Lost my battle- so far

[Guest guest]

I've been taking Prednisone for more than 15 years and my doctors have been

wanting me to quit taking it. So, I started 2 months ago by going down one

mg at a time every 2 weeks or so. At the same time I was taking MS Contin

for pain and thought it was helping. I got down to 7 mg and was doing ok,

but had another sudden bout of Pneumonia and ended up in the CCU for more

than a day and in the hospital for another few days. I thought I was doing

well with the prednisone, but I started having more trouble with my lower

back, right hip, and right leg. I have had trouble with the thigh muscles

being numb, tingling, hurting and feeling cold, so I went to a Neurosurgeon

about 5 years ago. He did lots of tests and announced that he had the answer

to my problem! I was wearing my clothes too tight. I guess he gets paid for

that, but I surely wouldn't, and didn't.

2 weeks ago, I forgot to put my anti-inflammatories in my pill cases, forgot

to take my meds on Sunday night, and didn't have any methotrexate until

Tuesday. By the time I figured out why I hurt so much, I couldn't stand

myself. I'll try not to do that again.

So, to today's trouble. For the last few weeks, I could only sit or stand

leaning to the left and forward a little to take pressure off the nerve

being pinched in my back. I can hardly walk, sit or stand without pain. The

pain is in a line from my lower lumbar to my right hip, and then down the

leg depending on how bad the pinch is, I guess. It'll sometimes go to my

ankle. I was supposed to go to my doc yesterday, but had nobody to take me,

and didn't feel safe trying it by myself, so I had to cancel. I really don't

know if I should see another specialist, rheumy, or my Doc first. It became

unbearable so I went back up on my Prednisone to 10 mg and it's a little

better. What's the secret to getting off it?