PREDNISONE TREATMENT & RHEMATOID ARTHRITIS

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/26/00 2:48:22 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

boycenberry@... writes:

<< Has anyone had the MGB that has Rheumatoid Arthritis? Or had

previous cortisone (prednisone, Medrol, (steroid) treatments?

>>

D,

Take a deep breath and try to calm yourself.

I have just read over my Patient Manual and it says nothing about steroid

treatments, etc. disqualifying you for surgery. It may be something new that

Dr. R. put in. HOWEVER.....

My experience with Dr. R., and what I've seen on this list is that he takes

each patient on a case by case basis.

Please call Dr. R. and talk to him. Hopefully he will be able to calm your

fears.

Regarding the Medrol dosepak, I believe it is a one or two week thing. You

take varying amounts of pills each day until the end when you are done. The

Dr. in ER is right about treating your current pain now. It's quite possible

that all the stress you are under has caused an arthritis flare up. I know

that this happens to me when I'm under extreme stress.

Please just take a deep breath (or ten or twenty and try to relax. Talk

to Dr. R. and find out the facts. Most importantly, put it in God's hands,

because He is the Great Healer. Ask him for peace in this situation and He

will be there for you and guide you.

You are in my prayers.

{{HUGS}}

Claire

Redhead in FL

MGB 4/10/00 !!!!

Dr. Rutledge (http:/clos.net)

" He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it until the

day of Christ Jesus. " - Phil. 1:6

[Guest guest]

Has anyone had the MGB that has Rheumatoid Arthritis? Or had

previous cortisone (prednisone, Medrol, (steroid) treatments?

Dr. R. lists as part of his criteria he will NOT perform the surgery

on anyone having either of the above.

I have completed my 12 steps, sent my packet to Dr. R. and just

awaiting insurance approval. I have been working on this surgery

project for 4 or 5 weeks (talk about stress) but I the surgery

option has literally given me new " hope " and everything was well

worth it.

MY URGENT PROBLEM! I HAVE (HAD) BOTH OF THE ABOVE IN THE PAST YEAR,

THERE HAS BEEN DO DEGENERATION BECAUSE OF THE R. ARTHRITIS AND I

DISCONTINUED THE CORTISONE TREATMENT 3 MONTHS AGO. DR. R. HAS NOT

COMMENTED THAT EITHER WOULD PRESENT A RISK.

HOWEVER, I JUST RETURNED FROM EMERGENCY ROOM AT HOSPITAL WHERE I WENT

BECAUSE I THOUGHT I HAD BROKEN MY WRIST. THE PAIN WAS EXCRUCIATING

FOR DAYS AND MY REGULAR DOCTOR OR ARTHRITIS DOCTOR COULDN'T SEE ME

UNTIL JUNE 1 (IMAGINE!) SO I ENDED UP GOING TO ER BECAUSE IT WAS

GETTING WORSE AND I COULD NOT ENDURE THE PAIN ANY LONGER.

WHILE AT ER I WAS GIVEN 2 SHOTS, ONE FOR PAIN AND ONE MEDROL

(CORTISONE STERIOD). ALSO, I WAS GIVEN A PRESCRIPTION TO IMMEDIATELY

GET A MEDROL DOSE PACK AND CONTINUE TAKING IT FOR THE TERM OF THE

PACK (I DON'T KNOW THE DOSAGE OR LENGTH OF TIME YET).

I HAVE BEEN CRYING MY EYES OUT EVER SINCE THIS STERIOD WAS GIVEN ME.

AND I WONDER IF THIS INCIDENT WILL NOW PREVENT ME FROM HAVING THE

SURGERY? I MENTIONED IT TO THE ER DOCTOR THAT I WAS WAITING SURGERY

AND WAS NOT TO BE ON CORTISONE TREATMENT, AND HE REMARKED THAT I

NEEDED TO BE TREATED FIRST FOR THE PAIN I WAS IN AND HE FELT THE

WRIST WAS JUST A ARTHRITIS FLARE UP. I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE HAD

ANYTHING LIKE THIS WRIST SITUATION, EVEN BEFORE THEY STARTED TO TREAT

ME FOR THE ARTHRITIS LAST YEAR WHICH WAS ONLY IN MY KNEES AND

ANKLES. THEY TOOK XRAYS AND I ASKED THE ER DOCTOR WHAT THEY SHOWED

AND HE SAID THEY WOULDN'T BE READ UNTIL TOMORROW - SO I DON'T REALLY

KNOW IF THERE IS A SPRAIN, BREAK OR IF IT IS STRICTLY A ARTHRITIS

FLARE.

I WOULD BE SO THANKFUL IF ANYONE READING THIS THAT HAS HAD CORTISONE

TREATMENT OR R. ARTHRITIS (OR KNOWS ABOUT ANYONE ELSE THAT DID) AND

IF THEY WERE ABLE TO HAVE SURGERY.

THANKS!

DEE

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/26/2000 2:48:21 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

boycenberry@... writes:

<< Has anyone had the MGB that has Rheumatoid Arthritis? Or had

previous cortisone (prednisone, Medrol, (steroid) treatments?

>>

Hi Dee,

I have had severe arthritic type pain in my neck, shoulders, and rotator cuff

for a couple years. On several different occasions I have had many steroid

injections not long before my MGB. The last one was probably only a couple

months before. I was on at least 15 different kinds of medications. This is

work related and has gotten better than it was before surgery. I'm almost 90

pounds lighter and I have also switched my work routine. I think it has been

a combination of the two. I only take Celebrex now and not everyday. I can

only imagine that the MGB surgery will help your pain. I only stopped my

medication 2 weeks before surgery as the manual suggested. Good luck and feel

free to ask any other questions!

in Raleigh