I am 24 years old and have suffered from Irritable Bowel Disease ...

I am 24 years old and have suffered from Irritable Bowel Disease for 22 years. I have taken prednisone 4 times in my life, but I always had to take high dosages for a very long period of time and then the weaning period lasted for months. In 2004 I had such a bad flare-up of Crohn's that I almost didn't make it. So I say Prednisone is my necessary EVIL. I gained 40 pounds and was a MONSTER with my mood swings. The lasting side effects have been hard for me to handle. The Prednisone cut off blood to some of my bones which now are dead and very painful as a result. I am having major knee surgery in a week and a half because of this (which is called Avascular Necrosis). I have AVN in both of my ankles, both knees, and most likely in both wrists. I will most likely need a Total Knee Replacement, but because I'm so young my doctors are trying every other type of treatment first (otherwise I would probably end up in a wheelchair by my 50s) I am in constant pain. I had never even heard of this as a side-effect until 2004 and after I was already on a high dose for a month. I also have cataracts from taking steriods. I feel MUCH older than I am. I have battled a disease for 22 years but the side effects of Prednisone are harder for me to deal with. Although prednisone essentially saved my life, I wish I would have been more informed of ALL the possible side effects.