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Is Steroid Safe In A Person With Brittle Bones?

Posted on Thu, 28 Jan 2016

Question: I must be doing this wrong because I've already recorded this history and question. 2 times. Maybe you can find...but I'll do it again
I have recently, 4 months ago had a cervical fusion C4-6 . A year and a half ago I underwent a lumbar fusion. L5S1. Meurosur said I have brittle bones, so I am wearing a neck growth stimulator for 6 months at least, so if it's 6 mos, I have 2 more mos to go.
Recently was afraid I retire a rotator cuff surgery whic could mean a 5 time for rotator cuff surgery. My Orthopaedic said my tendons are a 1/4 of the size of normal tendons. My orthopedic doc gave me a cortisone shot and a prescription for 30 of the 10 gr prednisone.
IS IT SAFE TO TAKE THE STEROID prescription the way it is subscribed (similar to a dose pac) but the stronger 10 mg strength
I am also an almost 20 year non-Hodgkins Lymohoma survivor. Mainly due to the clinical trial I was accepted into 18 years ago, Bexxar. What I lost was my immune system and am immunosuppressed so my oncologist prescribes 30 grams of IVIG treatment every 4-6 weeks.
I just want to check that if I take the cortisone, is it safe for my cervical fusion recovery. It certainly helps my pain, but I don't want to take them if they will harm any of my issues.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (44 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Steroid can make bone weak

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and I do not think you need steroid tablet for rotator cuff tear. If you have already started steroid we can not stop it as once. You need to gradually decrease doses and then stop it.
Steroids are good for injection but they should not be prescribed for oral use as then there are serious side effect like osteoporosis, increase infection and obesity. It can also make your bone weak.
I hope this answer will be useful for you.Let me know if there is any other followup questions.
thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (5 hours later)

Thank you so much Dr Sharma! I've only taken 4 of the prednisone prescription for 30...one a day...should I just stop or decrease to half? What happens when you don't wean off?
Also, would you look at my medicines and tell me if you think there are any other others I should stop?
I am always feeling sick, fluish, and generally fatigued. Except, of course the last 4 days, when the prednisone has been added in. Do you think it is because of my immune system? Or is there some medication making me feel this way? Or, is it the dormant lymphoma?
I so appreciate getting to have answers to my questions from you and your team.
xxxxxxxx

Answered by Dr. Dr. Naveen Kumar Sharma (16 hours later)

Brief Answer:
it is combined effect of all the factors

Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I have studied your case and I think that your fatigue is due to combined effect of all factors. IVIG is not required as per my experience. Taking it with steroid is useless. So my suggestion is that you need to take opinion of some other oncologist also. I think you can discontinue your steroid at once. There is no effect of steroid in rotator cuff.
For increasing strength you need to take lots of fluid, calcium D3 and Vitamin B complex. This will help in increasing your bone strength also.I hope this answer will be useful for you.Let me know if there is any other followup questions.
thanks

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D