Prednisone side effects-when to worry

I know of the bone loss issue when it comes to prednisone use but has anyone experianced muscle twitching and for lack or a better word "deformities"? Sometimes when I hold my hands a certain way for example hold a mixing bowl that is full while pouring it I've had a finger or 2 "lock" into place and had to use my opposite hand to help straighten it out. It's not exactly painful but feels weird and uncomfortable. I guess I would call it arthritic. It also happens if I try to pinch/hold my ring finger and thumb (as in for meditation) I've also had what I'd call charley horses in my toes where they cramp up and curl and are hard to straighten out. I've been on prednisone for 5 1/2 weeks now ranging from 80mg/day currently at 50mg/day. Hopefully I'll be lowered again this week if my numbers are still up:) I'm wondering if I should be concerened about this being a long term issue causing arthritis in the future or if it will hopefully work itself out once I'm on lower doses/off the prednisone.

Hi Hayley,

My mom has had the finger "lock" a couple of times too. She actually had to have surgery to fix it. I don't think it's arthritis related, but I could be wrong. Mum doesn't have arthritis,(I think). She has never been on the pred.

I too get charley horses in my toes and I have never gotten them there before! I also get them in the ankle area. I am now on a medication for that. I've been off the Pred since Dec. 31/2010. I was told a year or so ago that I have arthritis in the tops of my feet. Don't know if that is why I'm getting the charley horses in the toes. Those are very painful!

Hi Hayley,
I would get it checked out. You wouldn't want to risk any long term damage, I think sometimes we think that the meds are always the problem and sometimes it's not the meds.

I got cramp in my feet when on pred too. In my case it was caused by dehydration and that was because the steroid gave me a high blood glucose and my poor body did its best to get rid of the extra sugar by producing huge amounts of urine. When the steroids were reduced it all stopped.

I have arch cramps now and the finger locking bit [that is in a finger with arthritis in it] - never had any of that while on prednisone for over 3 years.

I'm with Milly - if you are having problems get things checked out! No point in sitting and worrying about something.

I also think we tend to blame way too much on ITP or on med being taken.

See the last quote in my signature:
"Instead of wasting your time worrying about symptoms, just get it checked out." -Nieca Goldberg, MD

Let us know what the doctor says.

Prednisone can cause potassium loss which can cause charlie horses/leg spasms. You might want to have that checked. In the meantime, eat some bananas.

The finger-lock thing; I've never heard of that being related to Prednisone.

Thanks for the input, I will be mentioning it to my doctor today. As far as "deficiencies" go or other numbers being out of the "normal" I'm ok besides WBC being elevated which I know is part of the prednisone. My glucose and potassium are with in the normal ranges-luckily! I have never had these types of issues/spasm before so I'm under the assumption it is somehow related to the ITP or more so the prednisone but who knows right;)

The other thing that can happen is plain ol' water retention and if you get that in your finger joints it could cause problems.

I definately have a lot of water retention in my face and neck and have felt some from time to time in my hands. My doctor wasn't overly concerned she said it is the meds but wants to know if it gets worse. It's not a constant problem just happens a couple times a day but not daily yet. My platelets today were 315k so cutting back to 40mg/day of prednisone. Again everything in normal ranges besides the WBC so not a dehydration/potassium issue. I do eat at least 2 bananas/day anyway and I've been drinking alot of water/fluids as well.

She did recommend adding a calcium supplement though as well.

I have that finger-locking, and in my case, it IS arthritis. Most of my joints seem to be affected. But I am old--71!
I know that if I don't keep moving all my parts, they will stiffen up and become less usable. I try to keep my fingers moving on both computer and piano keyboards even though I make a lot of mistakes.

Not only do I feel the prednisone isn't the cause of my arthritis, I feel it alleviates some arthritic pain. It is, after all, a powerful anti-inflammatory, and since most of us aren't allowed NSAIDs, prednisone is the only anti-inflammatory on our plates. If I were on 40 mg of prednisone, I wouldn't be able to sleep well and I'd be pretty hyper--but my joints would be practically pain-free. But if my platelets were 315K, I wouldn't be on prednisone (or any other treatment) at all!

That's why I take Prednisone. 15 mg's a day. If I don't take it, I can't move. It is the best anti-inflammatory.