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Joint Stiffness After Prolonged Use of Prednisone

Prednisone is one of the strongest drugs available for reducing inflammation. It works by decreasing your immune system's response to certain diseases. It's most often prescribed for connective tissue disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus, blood disorders and some cancers. Although this corticosteroid hormone is effective in combating severe inflammation, there are several complications related to prolonged use of prednisone. Discuss these side effects with your doctor if you are undergoing extended treatment.

  1. Joint Stiffness in the Morning

    • If you're waking up with stiff joints, ask your doctor about the modified-release tablet. The tablet releases prednisone four hours after ingestion. This delay means you can take the pill at bedtime to fight early-morning stiffness the next day. Results from a study conducted by Merck in 2005 showed patients not only tolerated the medicine well but also experienced a clinically significant reduction in morning joint stiffness after two weeks of treatment.

    Hip and Knee Joints

    • If pain and stiffness occurs in your hip or knee joints, tell your doctor immediately. This could be an indication of aseptic necrosis. According to MedicineNet, this serious condition occurs in 3 percent of long-term prednisone users. Aseptic necrosis causes areas of bone to die. Since the affected bone is weak and often collapses, this condition could require hip or knee replacement surgery if not caught early. If your stiffness is due to this condition, discuss other treatment options with your doctor.

    Other Treatment Options

    • Long-term use of prednisone can and usually does affect major organs. If you've been taking high doses for more than a few weeks, discuss alternative treatments with your doctor. NSAIDs, such as aspirin, are the safest option. If you're taking prednisone for arthritis, ask your doctor about disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs). After several weeks of treatment, DMARDs have slowed the progression of arthritis in some patients. Immunosuppressive drugs are another anti-inflammatory option; however, major side effects can occur, especially to the liver. Careful monitoring is imperative with this treatment. If all anti-inflammatory drugs are unsuccessful, talk to your doctor about splinting the affected joints. This treatment has reduced inflammation and relieved symptoms for some patients.

    Caution

    • Do not stop taking prednisone without your doctor's assistance. This medication must be gradually reduced in your system to prevent severe rebound effects. Because prednisone stops production of hormones that help your body fight inflammation, treatment should be tapered off to allow for restoration of these hormones.

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