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Showing posts with label prednisone - pain. Show all posts
Showing posts with label prednisone - pain. Show all posts

Friday, February 08, 2013

Feedback from a person who has been struggling with fibromyalgia/polymyalgia and habituation to Prednisone

Fibromylagia and polymyalgia, once rarely heard of conditions, are now commonplace ailments that severely hinder health.  The treatment of these conditions is extremely poorly thought through, consisting of administering increasingly massive doses of Prednisone, or similar cortisone drugs that blow the adrenal glands to Kingdom-come.  If Prednisone fails to keep the pain down, further powerful and habituating medications may be added, including muscle relaxants and anti depressants.  Its a slippery slope downhill for many patients into chronic ill health and multiple drug dependency.

Prednisone is a far from safe drug.  Just four milligrams per day is enough to create ongoing addiction because to reduce to less than four milligrams relies on healthy adrenal glands kicking in with its own cortisone and this seldom happens (Prednisone shuts down the adrenals).  So, as Prednisone is lowered to less than 4 milligrams per day, the patient may suffer the return of their pain and fatigue with a vengeance.  In severe cases (Addisons Disease) the cardiovascular system may collapse resulting in death.

Prednisone can not be taken for long without the risk of catastrophic consequences such as progressive osteoporosis and the rapid erosion of the joints leading to severe arthritis and fractures, including collapse of the spine.

One of the most distressing things I encounter is people who are stuck on Prednisone.

However; enough of the depressing talk!

Here is some really good news.  


Here is part of a letter (published with his permission) from one of my clients who entered hospital for a minor shoulder operation and came out with a severe case of fibromyalgia which was treated with Prednisone.  It took us over a year, focussing on restoring healthy adrenal function; but he is now free of medication and again having a ball with life.

Read on folks and be inspired!

"All pretty good at this end, or at least not seeming to be going backwards! 

Finished your course of supplements beginning of December and haven't experienced any side effects to date which has to be great. Managed three pretty strenuous days climbing/ tramping, firstly Ruapehu, then the Tama lakes and finally Mt  Ngaruahoe. Thought my father was pretty amazing to have done that one when he did it with me the last time, and then to discover I am a year and a half older than what he was! Not bragging of course! Did get left behind by family who thought I wasn't following anyway, so great and we all had a good hour or more taking it all in. Lucky the mountain opened that day after the eruption closure. 

Still have some stiffness in my left hand and fingers which fades away with use and legs a little stiff but I feel getting better with time. Diet quite good with my daughter keeping me in line in that department. Just need to get a good strengthening program happening as I have felt the dangers of overdoing it in the upper body. Home improvements well under way. Hand mixing concrete the norm! 

Feeling happy about where I'm at and grateful for your expertise. Cheers Gary." 
(Name withheld)

Gary: People like you make my day - Thanks

About this website 
The advice in these articles is given freely without promise or obligation. Its all about giving you and your family the tools and information to take control of your health and fitness.

Monday, February 23, 2009

Prednisone, Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Adrenal Fatigue

"My question is about a "syndrome" my mother has been diagnosed with and still struggles with even despite my recommendations, she has been on prednisone for at least 8 months now. The Rheumatologist diagnosed her with Polymyalgia Rheumatica which as far as I'm concerned is just a fancy name for a lot of muscular pains in different places in the body.

She is 68 yrs. old, overweight, overly stressed because she was a caregiver of my 94 yr. old grandmother who just passed away and before that helped take care of my grandfather who passed away 6 yrs ago. Being a caregiver induced incredible amounts of stress despite the fact that she is a pathological worrier and doesn't sleep. She takes prednisone (being tapered off), toprol for an arrythmia and had been hospitalized about 1 yr. ago for passing out with no know etiology.
Might you have some nutritional recommendations?"

Nancie, USA
___________________________________
Gary:
Nancie; You are right: Polymyalgia Rheumatica is a fancy word that is part of the process to disempower the patient and render them to a state of dumb compliance.  This is necessary to get away with administering dangerous drugs such as prednisone and Toprol.  Both drugs would be either temporary (like a few weeks) or completely unnecessary if the causes and not the symptoms were properly treated.  Gosh!  I am getting cynical.

Cynical because in the best part of 30 years, I have yet to see any real cases where drugs have been anything other than short term benefit for cases such as your mother.

It is most likely that the constant stress that you describe has caused a condition in your mother called Adrenal Fatigue.  Her heart issues are probably symptomatic of an adrenal cortisol insufficiency: Toprol merely blocks the symptoms.

Prednisone works for muscle pain when there is adrenal insuficiency because it is a synthetic source of natural cortisol that is produced by healthy adrenals.   Muscle pain and fatigue is one of the symptoms of cortisol insufficiency. The problem is that prednisone causes the adrenals to further shut down production of cortisol, causing increasing dependency on the drug.  The final result (before death) is a condition of complete adreal shutdown called "Addison's Disease".

Your mother needs to steadily reduce her dose of prednisone.  Better still, she can switch to cortisone (5ml of cortisone = 1ml of prednisone).  It is easier to minutely reduce the doses with cortisone.  This needs the cooperation of her doctor.  Stopping this drug suddenly is not an option - Okay!  Stopping the Toprol is easier but still best done under medical supervision.

Adrenal fatigue is a widespread condition that you and your mother need to get a thorough understanding of.  The first step is to get a copy of Adrenal Fatigue by Dr Wilson.  This excellent book explains the condition and guides the reader, step-by-step, through the steps taken to achieve recovery and restore full health.  It includes the dietary advice that you have inquired about.

Once your mother has read the book, she can decide, based on the information provided, whether or not to commence Dr Wilson's recovery programme.  I can assist with that including providing Dr Wilson's specially formulated adrenal products - Distance is no barrier.


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