my face is swollen, legs weak, knee pain waking me up so pain cant' stand the pain is this caused from the prednisone?
I am on prednisone and can't sleep and severe leg/knee pain is this normal?
Question posted by Darlene Hewitt on 29 March 2013
Last updated on 28 November 2023
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26 Answers Page 2
Buckminster202
25 Nov 2018
Slipped a disc in my neck about a month ago. Quite a bit of pain, particularly in my arm, and my hand has been asleep since. Been doing physical therapy which has helped somewhat with the pain but my hand is still numb. As a result my doctor prescribed prednisone to try to get threat the inflammation and get it off my nerves. Not a big dose. 60mg for 2 days, 50mg for 2 days, 40mg for 2 days, so on and so forth. Only started yesterday and... holy **** my legs hurt so much. Almost identical to leg pain from opioid withdrawals. No lie, I'm kinda missing the early days of my neck injury. It's now 5AM and I'm googling for answers. I'm trying to push through (really don't want permanent damage in my hand) but man... It. Is. Rough.
jwgunz
25 Nov 2018
I’m so sorry to hear about your health issues. I had the same experience as you... took prednisone for a couple days (for poison ivy) and after two days, I experienced the exact same excruciating leg pain. Do call your doctor and get off the prednisone ASAP. It has been shown to cause bone death. Unfortunately your doctor and other medical professionals may not believe you, but be assured you are not crazy. They will say things like “prednisone helps bone pain” etc. but such is not the case for everyone. The prednisone can cause bone issues for the rest of your life. I just broke my leg the other day and can’t help but wonder if years later, this was part of the cause. You will probably experience pain and weakness and your legs for several weeks to months but it did eventually go away for me.
Magbac
5 Nov 2018
I doubt this is because of Prednisone, just my opinion because I have been on it for years and
have not suffered these symptoms but again everyone is different, please contact your Doctor
right away.
jwgunz
25 Nov 2018
You are exactly right. Everyone is different. I KNOW it was the prednisone causing my excruciating leg pain. I was not on any other meds and the pain started suddenly the next night after I started taking it for poison ivy. Since I had only taken two doses, there was nothing to taper so I stopped taking it immediately. My doctor was quite skeptical about it but he can suck it.
MichelleHodgson
29 Dec 2018
It causes leg pain for me and overall joint ans muscle pain for me as well.
Sen1876
6 Jan 2019
I am a severe asthmatic. Every time I have to take Prednisone I have several leg aches for the first couple of days. I feel like I'm 10 again going through growing pains all over again.
alexanderwb
27 May 2023
I am just curious though. If it hypothetically is due to prednisone, what could be possible diagnosis is be? What was your diagnosis by chance? And what medication's were you given? Did the severe leg pain go away finally or was it determined to be permanent? My doctor refused to continue to treat me because the x-ray and MRI came back normal, which is highly unethical in my opinion, because a vascular crosses and other conditions don't even show up on the x-ray or MRI in the early stages. Any info would be greatly helpful. Thanks so much.
alexanderwb
27 May 2023
Thanks for the help. I am just curious though. Did your symptoms finally go away after discontinuing prednisone or were you diagnosed with a vascular necrosis or something else? And if so, is there a particular medication that helped it?
Vera Bond
5 Nov 2018
I have a problem with my hip after 2 days of 2x25mg tablets a day + 3 days of 1.5 tablets on this medication.
I can’t believe that any Doctor has the right to prescribe it for so many little things. And on top of that, not warn & provide every serious side effect information, that’s irreversible!!! To the patient.
I am talking about AVASCULAR NECROSIS which is DEATH OF BONE!!! Like the hip bone & can radiate pain down the legs, pelvis, lower back etc...
I am in absolute agony for almost 2months now since finishing only a 5 day course of these meds & there is medical data to support that it can happen with short term use!! So I urge everyone to BEWARE!!!
I have done a lot of reading & this is very serious & irreversible.
I’ve read that an mri is best to show this, as a ct or x Ray may not pick it up.
People should be completely educated & warned about these things & we should also be given the right to decide for ourselves if we want to take them or not, after knowing all the information.
In my case, I was told nothing & was given this poison for a simple chest infection.
Now I’m in the process of having all these scans & physio which isn’t helping me at all. I can’t walk or even move around on the bed without tearing.
Aboyles
19 June 2018
I am taking 50 MG of prednisone for about 3 weeks now. Woke up tonight at 2am with severe knee pain. Feels like someone is hitting my knees with a hammer. I’m in crying pain. Took two Aleve and didn’t do anything after an hour. Does anyone have any suggestions for what to do or how to subside the pain. Does any medication help? I see the dr Wednesday and will call tomorrow but it’s so painful not sure how to get through the night
MADCAP987
26 March 2018
My daughter has bin on an off prednisone for over ten years . Our lives are a living nightmare . prednisone has very severe side effects that last for weeks once stopped . There are only a few benefits to the use of it, immune suppression, and clear skin . The down sides include puffy appearance, severe insomnia, very severe leg pain usually from the knee down, steroid psychosis and bone density issues from longer term use . Its normally used in short term use but in longer use cases most general practitioners miss treat and miss diagnose the side effects . Its a very dangerous medication to stop without tapering . Our family has bin completely turned upside down by this medication . My daughter has bone density issues in her spine and massive pain related to its use in her auto immune disease . I hate steroids . It's an evil medication, with to few benefits . What ever anyone does DO NOT STOP TAKING THIS MEDICATION WITHOUT TAPERING IT . It's scary stuff .
jenkins57
1 Jan 2018
I have been on prednisone for 5 days 40 mgs. I am having lower back spasms. Could this be from the medications . I am also on metformin for type 2 diabetes and Bolivia for osteoporosis.
jwgunz
14 June 2014
I had the exact same reaction to prednisone. The pain in my legs was excruciating. I was taking it for only 3 or 4 days (poison ivy) when I woke up in the middle of the night from the severe pain. I stopped taking the prednisone the next day but the pain continued for another week or two. Horrible, awful, devil drug. I have noticed that leg pain is not even a mentioned side effect but it should be.
chavofowler19
12 June 2014
I am on prednisone 20 mg right now for poison ivy. And I have almost no control over my upper legs. Feels like nerves are damaged and my bones are weak. I'm up here at the hospital right now for it. No more poison ivy, just a lot of bone pain in my upper legs
endlessPred
2 April 2013
Darlene. Don't stop the prednisone without the doctor! You can have serious withdrawal including heart problems. It is foolish to stop this drug without a taper.
It sounds as if you are at a higher level than a dose pack. Prednisone does swell the face, known as moon face it is temporary and goes down after you are off it for a month or two. Common on higher dose.
The sore legs and such have two components. Tired, weaker legs happen on high dose. However, without knowing how much pred per day, how long, and what its for, little more can be said.
Again, no matter what others think, do not stop it. Very serious. Call the doc and get it adjusted. Give him the side effects. If you want better response, let us know the answers.
SylB
29 Dec 2016
I agree. Do not stop the prednisone. Call your Dr. and have him evaluate your situation. He may lower the dosage or put you on something else. I, unfortunately, have to stay in prednisone for 6 months. I am on high dosage with tapering down each month until I'm completely off it. I hate this drug. Not only do my legs, knees, ankles and feet swell, by the end of the day, but they also feel like they are on fire. The only thing that alleviates the burning sensation is when I lay down with my legs elevated up higher than my heart. I have to do this for a long period of time and I hate it, but don't have a choice. I was also on chemo treatments and that gave me brain fog. Glad that's over! But, do call your Dr before stopping the prednisone.
ang1049
29 March 2013
Yes this medication can cause this for sure!I can't take it either.My legs were in pain and it felt I had the flu.No nausea or anything like that,but felt achiness.I hated it.I stopped taking the drug.Yoy are suppose to contact your Doctor before doing this.But.I just couldn't take it anymore.My face didn't swell,but that would br serious enough for me to call if you could.I would definately report it to someone in your practice and see if they could prescribe something else,ASAP.Best wishes.
lady2882
29 March 2013
You don't say if you are taking any other meds or how long you have been taking the prednisone which would make it easier to give you a proper answer.
But yes the swelling, legpain/weakness are serious side effects that the prednisone can cause and you should contact your doctor immediately. Unfortunately, with this being Good Friday that could be difficult so if you can't contact your doctor then I would contact your pharmacy if possible and see what they advise.
If that doesn't work then maybe stop taking the prednisone and see what happens.
If things get worse then get medical help and go to emergency if necessary.
Lkay
8 July 2017
Don't EVER just stop taking prednisone! I'm a nurse, prednisone is not a medicine that can ever just be stopped, it must be Weaned/tapered. Consult your doctor.
I've also personally been on high dose prednisone and can vouch for the bone and muscle aches, insomnia, palpitations, "moonface", etc. The side effects are miserable. Talk to your doctor if your side effects are worse than the condition the medicine is treating. Most the time, unfortunately, it's necessary to push through. Best of luck!
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sta-d, pain, sleep disorders, prednisone, sleep, knee, knee pain
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