Post Medrol Mess

I think I've been off of the steroids for 3 or 4 weeks now. Unfortunately it has left me a mess. I continued to have panic attacks. One was so bad it caused my hands to clench up and paralyze and my feet as well. I thought I was having a stroke and made my husband take me to the ER (that's my second ER visit since the last surgery.... The "easiest one"). They diagnosed it as just another panic attack, which I think was the best thing ever, bc it confirmed than any sensation I have good forward is just a panic attack and not any of the crazy things I had been fearing, like difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, tingling in my extremities, tingling on my tongue and lips etc. Since that day, I haven't had a full fledged panic attack, but started taking Ativan when I would feel an attack starting. I hated the Ativan and could feel myself becoming dependent on it. For a good portion of this, I was out of town. I decided I needed to stop the Ativan since it wasn't helping anyway and try to get my hands on my herbal and homeopathic remedies from my acupuncturist. Once I made the switch I felt a lot better. I was finally home yesterday and was able to have an acupuncture session. What a difference, even with 1 treatment. She gave me a regimen of herbs and minerals and other natural remedies to take. As I write I am on a plane heading back out of town, I left my Ativan at home by accident. A week ago, that alone would have caused a panic attack. Today, I am ok without it! As for the hip, still on 1 crutch (I think it's been about 10 weeks) and still with bursitis. I think I may need a cortisone injection to end this but am really scared of steroids. Not sure what to do...

Post- medrol dose pack

I am happy to say the medrol dose pack helped my leg tremendously. The burning I had in my foot is gone and I have graduated to one crutch/ no crutch at times. The medrol was one of the worst meds I have ever taken in my life and will publicly say I will never ever take it again. I started it on a Saturday morning and by afternoon I was feeling amazing, my pain was at least 50% better. By Monday 80% better, one crutch and a friend noted I had a "spring in my step". It was a tapering dose, starting with 6 and one less each day. I realized Tuesday I forgot my last Monday night dose so I took it after breakfast. About 20 minutes later I started having a bad reaction and I honestly though I was going to die. Now I realize I was having a panic attack from the meds but at the time..... I was really scared. My heart would start racing and I would feel like I was going to pass out, and then the feeling would just go away. It finally stopped after a few hours. I called my pharmacist who said take more food with it. When I took it that night I was fine. The next morning it happened again but not quite as badly. That night things got really bad and the panic attack was intense. I still didn't know it was a panic attack. I was shaking on top of everything , I was home alone and freaking out. My husband called my brother in law who happens to be a doctor and lives down the block. He immediately realized it was a panic attack- which is a side effect of the medrol, and had me take Ativan to stop it. For the next 6 days I had to take Ativan to deal with the effects of it. I also skipped the final dose because I was so scared to take more. Luckily I got enough in me to get me over the hump!

6+ weeks from hardware removal

As usual, things have been slow, if nothing else. At 6 weeks I was still in crutches without a firing glute and to make matters worse, I had burning in my foot. It started around week 5 and was not getting better. I saw my OS last week who wanted me to start a Medrol dose pack (tapered steroids). I initially said no, and we agreed to increase Lyrica and the compound cream I have. A few days later I was going to rip off my foot....it was time for the steroids. I started them Saturday morning and by lunchtime I felt better. That night I had very little burning in my foot. On Sunday my whole leg felt better and I was using one crutch all day. I feel like superwoman, I even cleaned up the entire kitchen last night, emptied 2 dishwashers, bathed the kids.... I know I know..... Don't overdo it....but I feel like I am free!!!! I have a small worry in the back of my mind.... What will happen in 4 days when I am done....but I am trying not to worry about it and rather enjoy this liberating feeling of finally feeling better! I will report later in the week!