[Dianne]

Doc wants me to take something called a Medrol pacK says they are steroids, will be on them for 6 days. Anyone had to do this before?

[RandyO]

yep

[97BladeRider]

Watch out for rage.

[catch2otwo]

the roids you got to take are different from the ones in sports if thats what your wondering. steroids have alot of positive uses outside of the negative conotations seen from sports. they are used to alleviate many medical ailments. for ex. certain steroids are used to help combat poison ivy.

[Dianne]

Thats what I wasnt sure of. There is such a stigma around the word "steroids" in general. They're giving me this to help with nerve inflammation from a work injury that happened back in December and hasnt gotten better. They advised that side effects might include feeling jittery, like when Ive had too much caffeine, mood swings, stomach upset.

[highsider]

Originally Posted by ilcl75

Doc wants me to take something called a Medrol pacK says they are steroids, will be on them for 6 days. Anyone had to do this before?

Tell Doc to race his Ducati and quit handing out drugs.

[Stoneman]

D-Pak (that's what it's called) SUCKS! I gotta take 'em all the time for a herniated disk. Depending on the dosage they give you, you can have some 'unfavorable' side effects. Doesn't happen with me if it's the 4mg dose, but drives me fuckin' nuts when it's the 8mg doses...

They jack you up on the first day, then immediately ween you off of 'em each day after so your body doesn't go through withdrawals...

For the first coupla nights, I can't sleep. I'm usually up for almost THREE straight days. Given your history, I'd tell ya to expect the same. I get extremely hungry when I'm on 'em too, but can't really eat. Which sucks 'cuz you REALLY oughtta take 'em with food. They make me jittery as hell and my mind is constantly racing and I can't make a decision to save my life. And when I DO finally sleep, I have incredibly vivid dreams (that part's kinda cool though)...

Again, these are on the 8mg doses. The 4mg doses don't effect me quite as accutely...

And no matter what - NO MATTER WHAT - if/when you start 'em, start taking 'em the day after you get 'em. Don't take all 6 doses (your first day's dose) all at once. Start the RX fresh the next day so you have a whole day to take 'em. Trust me...

[MissTwisties]

I got a steroid shot under my knee cap. Helped the pain for quite a few weeks, but now it's slowly coming back. Got it on my upper back too. This has probably nothing to do with what you're gonna have tho...so I'm no help.

[slaps76]

Saw the title and thought maybe you were selling...nevermind.

[skiierx]

I have had to take the steroids for poison ivy a couple times. The dose they gave me just made my heart race and I didn't sleep as well either.

[SVRACER01]

Originally Posted by slaps76

Saw the title and thought maybe you were selling...nevermind.

yeah me too. i was really looking for an excuse to kill my family and then myself

[OreoGitorio]

Careful Dianne, they'll make your cawk & balls shrink.

[Dianne]

Originally Posted by Stoneman

D-Pak (that's what it's called) SUCKS! I gotta take 'em all the time for a herniated disk. Depending on the dosage they give you, you can have some 'unfavorable' side effects. Doesn't happen with me if it's the 4mg dose, but drives me fuckin' nuts when it's the 8mg doses...

They jack you up on the first day, then immediately ween you off of 'em each day after so your body doesn't go through withdrawals...

For the first coupla nights, I can't sleep. I'm usually up for almost THREE straight days. Given your history, I'd tell ya to expect the same. I get extremely hungry when I'm on 'em too, but can't really eat. Which sucks 'cuz you REALLY oughtta take 'em with food. They make me jittery as hell and my mind is constantly racing and I can't make a decision to save my life. And when I DO finally sleep, I have incredibly vivid dreams (that part's kinda cool though)...

Again, these are on the 8mg doses. The 4mg doses don't effect me quite as accutely...

And no matter what - NO MATTER WHAT - if/when you start 'em, start taking 'em the day after you get 'em. Don't take all 6 doses (your first day's dose) all at once. Start the RX fresh the next day so you have a whole day to take 'em. Trust me...

Geesh... sounds like the treatment is worse than the problem.

[Stoneman]

Originally Posted by ilcl75

Geesh... sounds like the treatment is worse than the problem.

Not necessarily. Obviously with the higher doses, you're likely to have stronger side effects. And like I said, with the 4mg doses it's not that bad. Just a little jittery for a coupla days. In all likely hood, they'd give you low doses...

It used to help a lot. I'd get a cortisone shot, they'd set me up with D-Pak and send me on my way. I'd feel great within a coupla days. The 4mg doses started not working so they upped it. Last time they had me do the 6 days of the 8mg, then 2 weeks off, then 6 more days of the 8's. I was a fuggin' train wreck, and THAT didn't help this time...

As long as your condition doesn't worsen, I'd venture a guess it'll help out quite a bit. Me, I'll be seeing a surgeon this Tuesday to weigh my options...

[Dianne]

Originally Posted by Stoneman

Not necessarily. Obviously with the higher doses, you're likely to have stronger side effects. And like I said, with the 4mg doses it's not that bad. Just a little jittery for a coupla days. In all likely hood, they'd give you low doses...

It used to help a lot. I'd get a cortisone shot, they'd set me up with D-Pak and send me on my way. I'd feel great within a coupla days. The 4mg doses started not working so they upped it. Last time they had me do the 6 days of the 8mg, then 2 weeks off, then 6 more days of the 8's. I was a fuggin' train wreck, and THAT didn't help this time...

As long as your condition doesn't worsen, I'd venture a guess it'll help out quite a bit. Me, I'll be seeing a surgeon this Tuesday to weigh my options...

It's the 4mg and I am thinking I should do ok on it. They wanted to do the shot thing but I must have looked at 'em like "You outta yer fuggin mind, you wanna stick that where?"

The sports med doc/specialist said with a herniated disk, that in two years time patients get maximum imnprovement (without surgery) relatively close to the same as those who have had surgery.

If its all the same, Id rather take the wait and see approach.

[Stoneman]

Originally Posted by ilcl75

The sports med doc/specialist said with a herniated disk, that in two years time patients get maximum imnprovement (without surgery) relatively close to the same as those who have had surgery.

If its all the same, Id rather take the wait and see approach.

If you have a herniated disk, I hope that's the case. Mine's condition's been worsening. It's to the point now that when it acts up, NOTHING helps except for 2-3 weeks of NOTHINGNESS - which is why I'm seeing a surgeon this week. I SINCERELY hope your condition can be helped with meds...

[Dianne]

Originally Posted by Stoneman

If you have a herniated disk, I hope that's the case. Mine's condition's been worsening. It's to the point now that when it acts up, NOTHING helps except for 2-3 weeks of NOTHINGNESS - which is why I'm seeing a surgeon this week. I SINCERELY hope your condition can be helped with meds...

He did go on to say that those 2 years wouldn't always be pleasant though. They are just big non-believers in the surgical approach but everyone has a different philosphy and every patient has different symptoms and its up to them to figure out what works best for them.

Mine started in December with that work injury. I did the PT (including traction) thing, did the medication thing, etc. and when the full course was through, they put me through tests. I was not symptom free. I still couldn't use my right arm worth a damn and when I did strength tests, it was significantly weaker than my left arm. While I didn't actually injure my arm, the affects of what I did to my neck seem to show up there.

Lately the same symptoms are still here but with a new crop as well. I have numbness, tingling, twitches, etc. in my right arm and hand. Sometimes even in my leg.

They prescribed the steroid thingy and I go back on July 13th to see some guy that specializes in neck injuries and nerve damage. I'll have to do some nerve conducitivity testing and that kinda thing.They are hoping that the steroids will get rid of the nerve related symptoms and they can work on the problem at hand (which they strongly believe is a herniated disk, like the third or fourth one down from the base of my skull). I have also had headaches that are so bad that I see "aura" (black and white fuzzy spots) and other funky nerve related stuff going on.

Jay, I hope that I don't end up being in a position where I can't function from time to time like what you are going through and I wish you the best in figuring out a way to make that all stop.

[Stoneman]

I'm not sure where to place your injury as far as severity. I wouldn't compare your to mine as I have a coupla issues...

I have degenerative disks in my neck and a herniated disk plus chipped vertarbrae in my lower back. My neck's been going on since I was in my early 20's and the lower back thing happened in '00 in a motorcycle accident. While my neck hasn't bothered my so much, my lower back is more than excrutiating. The chipped vertabrae are wearing away at the disks and at this point surgery may be the only answer. Believe me when I tell you I've exhausted ALL other avenues. I can't even tell you all the things we've tried to alleviate it. Surgery is NOT the course I wanna take. But I can't live my life like this anymore...

Surgery should be a LAST case for anyone. My biggest problem is I can't sit still, so my back is always bothering me in some way. Motorcycling, ATV'ing, boating, lifting 55-80 lb. packages constantly at work are all things I SHOULDN'T be doing. I just can't help myself. I HATE being a slug...

Do what they tell ya. It sounds like it just may help your condition...

[Dianne]

Originally Posted by Stoneman

I'm not sure where to place your injury as far as severity. I wouldn't compare your to mine as I have a coupla issues...

I have degenerative disks in my neck and a herniated disk plus chipped vertarbrae in my lower back. My neck's been going on since I was in my early 20's and the lower back thing happened in '00 in a motorcycle accident. While my neck hasn't bothered my so much, my lower back is more than excrutiating. The chipped vertabrae are wearing away at the disks and at this point surgery may be the only answer. Believe me when I tell you I've exhausted ALL other avenues. I can't even tell you all the things we've tried to alleviate it. Surgery is NOT the course I wanna take. But I can't live my life like this anymore...

Surgery should be a LAST case for anyone. My biggest problem is I can't sit still, so my back is always bothering me in some way. Motorcycling, ATV'ing, boating, lifting 55-80 lb. packages constantly at work are all things I SHOULDN'T be doing. I just can't help myself. I HATE being a slug...

Do what they tell ya. It sounds like it just may help your condition...

That sucks. Definitely been a long term, complicated issue for you. Sorry to hear that you have to go through all this shit. I would classify what I am going through as more of an annoyance than anything else. I just want to take care of it so that it doesnt become something more serious and end up haunting me.

I am going to start the steroids Monday morning. I have plans over the weekend and where it's something new I would rather wait just in case I end up feeling like I ass I won't ruin my plans. As long as I take the full course by the 13th when I got back I'll be all set.

[Stoneman]

Eh, I try not to let things like this get to me. It is what it is and I've done everything they've asked of me to this point. Yeah, it sucks and it's annoying. But I gotta deal with it. Sitting on my ass and turning to mold is definitely not my style, so I pay. I just deal with it as it comes. I keep reminding myself that someone's ALWAYS got it worse than me...

Just do what they tell ya. They probably know better than you or me. Just be very upfront with them about EVERYTHING so they can pinpoint both the extent of your injury and the corrective course...

[skiierx]

Jay, I know a little about your pain! I have 2 herniated discs, lesthesis, arthritis and muscle damage in the lower back. My docs are telling me no surgery but I have had many many injections. First I had 3 epidural cortisone shots, then 2 sets of 6 branch blocks (facet joints), then 1 treat of 5 radial frequency treatments with 1 cortisone shot (again facet joints), then 1 more set of 6 facet joint branch block shots and July 17th going back in for 3 radial frequency treatments and 2 weeks later 3 more on the other side. Quite fun I tell you. But with each treatment I get a little more time between treatments. The radial frequency worked for 8 months, yes I still had pain but it was much easier to treat.

Good luck to both of you!

[Stoneman]

Originally Posted by skiierx

Jay, I know a little about your pain!

Yes you do! And I no NOTHING of yours! Dayumn dood!

[Doc]

Originally Posted by highsider

Tell Doc to race his Ducati and quit handing out drugs.

Steriods are basically BIG antiinflammatories.

[ChrisNoF4i]

2 Guiness's and one long/tall glass of Jim Beam

[skiierx]

Originally Posted by Stoneman

Yes you do! And I no NOTHING of yours! Dayumn dood!

It's not been fun and that is one reason why I don't ride much but like you I want to live a normal fun life so I test the back all the time. Sometimes it hurts sometimes it doesn't!