. My sister went through two years of one drug after another until they could get her to the one most needed because of expense. She has Osteo. The doctor was as frustrated as she was. Of course the doctor and she were always hoping the next one would work. Hence, that is why they do it. Health plans are what they are. So far for me Medicare covers what I take and they have accepted experimental drugs and treatments because of the rarity and severity of this disease. In spite of the rhetoric out there, Medicare is not set up for people to die without their drugs. Proper protocol and doctor letters get what you need. They cost, but considering the difference of not getting it... Karen
kaismama
8 July 2012
I get so sick of the stuff that is said about medicare, and some of the oldest of us, like my mom, believes that stuff. No matter what I say I can't change her mind. There is nothing wrong with paying attention to how the money is used. There was a lot of fraud out there. They aren't going to deny treatment so that someone dies, no matter what anyone says. I start medicare in sept, and I can't wait, I've been without health insurance for 5 yrs because no way can I afford it. Never thought I'd look forward to being 65.
endlessPred
8 July 2012
Good for you. My disease put me on it right away. just filled out some forms. It wasn't until later I thought, "oh no, how bad is this?" lol. Well keep,up the fight for sanity. Yah never know who will listen.
kaismama
7 July 2012
It should work fairly well. Prednisone does not come without side effects and I urge you to research the med and learn them. Is this the last ditch effort because nothing else worked?
Related topics
Further information
- Prednisone uses and safety info
- Prednisone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Prednisone (detailed)
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