Prednisone and leg/foot pain

Dobeck
  • By Dobeck · September 27, 2010 at 6:26 am · 20 replies
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Hello,

I've been on prednisone for the past six weeks and have been getting serious leg and foot pain in the middle of the night. Is this a side effect of the meds?

The other side effects I have are blurred vision, some joint pain and swelling all over. Of course, I look like a chipmunk with my face so swollen. I really haven't had any improvement with my shortness of breath, but I can take a deeper breath than I could before the pred. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

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20 replies   

DeniseMB

Good Morning Dobeck! It's funny you should post this, well not really, but I was just about to post the same damn thing. I too have been on prednisone for 6 weeks and have had awful swelling in my legs with pain in spots that feels like there should be a bruise there but there isn't. I've also been experiencing pain in my upper jaw which makes it feel like my head is in a vice. No headache, just very tight like there's pressure on it. Plus the shakes!! I've had the shakes something awful lately. My breathing, although better, is quite labored. My lungs feel like bellows. Too much resistance breathing in and out. I'm putting in a call to the Doc today, I'll let you know if i find out anything useful (I usually don't lol)

ClayoHis

Ditto with the foot pain, swelling, and night pain.
I have a huge ugly ulcer on my left foot from diabetes ... nothing related to the Sarc. Waiting to do a skin graft. Telling you that so you get a picture. Wearing a surgical boot on that foot so
I kept saying the swelling in my right foot is due to over use of that foot. Not so as the foot Dr.
says the swelling and soreness along with a horrible bruise on the right leg is all Sarc. related.
I can hardly wait to see the Dr. at Cleveland Clinic. The night pain in my right leg is ugly.
I have also had a severe pain dead center of my chest. Heart is in good shape as far as I know.
Had Angiogram in Jan. Dr. says all is very well.
I now know that pain is/can be sarc. At 65 should I be having this much fun??? I think not.
So glad for this format to share with good folk that are fighting the same battle. Praying for all of you. In His grip, Sharon

jyv

I have been on and off Prednisone for over two years, depending on my lung condition. If I catch a cold or virus and lungs get congested, I am put on Prednisone.

I never had any of the conditions mentioned here except it acts on me like "speed" and there is a mental affect, I get very bitchy and have insomnia.

Generally it relieves any swelling in my body. After two years my face is a bit puffy and I have a slight hair growth on my chin and I have gained about 15 lbs. JYV.

Landeleah

I can not take prednisone. Too much swelling and to many things go wrong. Placquinal the spelling may not be correct. It is a med. from the 50's for Malaria but it works without all of the side affects. Good luck

Dobeck

Thank you all for your responses. I actually had a good night sleep last night for the first time in awhile. I took a vitamin and drank about 5 glasses of water up to about an hour before bed. I also elevated my feet some. I didn't have any pain or cramping. I had a horrible weekend waking up every hour jumping out of bed screaming in pain.

I was diagnosed with NSIP in August. They thought I had sarc. The treatment is similar with prednisone and if it's not working they will put you on Imuran. Then other meds for inflammation.

I travel for my job and have to carry portable oxygen with me so I'm hoping I don't have any pain while away this trip. It really stinks to be diagnosed with lung disease at 46 yrs old. Being a nonsmoker it's devistating to me. Thanks again for listening and responding. Many prayers for everyones recovery.

lyens

I am tapering off prednisone, 60mg down to 5mg now. Been on it since the middle of July. Experienced severe swelling & pain in the lower legs and feet, ademia caused by the prednisone so the doctor lowered my dose at that time. Now that I'm almost done taking it has stopped the swelling and cramps in my legs feet. I would have cramps so bad in the night mostly I had to crawl to the bathroom. At times they still feel strange & I do have pain in the joints. Also prednisone gave me horrible acid reflux but now that I'm almost done taking the medicine it has gotten better also.

Dobeck

Wow. That's a high dose of prednisone. I started with 40 mgs per day for 4 weeks. I called the doctor to discuss the side effects and he lowered the dose to 30 mgs. I've been on the 30 mgs for two weeks now and haven't noticed a decline in the side effects and then I started with the leg pain last week.

I had one good night, but last night they were back. Not as bad as the weekend, but still woke me up several times. I can't wait see some changes in my shortness of breath.

Does anyone out there have NSIP? I was diagnosed with it in August after having the surgical lung biopsy.

denyse

I have been on 30 mg. of pred. for about 6 weeks alos. My leg pain got so bad I could barely drive. My right leg is horrible and the pain was very deep. It would keep me up all night. Weaning pred friday and adding methotrexate.

Good Luck and Gods speed

imalivin
  • By imalivin
  • Reply 337625 · In reply to 336592 by ClayoHis
  • September 29, 2010 at 11:05 am
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A side affect of Prednisone is acid reflux and could be the burning in your chest. My wife was put on this drug for GERD instead of something to stop the acid. She died from the damage caused by the acid getting into her lungs. You have to look up the side affects to meds yourself as the doctors don't seem to know.

Dobeck

I'm really sorry to hear about your wife's situation. That's a horrible thing to go through. It's amazing with the technology we have today that we still have to suffer so much. I have heard of people getting esophageal cancer from acid reflux.

Interesting you mentioned GERD. I've been on acid reflux medicine for about 10 years. It controls my problem at this time. I was diagnosed with tumors my lingual tonsils over 10 years ago and had surgery to remove them. Luckily, they were not cancerous. Thank you for sharing your story.

Cuphalffull

Hi

I was diagnosed with acute stage one sarc 4 weeks ago and it was located in the lymph cluster inbetween my lungs. I was diagnosed and started treatment within 4 days of being admitted to the hospital following an er visit for fever of unknown origin and major mid and lower back pain. They started me on an 80mg burst of pred and a couple of days later went to 40mg. After being released from the hospital (4 days later) I continued to have back pains but then the pred side effects showed their ugly head. I'm now on 20mg per day and hating it!

Some of my symtoms were as follows:
Loss of sensation to touch in right arm from elbow moving to pins and needles in finger tips.
Cramping of toes and fingers on both sides mostly at night but sometimes during the day.
Moderate to severe aches in shoulder, hip and wrist joints.
Insomnia, can sleep 2-3 hours a night with aid of Percoset and Trazodone.
Tight band of constriction across my belly, now distended to look like I've have a small pillow under my shirt.
Loss of sensation to touch on my torso, armpits and leading to underarms.
I'll leave out the small stuff..... except the constipation!!!

Anyway, at this point I feel that the side effects of the meds are worse than the actual disorder.

Hope this helps someone suffering from sarc and meds.

Cheers,

Cuphalffull

imalivin
  • By imalivin
  • Reply 338143 · In reply to 337905 by Dobeck
  • September 30, 2010 at 11:30 am
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Check chia seed and GERD on Google. I didn't know about this remedy until after my wife died. Absorbs 13 times its weight in water or stomach acid.

Ellamar

My Dr put me on Nexium for the acid reflux from taking Prednisone and a "small" hernia. He said it would coat the stomach and protect it from the Pred damage. It really makes a difference for me. I was out of Nexium for a few days and the terrible burning in my chest returned. As soon as I started taking it... it stopped. so I know it was the Nexium that helped. The Pred is so good for stopping the granulamoas from forming that I am trying to tolerate all the side effects and praying it is doing the job on the Sarc. He is weaning me off the pred now and started me on Imuran. The side effects of weaning off the Pred are as bad as the Pred. I've had the mood swings, swelling, the whole "fun stuff". God Bless.

Ellamar

P.S. I have been on Pred since Feb. Started with 40mg. Am now down to 15mg. Go back Nov.29th and think he will reduce it a little again. (I pray).

DoreenC

Yep, pred can cause leg, foot pains and other joint pains.

Dobeck

Thank you all for your responses. I've been on Nexium for about 4 years and it works well for me. I've also taken aciphex and prevacid. Prevacid did not work for me. I'm glad I was already on it prior to taking the prednisone. Ive had really bad acid reflux for 10 years.

I go for a breathing test next week to see if the prednisone is helping. I still get shortness of breath pretty easily. I'm on 30 mgs per day now.

Dobeck

Hello Everyone,

My leg, foot and knee pain has increased over the weekend. I can get a serious muscle cramp at anytime now. It makes it very difficult to walk and I keep waking up during the night in pain. Last night, I had some really bad acid reflux.

I have my breathing test on Monday so, I'm hoping to get my prednisone dose lowered. My shortness of breath hasn't gotten any better, but my breathing (deep inhale) has improved on the prednisone.

Good Luck everyone!

shirley2213

I was on prednisone for 15 months, I am finally off it.I don't breathe as well ( COPD ) but, I do not want any more prednisone. imalivin....I had acid reflux before taking prednisone, and the prednisone made it worse.I am so sorry about your wife. I also got acid reflux in my lungs, and had to go to the hospital. This is a bad disease. Denise, if you get heartburn, ask your doc for medication, so you can get it under control. If you have to take prednisone, take as low a dose as possible.
Good Luck !!
Shirley

shirley2213

I meant to say dobeck. not denise LOL

Dobeck

Thanks Shirley. I've been on meds for acid reflux for 10 years. I had some small tumors removed from my throat because of the acid reflux. It can be a nasty problem if you don't stay on top of it. I have had some additional issues with reflux since I started on the prednisone. My pulmonologist started me on 40 mgs per day and has lowered it 25 mgs just yesterday. I'm miserable! Take care.

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