Prednisone

[cyclesooz]

Hey all, I know Snapdragons comments were posted quite some time ago (regarding taking Prednisone) but I was trying to find some help and advice about what I'm going thru right now. I have been off my bike for about 9 months now (to give a hamstring tear/leg pain a rest) I took up swimming in its place and immediately had severe neck pain. I kept swimming and ultimately the pain became so severe I had to have an MRI. It showed I have severe central stenosis, bone spurs, and a bulging disc (C5-6). Needless to say, I stopped swimming, but now my leg feels better and I want to start riding my bike again, but I can hardly hold my head up (can make about 10 miles only). I tried a round of Prednisone, but after reading these posts I realize doc had me on a very small dose (only 24 mg total first day, then tapered down to 4mg on 6th day--really nothing). No pain relief so I'm still taking ibuprofen and vicodan round the clock. Doc says maybe we'll try a epidural block, but he thinks my condition is too far gone. He told me I will probably need a fusion (surgery) soon. He also told me NO riding because I cannot risk a fall or any trauma to my neck. I am very depressed and am secretly going out on 10 mile rides for my emotional well being. Not sure what the future holds. I will probably never race again but just want to feel good on my bike and be able to ride like I used to (30 to 40 mile group rides). Anybody out there have any advice or suggestions? Anybody ever go through a fusion surgery? I think right now I will try an epidural to see if I get some pain relief. I wish I had never stopped cycling and never started swimming--that probably made all this come about. If you are fit on the bike, never stop! If you don't use it, you lose it!! Especially when you get older (I'm 48). Thanks! Sooz
p.s. Snap, how are you doing??

[lo123]

Sooz - ouch! I haven't had fusion, but wanted to say the folks I know who've had them done had great improvement. I don't know anyone with Cervical fusion though.
I'd give the epidural block a shot. My dad has a lot of back issues, and for some, the blocks do give him at least some relief.
For fusion surgery, the advice I've heard is to find the best surgeon but also the one who listens to you and doesn't think you're 'beneath' him. I'm talking about the big-shot surgeons who work on pro-athletes and such. We have one such practice in my city, and a lot of normal joes just don't want to go to him because if you're not famous, you're treated differently.


I'll add my $0.02 on pred. since this is a pred thread after all.

I've been on low dose pred for over a year and had probably about 100 bursts over the past 10 years of dealing with an autoimmune disease. If you can stick to short tapers, it's not too bad. When you have to stay on a maintenance dose long term, trying to get off of it is a royal pain. It's taken me a year and a half to cut from 10mg to 5mg daily. Now if I can just get off of those last 5mg. Maybe in another year.

The book Clock posted about prednisone is decent. It's got good recommendations, but I wouldn't trust the diet advice if you're highly active. Though watching salt can make a HUGE difference.