I have taken at least 20mg of prednisone everyday since I was 17 sometimes more but rarely less. I am now 32. After my first surgery my DR wanted me to taper down to 5mg before my second surgery then after that completly off the prednisone. After blood work everything according to my Dr shows that my body is doing fine with out it.
Except for the fact that lately my body aches horribly. My major joints hurt hips knees especially. Has anyone else had this problem. I know I was never in this much pain on the prednisone could my joints now be inflammed?? ANy info would be great.

I also experienced a lot of joint pain when tapering off of the prednisone. Unfortunately it is a side effect of withdrawal as your body tries to readjust and gets used to producing it's own cortisone again. Also, as I'm sure you know, prednisone is horrible for our bones anyways as it weakens them over time. Just having been on it for so many years could have your joints irritated. Even though I have been off of prednisone for a year, I still get joint pain in my knees and hips from time to time. It is not as severe as it used to be and usually only bothers me when it suddenly gets really humid outside (like before a rainstorm).

Have you had a bone-density scan done? That would be the first thing I would look into getting. Maybe there is some sort of physiotherapy you could try if it doesn't get better over time, or maybe look into a mild anti-inflammatory you could take.

I hope you get some relief soon!

well last time I went for a bone density test I was told I was OK ya know. Like I said I had been on it for what 16 years or so. I know its way horrible for out bones if the disease doesnt get you the side effects from the meds do LOL. Im just glad to be off of it. I hope over time it gets better I would like to work out more but I seem to get sore easy. Thanks for the reply though

Hopefully its only a withdrawl symptom. I didn't understand your post....are you completely off pred now? I have the same problem and thought it was withdrawl symptoms but it turned out to be enteropathic arthritis. Its an auto immune disorder type arthritis and alot of people who had UC have it. I'm sure pred had something to do with it cuz I never had it before steroids. I was only on pred 3 1/2 years and the couple of times I tried to taper I would get the pain. If it doesn't go away maybe go see a rhuematologist.

I was on varying dosages 2-40mg of prednisone for 2 years and it took about a year post prednisone to get rid of the aches associated with withdrawl.

Sue