Prednisone and neck injuries - too risky?
 

Hi everyone,

A little while ago my doctor suggested said she would be willing to prescribe a short course of prednisone to try to rein in some of my symptoms. I know that some people here have had at least temporary success with this drug.

I wanted to ask if anyone with neck issues has experience with prednisone. I have concerns that the drug could weaken my neck tissues and perhaps aggravate the subtle neck injuries that are so often discussed here. There is pretty much no doubt that I have such an injury.

On the other hand, I do believe that inflammation is driving a lot of my symptoms and maybe prednisone could "break the cycle," to use that very vague expression. Does anyone have any experiences or advice?

Pred is an anti-inflammatory ON STEROIDS. Really.

What other anti-inflammation steps/protocols have you tried?

What changes have you made in your daily physical activities and postures to protect your neck?

I have taken the following steps:

- Strict anti-inflammatory diet for five years
- Avoidance of provocative head-positions, including during sleep (after years of experimenting with sleep posture)
- Frequent daily or near-daily icing of neck
- Light cardio exercise when symptoms permit
- Supplements: vitamin D, vitamin C, turmeric extract, ginger extract, astaxanthin, lion's mane extract, various forms of magnesium
- Gentle traction and massage by physical therapist

Besides the manipulation, all of these steps have been helpful, particularly the anti-inflammatory diet (as I've posted about before). But I really seem to have plateaued. I can no longer do even the lightest neck exercises without significant worsening of symptoms.

In addition, in the last year I've had nerve issues in my neck and face and problems with my ears that no one can quite explain. Prednisone might be a shot in the dark, but if the risk is minimal then I figure why not?

Less intensive things to try first...

Low level laser - aka cold /soft laser - treatment to try it can be found via a search - chiro websites more than PT places...

IFc stim - similar to TENS but much better.. can be bought online like Amazon $100 approx.. worth it for sore muscles

ultrasound therapy- also can buy your own if you find it helps during PT or chiro sessions..

a magnesium lotion/gel - great for sore muscles

maybe if ice is not helping try heat.. or alternate them..
Consider a far infrared heating pad or a jade heating pad vs the old standard heat pads.. cos is more but better healing & deeper penetration and mine has lasted 15 yrs..