PredniSONE and avn

I am on prednisone frequently for respiratory infections as I have a chronic lung condition. I was just hospitalized for a week and on 80 mg per day IV. I have tapered by 5 mg every 3rd day. I have a rash in my hairline and actually in my hair. I have blurry vision, insomnia, cravings for food, weight gain, puffy face, swollen stomach, and pain so bad in my left hip joint that I can hardly bear weight.
In Aug, 2008, I had my right hip replaced from avascular necrosis caused by steroid use for my lung condition. I am worried that AVN is now also in my left hip. The steroids take the swelling down in my lungs so I can breathe, however they are destroying my bones. I am so scared of another hip surgery. I realize that I need to be thankful that my joints can be replaced, but it is a horrible side effect of this drug.

I was put into the hospital in March '06 after using a carpet protectant that I purchased at the pet store. The chemicals in the product burned my lungs and I spent about 3 weeks in the hospital and was given prednisone for 10 -12 days. I remained in the hospital after my lung function increased because of the sever pain in my knees. My husband was going nuts trying to tell the doctors that he read on the internet that prednisone causes problems with knees and joints but they didn't believe him and kept running tests. They eventually switched the steroid to solumedrol and the pain decreased. I was sent home with less pain which eventually went away....but not for long. 7 months later, I began to have knee pain, which continued to get worse each day. The 1st Ortho told me that I tore a ligament and that the dead bone on the MRI will grow back. I didn't like that answer and eventually went back to an orthopedic surgeon I saw a few years prior for an injury I had while doing gymnastics. He took one look at my MRI and diagnosed me with AVN in my right knee. I got my 1st total knee replacement in August '07, a manipulation in October '07. While recovering, I noticed that my left knee was hurting and thought it was from using it so much and compensating for the right one......but I was wrong. I got an MRI on my left knee and once again, I have AVN. I got my 2nd knee replacement in January '08, a manipulation in February '08 and a 2nd manipulation in March '08. I'm now 29 years old, with asthma (from the carpet spray) 2 fake knees and have had the worst 3 years ever while going through all of this. I now have pain in my 1st replaced knee......under my knee and toward the inside. I go back to my surgeon tomorrow and am dreading another surgery.

If anyone has any questions, I'll try to help you as much as I can.

J.

I have experienced, avascular necrosis of both hips (resulting in total hip replacements) and avn of both solder (this time it resulted in partial shoulder replacements) Not to mention as everyone else has the thin skin, the weight gain. I have been on prednisone for 8 years - it is part of my immune suppressant cocktail that I take everyday. I have been on 4mg for approximately 5 years. It's very hard to lose the extra weight, the moon face lessens after a time but it is hard to tell because of the weight gain.

I am 19 years old and I recently was taken off of it 2 years ago when I switched doctors. Prior to the switch I had been on it for 16 years. I prob have some of the worse side effects. Because it causes an increase in appetite I ate but I didn't eat all the time, and I ended up gaining over 100lbs. I have a black-brown ring around my neck and for the longest time I thought it was dirt that wouldn't come off so sometimes I scrubed my neck sometimes to the point that it was raw.I have bad acne on my back and its just horrible.I cry every single night because of the side effects.I just want to know if anyone on here can help me.

Knee pain. I was on Prednisone for a headache, as I have New Daily Persistent Headache, a rare, chronic headache condition, to try and break it. I have never had knee pain constantly before. I was a 10 day course of it. 80 mg for 2 days, 60 for 2, 40 for 2, 20 for 2, then 10 for 10. It's been 3 weeks or so since i've been done, and I still have knee pain. I'm very scared that I have avascular necrosis, even though I know it's rare, but I've been off the drug know for awhile but the pain is still around. Does anyone know if it is possible to get AVN after only being on the drug for 10 days??

I am so glad I found this sight! For all Prednisone users out there...I was prescribed Prednisone for an upper respiratory infection (I had for 9 months). I was prescribed a 21-day 'taper down' course five (5) times; in actuality not all that much...if I had only known what this drug would do to my body! Besides the insatiable hunger and weight gain (5 - 7 lbs. weight gain per course of the drug), the swollen face/neck, muscle aches, double-vision, sleeplessness - I have been through the worst three (3) years of my life since taking this 'drug'! Three years ago, I had the worst knee pain (in both knees). The orthopedists said tendinitis, bursitis, IT band syndrome...finally a new ortho. ordered an MRI and found out I had Stage II Avascular Necrosis (AVN) in both knees. This is a condition where the blood flow has STOPPED reaching a certain area of the body. It is a side effect of this so-called 'wonder drug' (Prednisone). I had the surgery that is used for AVN (Core Bone Decompression) - it did NOT work! They tried other surgical procedures to no avail. A big issue was that AVN in the knee is very rare. AVN commonly strikes in the hip. There was little or no medical documentation on how to treat AVN in the knee(s). A year later, I ended up having total knee replacements in both knees. Last summer (Summer '06) I broke a bone in my pinky finger by barely hitting a wall in frustration over all this. My bones are extremely brittle from this drug. I am sitting writing this after having dental (oral) surgery because I have lost four (4) teeth as a result of this drug! I need over $7,000 in dental work (implants/bone grafting) that insurance does not cover as a side effect from this drug. I realize that some people out there must take this drug...If you have taken this drug, and have pain in your hips and/or knees, please ask your doctor for an MRI (AVN can not be seen in X-ray until end stage - when the joint collapses from lack of blood flow) and see your dentist regularly. I am only 34 years old and if I can reach just one person regarding the side effects of Prednisone, I will sleep better tonight!

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.

2 Medrol Dosepack - caused AVN in Both Hips.