When I first got sick (4 years ago) the doctor that was treating me thought the cause of my pain was from bursitis (wrong diagnosis and 2 years later I was diagnoised w/ CRPS once my legs turned purple and ice cold). At the time I was prescribed high doses of steroids and I noticed large improvements for the duration of the high dose, however it was short lived. A couple years later when I had the correct diagnosis I brought up the steriods with my pain management doctor and she said steriods are not
meant to be an everyday medicine as the risked out weigh the benefits. My great grandma had an un-diagnosed pain disorder for most of her life and the only medicine that gave her relief were steriods so she took them daily but she passed away in her 50's and the cause was believed to be from the daily intake of steriods.