Prednisone for Fibromyalgia: Is It the Right Solution?
Imagine you’re dealing with chronic neck or back pain, fibromyalgia, or another condition that causes inflammation and swelling. Your doctor prescribes Prednisone to help alleviate these symptoms—sounds simple enough, right? But is it really the best solution?
What Does Prednisone Do?
Prednisone works by reducing inflammation, but it also has the side effect of suppressing your immune system. While it may temporarily alleviate symptoms, the side effects can be concerning.
Common Side Effects:
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Difficulty sleeping
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A sense of dizziness or a whirling motion
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Increased appetite and sweating
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Indigestion and mood changes
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Nervousness
Why Weight Gain Matters
Prednisone often leads to weight gain, which can worsen depression—already a common symptom in people with chronic pain or fibromyalgia. If you’re battling pain and inflammation, adding extra weight can make the emotional toll even harder to manage.
Serious Side Effects of Prolonged Use
Some of the more severe reactions to long-term use of Prednisone include:
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Severe allergic reactions (hives, difficulty breathing, swelling of the face or mouth)
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Loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, dizziness
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Muscle weakness, joint pain, headaches, and mood swings
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Changes in menstrual cycles and extreme fatigue
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Increased eye pressure, vision changes, and swelling of legs or feet
Adrenal Gland Damage
Prolonged use of Prednisone can also cause the adrenal glands to stop producing cortisol, which is vital for your body’s stress response. If you’ve been on Prednisone for an extended period, it’s important not to stop suddenly. Gradually tapering off the medication is necessary to prevent an adrenal crisis, which can cause severe symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and even shock.
What You Can Do Next
While medications like Prednisone may offer temporary relief, it’s essential to address the underlying cause of your condition. Relying solely on medication to mask symptoms is not a long-term solution.
If you’re dealing with fibromyalgia or chronic pain, consider exploring NUCCA Chiropractic Care, which focuses on finding and correcting the root cause of your discomfort.
Your body, your responsibility—take control and find the solution that works for you.
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Dr. Craig Lapenski at Advanced Spinal Care, in Graham, Washington is one of 27 Board Certified NUCCA Doctors worldwide. His clinic serves the highest quality upper cervical care in the Pacific Northwest. Dr. Lapenski also serves a number of patients who are out of state including Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Kansas, Montana, Nevada, New York, and more! He is uniquely trained to correct problems in the upper cervical spine (upper neck). This vital area is intimately connected to the central nervous system and problems in this area have been shown to be an underlying cause of a variety of different health problems, including migraines, headaches, fibromyalgia, vertigo, neck pain, back pain, and more. More information can be found on our website at https://www.nuccawashington.com/