Diabetes and prednisone

[Rose1942]

Hi all, haven't been online much lately, been laid up with a really awful backache for close to 3 weeks now (whine whine whine). Anyway, the doc has tried various meds to help me out, and since a couple of antiinflammatories didn't do much, he finally went to a prednisone dose-pack, which as you may know, goes for about a week, with declining doses each day.

I saw my blood sugar go up by about 20 points round the clock as soon as I started taking it, but there was no choice. It doesn't even help as much as I thought it would, but still - I am desperate!

Additionally, a couple of the other meds (Flexeril, a muscle relaxant - and generic Vicodin, pain killer) shot my digestive system to hell, so I was dealing with what was almost a blockage there for almost a week. A gal can't cut a break! (I realized that I can't take those, and ditched them, toughing it out in that regard).

Finally got that under control but the back sprain is still pretty bigtime, so between all of that I am also falling off the plan a little. I had to eat 'soft, easily digested, bland comfort foods' for a few days, and I had no choice about that either. There's me, eating sliced banana on buttered toast, 'sugar free' rice pudding, 'sugar free' applesauce, Progresso soups, baby food, yogurt smoothies from the store, saltines, you get the idea. And although I did choke down some scrambled eggs and the odd dish of non starchy veggies, it's been hard to eat regular food.

There's me - watching my blood sugar go up from both the pred and the diet. Woe is me.

Anyway, I am starting to recover and today will be off the pred, so things should lighten up. I have lost 6 pounds unintentionally, which is not my favorite way to lose weight. And virtually NO excercise except light walking around! Start physical therapy next week, hope to see some improvement.

Not posting this for sympathy, by the way. Just relaying all this crummy info to show what something seemingly unrelated can do to your blood sugar. Be wary of drugs, especially steroids! I can only feel sorry for someone who has a more lengthy illness requiring drugs, rather than a pretty short term incident like mine (hopefully).

[Korban]

Glad you are back, Rose and beginning to recover. I was on a steroid regime once and all I remember was that I wanted to eat everything in site. I hear they also increase bg sans the food issue above.

Welcome back and hope you continue to improve.

/smile

[Rose1942]

Thanks Korban. Actually I had no interest in food at all, I think because the other meds were sabotaging my appetite, plus the pain was pretty bad, so I think that's a factor. I'm still having some trouble looking at food, that's why I am eating all that soft and sweetish stuff, because I am shakey if I don't eat. The pain still comes and goes between bad and 'better' so I am looking at the upside now, lol - I hope! I also didn't get that wicked surge of energy that prednisone often gives you - I remember once taking it when I had poison ivy and I felt like a million bucks almost immediately. You know, like you wake up and think 'Oh boy, I'm gonna have myself about 6 Krispy Kremes and then I'm gonna paint that ceiling, and if I have time, I might even resurface that driveway!!!'

[Korban]

...I'm gonna have myself about 6 Krispy Kremes and then I'm gonna paint that ceiling, and if I have time, I might even resurface that driveway!!!'

ehhmmm, Hot Krispy Kremes... glad I hate carbs... /sigh

/smile

[Rose1942]

Hi again all, now I have some questions, and hope that you don't mind that I am so focused on ME right now, but it's been a tough time.

What has happened is that my back pain is no better, even after the steroids, but I am back on anti-inflammatories (various ones have been tried). Thing is, they also seem to raise my sugar. Or is it the pain? I have no idea anymore. I have gone back to strict LC, didn't eat that carbage for more than a couple of days to try and get the digestive issues resolved. Still, the sugar will be higher than I like.

I seem to have an ok fasting BG (considering) of 100-105. But it was better before all this (low to mid 90's). My 1 hour PP's are not great, going to the 130-140 range, and before all this I was almost always able to stay well under 120. My 2 hour PP's are around the 110-120's. Again, all the numbers seem about 10 to 20 mg/dl higher than before.

It's been 3 weeks with this and I see no apparent end any time soon, which is discouraging. So, anyone have thoughts on whether the meds, or the general inflammation, or the pain itself is at fault here?

I see a physical therapist on Friday to maybe get some help, but otherwise it's all medication. X-rays showed nothing terrible, at least that's a relief......

TIA.

[Korban]

It's been 3 weeks with this and I see no apparent end any time soon, which is discouraging. So, anyone have thoughts on whether the meds, or the general inflammation, or the pain itself is at fault here?


Steroids are known for raising BG and pain is a definite stressor affecting BP and BG, in some people more than others.

I hope you get back to feeling better soon. Seems like that is a priority but Bernstein may disagree, no clue here really as to priorities. I wouldn't recommend a Krispy Kreme though :)

/smile

[Lisa N]

Sorry to hear that you're still feeling crummy, Rose!
I agree with Korban that the pain is probably the culprit in your continued elevated blood sugar readings; pain and inflammation and well-known for raising blood glucose.
I had to take a 10 day round of inhaled steroids (Advair) a few years ago for a very bad bronchial infection. My blood sugars were elevated to begin with because of the infection, but the steroids shot them up another 30 points on top of it and also packed on 12 pounds that took me months to drop again.
Still...given the choice between gasping for air or dealing with the fallout, breathing was a good thing. :)
Hope your recovery speeds up and you're feeling better soon!

[Lottadata]

Rose,

I'm afraid I have to report that my diabetes moved from high pre-diabetes to full fledged diabetes after I took one course of prednisone and never got better. I have heard the same tale from a few other people.

And like you, I got no healing from the prednisone for the condition for which it was prescribed.

I hope yours drops back to where it was before, but this is another case where doctors tell people a side effect is temporary when sometimes it isn't.

Also, re back pain, I found that plain old Tylenol was more effective for back pain. I ended up with tinnitus from a standard dose of a prescription NSAID after I ruptured a disc, so I don't take them any more. (It was, ironically, the tinnitus that the prednisone was prescribed for.)

Give the Tylenol a try. Small doses are suprisingly effective and long term none of the painkillers are good for your kidneys, so when you find a dose that works, start decreasing it to find out what the minimum dose is that is effective.

Hope you feel better soon!

[Rose1942]

Thanks everyone, sweet of you to reply:)

Jenny, I am kind of troubled by the prednisone myself, but at the time I would have done anything to TRY and get rid of this, and pred does work many times. In fact, the most odd thing happened: on Day 1 of the dosepak, I got home from the doc and pharmacy late in the afternoon, and the instructions say that no matter what time you get home, you get all 6 in before bedtime. I did that, taking 2 at 4 pm, 2 at 7 pm, and 2 at around 10 pm. Slept like a BABY! Woke up the next morning with literally NO pain, it was amazing. Had myself about 7 or 8 hours of delightful normalcy, then the pain started back anyway. I guess it was the mega dose of the steroids that did it, after that, not much of anything, just went back to pain. So in fact, I think that shows something - that it is in fact inflammation and not a structural problem, and that with enough steroids, it might heal up quick, but that is not going to happen because no way am I going to get (or take) that much pred. Now, if they offer me injections, I will take them gladly because they are local and might do some real good.

I have found that Tylenol is pretty good stuff too, but there again, Tylenol raises heck with the liver and I tend to be careful with that. I figure that my liver has enough to do taking care of my diabetes so I don't want to give it cause to turn on me, LOL. I do have some generic Vicodin here and am using that cautiously - it has Tylenol, in it. And the stuff helps a lot at night, so I can get a little rest. Without it I am up and down 4 or 5 times pacing the floor from the muscle spasms which really get nasty when lying down. With it, I am only up maybe 2 times! At this point, that looks good!

Going very low carb, and the BG is pretty stable again. A little high, but not overly so, fingers crossed....................

[Rose1942]

Well, here's an update, and it ain't that swell. This back thing has gone on for a month now, and has not gotten any better, in fact is worse. I have developed sciatica on top of it. DRAT. My 'digestive' problems are still with me, which along with a stronger prescription of vicodin (which I need desperately for the pain now) keeps my blood sugar on the high side. Part of it is because I am not processing food very well, and I think I go into gastroporesis a lot. Poor food, has nowhere to go!

The good part is that I am now seeing an orthopedic guy and he has set me up for an MRI next week. If there is anything snarky in my spine, like a naughty disc that wants to herniate itself, they will finally find it. Then perhaps we can make some headway here. I am getting tired of all this, plus I can't sit in the computer chair very much so I am suffering 'internet withdrawal' as well! I do try and visit the board to read things, but hardly post because I can't last long. Boooo.

Just had to rant again, I feel so needy, LOLOL!

*** Oh but wait! I have reached my weight goal - there's something to be said for being under the weather after all!

[Lisa N]

Sorry to hear that your back is still making you miserable, Rose! Hopefully this new doc can help you sort it all out and get you back on the mend soon!
It's certainly no fun being uncomfortable all the time. :p

[Lottadata]

Rose,

So sorry you are dealing with the back and sciatica! That's pretty much been the story of my life for the last 11 years since I ruptured my L5-S1 disc, but the good news is that after a couple months of sheer hell, mine calmed down to where it's mostly more of an annoyance than life-ruining.

I didn't have surgery and compared to my friends who did, I'm actually in better shape, though I do have to be very careful not to lift things or twist. Everyone I know who had back surgery was in much better shape for a while afterwards, but then they ended up needing second and third back surgeries and some ended up in chronic pain. I have episodic pain but nothing like those first couple months. Just achiness and it does respond to low doses of Tylenol.

The vicodin stops your entire digestive system from moving which is why you are seeing gastro type symptoms. That should stop once you are off it.

I personally discovered that plain Tylenol was as effective for my disc-origin nerve pain as was Tylenol with Codeine without giving me the horrible digestive problems and leaving me all fuzzy.

[Korban]

I would just like to echo Jenny's comment re: don't consider the knife as a viable first option... although for some few it is the only one. My Sister had severe problems (pain) with her back (sciatic nerve as I recall) and did a lot of research on it including going to several specialists. She did not want to take the pain meds but became convinced that most people who had the surgery took an appreciable risk of other complications and were potentially delaying future, more problematic issues. I don't know as I only rely on conversations we had regarding her experience and comments.

I am almost certain the thing that worked for her were Botox shots of some kind (in the lower back - aka Lumbar region). These treatments would leave her pain free for 6 or 8 months. Whatever she took was a relatively new treatment. I don't think the treatments were cheap though but they seemed to work. Over the last couple of years her chronic pain problem has ebbed but I cannot say that it was due just to the botox treatments.

I can call her if that would help or let you speak with her regarding her experience directly if you would like.

She never would send me her un-used pain meds and some of them were really good scrips...i.e., much better than Vicodin /sigh...

/smile

P.S. while my sister is no longer in Charlotte - she had lived there at the time and had here treatments done there.

[Rose1942]

Thanks y'all :wave:

Well, things have progressed a lot in the past few days. It's not sciatica, as it turns out (though a Wednesday MRI will confirm that and whatever else....) I was so bad off yesterday with severe leg pain that I had to go to the ER, being a Sunday, which I didn't want to do. I could not walk at all without a cane. And now, 1 day later, I cannot walk without a walker! (both loaned to me by a friend).

They are saying definite disc damage somewhere, and 99% sure that I have a pinched nerve, or nerve root but probably not the sciatic nerve. I very well may have no option other than neuro surgery on this one. We'll see. And I absolutely have no option but to take whatever drugs they offer me at this point, the pain has become so unbearable that it is a no brainer. Last night at the hospital I got a morphine shot, a phenargen shot (whatever that is but I think also a narc), more prednisone, and told to not miss a dose of vicodin. I am getting NO BUZZ from this either, :mad: But I did sleep well for the first time in over a month!

As to the blood sugar, it's always high, mostly under 160 though, so still within the ADA's guidline, but not good enough for me. I think I may have to ask for sugar control meds now, at least for the duration. The pred alone, plus the vicodin, will do this to me whether I like it or not.

Ahhh, the lengths the human body will go to to torture us!

Yours in friendship, and still feisty as heck,
Rose

[Korban]

Good to hear from you Rose and hope all goes well.

I Couldn't tell you which disc my sister had messed up but I think it involved the sciatic nerve.

Be well, live long, and prosper,
/smile

[Lottadata]

Poor Rose!!!!

When pain gets to that point, surgery starts looking like a better deal. Hope you can get a good resolution quickly!

[Cajunboy47]

Just sympathizing with your back pain. I had ruptured L4-L5-L6 and had two back surgeries in 1987 (L6 is a rare extra vertebrae in the lumbar of the spine). I had disc removed with a fusion. Back then, surgeries were not as perfected as they are today.

Prior to surgery; I had physical therapy, acupuncture, acupressure, chiropractic care, whirlpool therapy, steroid injections into my spinal column, traction therapy and hypnosis in addtion to various narcotic pain killers.

Surgery today is a better alternative then it was years ago, as techinques have improved dramatically. I finally had those two surgeries, 6 months apart and I'm glad I did as it finally gave me relief, although I had to undergo physical therapy for almost a year and the healing took about 18 months before I finally woke up pain free.

I would still recommend waiting a period of time before considering a surgery as sometimes your back can heal enough on its on and the pain can go away, but time is not your friend as the older we are, the longer it takes to recover and heal.

I wish you well... I'm sure the medications are affecting your blood sugar, but less activity is probably also part of it... I guess I was lucky to undergo all that prior to being diagnosed with diabetes.

[Rose1942]

Hi all:) Been awhile since I've been able to surf around a little, thought I would check in.

Talk about going from bad to worse - looks as if I have multiple problems. They have determined through MRI that I have a compression fracture in vertabrae T-12. They are not sure how long it has been there but suspect that it is the cause of my recent problems. Those babies can start to heal on their own, not necessarily the right way, but enough to cause a slightly lesser pain level. THat may be happening because my pain level at that particular spot has improved but other things are now taking over the job, lol.

I have a special bone scan today which will them a clearer picture of what is going on with the T-12. I am now seeing an 'interventional radiologist' who specializes in a procedure called kyphoplasty, a rather new technique. Very non invasive and can give dramatic results in a short time. This will tell them whether I am a candidate for this. I hope I am, otherwise we are still at square #1.

I also developed either severe sciatica or a pinched nerve, or maybe even ligament or other muscle in the groin area, which is now beginning to spread down the leg. THAT is what is making me even more disabled than ever! We will deal with that later. For now I went (in one week!) from using a cane, to a walker, and sometimes even a wheelchair! E-gads! I am on mega drugs, don't even ask, I am looped all the time. Not by choice but so I can at least get some kind of pain control.

It's been a terrific week!!!!!

As usual, these drugs, including oxycodone, are of course wreeking havoc with my blood sugar, but I low carb the best I can and hope this is temporary. If not, I will have to get some kind of medical help with the diabetes. Grrrr, but what can I do! So in fact my original subject line is still correct and I am not off topic!

I will try and read posts more as soon as I get more relief with the oxy, I do SO miss the boards!

Hugs and stuff to you all.

rose