seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
I have had some serious back pressure / inflammation after a myelogram last Thursday. It's been a nightmare and I can't sleep due to it. I so so so so regret getting the myelogram done. NEVER again.
My orthopaedic surgeon is recommending I take a 5-day course of steroids. I think I'm going to do it as I can't take this anymore. I need to get the inflammation down if possible. He thinks the spinal canal got inflamed with the contrast dye.
I need to do what it takes now for immediate relief instead of all the 'what ifs.'
I've tried Ibuprofen, muscle relaxers, etc. They are not helping. Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Have you talked to your LLMD? I know this is painful and the steroids may help but if you don't have protection with proper abx it could get much worse.
There is a very specific protocol for abx when steroids are to be given to a lyme patient. (see below for details)
I hope you can call your LLMD if you have not been able to talk to her/him yet.
Good luck.
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Steroids can cause lyme to blossom and become even harder to treat.
Even steroid creams and localized shots are to be avoided.
Dr. B has coined the term "steroid disaster" for lyme patients who have been on steroids.
ONLY in life threatening emergencies, or to save vision or hearing, steroids can be used for short term with special guidelines (see below).
"Steroid Disaster" is a term coined by the pioneer of Lyme Treatment, Dr. Burrascano (see link at bottom of page).
Corticosteroids are immune suppressants, the last thing a Lyme patient needs is to lower immunity.
Can you imagine, your body trying hard to fight off the spirochete bacteria and suddenly and immunosuppressants is introduced, "freezing" your immune system, rendering it unable to battle, giving great advantage now to the Lyme bacteria to spread and go wherever it wants .
Corticosteroids can last in the body for months, usually around 6 months. In many bacterial infections such as LD, damage can be done.
Many Lyme patients (such as myself) triggered LD with cortisone shots, pills, inhalers, etc. I can tell you, it is a nightmare I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy.
It is imperative to NEVER take corticosteroid for pain if you know you have a bacterial infection.
Some bacterial infections are so severe that a shot of cortisone could kill you, although that would be unlikely with Lyme, but rule of thumb, bacterial infections and immunosuppressants do not mix!
. . .
Dr. Burrascano makes it clear in his treatment guidelines that steroid treatment is detrimental, these are excerpts from his guidelines:
"More evidence has accumulated indicating the severe detrimental effects of the concurrent use of immunosuppressants including steroids in the patient with active B. burgdorferi infection.
Never give steroids or any other immunosuppressant to any patient who may even remotely be suffering from Lyme, or serious, permanent damage may result, especially if given for anything greater than a short course.
If immunosuppressive therapy is absolutely necessary, then potent antibiotic treatment should begin at least 48 hours prior to the immunosuppressants.
The severity of the clinical illness is directly proportional to the spirochete load, the duration of infection, and the presence of co-infections. These factors also are proportional to the intensity and duration of treatment needed for recovery.
More severe illness also results from other causes of weakened defenses, such as from severe stress, immunosuppressants medications, and severe intercurrent illnesses.
This is why steroids and other immunosuppressants medications are absolutely contraindicated in Lyme. This also includes intra-articular steroids."
An easy explanation. Your immune system are the "soldiers" of your body constantly standing by to attack any foreign invader.
When an immunosuppressant is used, it is like killing off or knocking out most of your "soldiers", now your body is open to all foreign invasion and while your immune system is knocked out, those invaders can go anywhere, your heart, liver, brain - everywhere.
PLEASE NEVER EVER USE STEROIDS WITH LYME!
See page 12 paragraph 3 for this quote in Burrascano's treatment guidelines from 2005.
More severe illness also results from other causes of weakened defenses, such as from severe stress, immunosuppressant medications, and severe intercurrent illnesses.
This is why steroids and other immunosuppressive medications are absolutely contraindicated in Lyme. This also includes intraarticular steroids.
. . . .
From page 12:
Excerpt:
. . .
More evidence has accumulated indicating the severe detrimental effects of the concurrent use of immunosuppressants including steroids in the patient with active B. burgdorferi infection.
Never give steroids or any other immunosuppressant to any patient who may even remotely be suffering from Lyme, or serious, permanent damage may result, especially if given for anything greater than a short course.
If immunosuppressive therapy is absolutely necessary, then potent antibiotic treatment should begin at least 48 hours prior to the immunosuppressants.
seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
My LLMD ended my treatment today Keebler. I have 8-10 days of Azithromycin left. Could I take that with the Prednisone? He won't be answering my questions anymore. See my other post.
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Hoosiers51
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 15759
posted
This is just a thought.....maybe megadoses of Wobenzym could be a substitute? I do know that that would probably thin the blood. Might want to look into it.
iherb.com sells it. It would be safe to take 20-30 pills daily, I think. Don't quote me on that...do your own research of course.
Posts: 4590 | From Midwest | Registered: Jun 2008
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seekhelp
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 15067
posted
More thoughts?
Posts: 7545 | From The 5th Dimension - The Twilight Zone | Registered: Mar 2008
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Seek,
I just saw this. I don't know.
I do know that I have read that the effects of the steroids can hand around the body for a long time. I don't know if 10 days' Rx is enough - or - if it's the right stuff, right dose.
Sorry.
Wobenzym has done wonders for many. It's a lot but much safer - and cheaper - in the long run [edited to add: than steroids, that is].
Hope you feel better.
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[ 02-09-2009, 03:36 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
Posts: 48021 | From Tree House | Registered: Jul 2007
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posted
I took a prednisolone taper before I knew about my infection. For a couple days all my lyme symptoms practically went away! I later realized this is because the steroids had turned down my immune system's chronic overreaction to the infection.
All my chronic symptoms gradually returned once the taper dose had halved. Fortunately, AFAIK, I developed no net worsening of symptoms due to the prednisolone. I suspect that was just luck.
Steroids are very much contraindicated during infections. The only way I'd consider them now is if I was experiencing damaging levels of excess inflammation.
Posts: 727 | From USA | Registered: Mar 2006
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quote:Originally posted by seekhelp: My LLMD ended my treatment today Keebler. I have 8-10 days of Azithromycin left. Could I take that with the Prednisone? He won't be answering my questions anymore. See my other post.
That would be better than nothing. It might lessen the damage of the steroids if you're on abx.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I see a person who worked with Dr. B, and he said I could take asmathnex, and a nasal steroid spray for a few days to clear up an infection I had. So, I guess you can take it for a short time if really necessary.
Posts: 455 | From Maryland | Registered: Jul 2007
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btmb03
Unregistered
posted
Just chiming in to say how sorry I am you (we all) have to go through this, sometimes I know I've treated a symptom when it got incredibly unbearable and it made me a little bit saner (ie: pain).
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