Hi, Pecanpie; The first time I took prednisone, it made me high and full of energy. It was great. After awhile, it gave me mood swings and made me mostly depressive. I really think it went beyond menopausal mood swings, although I was perimenopausal at the time. So by *psychotropic*, I meant that it can make susceptible people somewhat bipolar. It was never bad enough to seek additional meds to treat the side effects, but was significant and noticeable enough to make me hard to live with and not make me feel *normal*. I had a moon face but never really noticed a weight gain, so maybe that trade-off was the psychotropic effect, so YMMV. I found that book I recommended very reassuring. Since doctors themselves have probably never taken prednisone, I'm not sure they really recognize the wide-ranging side effects. They only know that it is cheap and powerful. BTW, I found that a very gradual reduction in prednisone (i.e., sometimes splitting pills) worked better for me than stepping down the dose. My body didn't protest as much. Also, a weird thing about drugs: One can develop a tolerance -- or a sensitivity. It took me three tries over the course of nearly a year before a drug I'm taking stopped making me itch all over. I still have to be careful it doesn't give me mouth sores, but at least that means I don't have to take Benadryl which knocks me out. Have a great Thanksgiving, and don't overdo it.

About three years ago I had some problems with right shoulder when reaching in various directions, especially up, and back, as retrieving something in the back seat of the car. My G.P. suggested that I get Glucosamine Sulfate and take three capsules daily, to help with cartilage between the bones. I've been taking it for a time ... and came on here a while ago to say that, as I got an extended supply on sale a while ago, I am going to have to go on living for somewhat longer (also have quite a lot of PB and jam on hand, for even more incentive). I find that the shoulder has been developing some of those problems again, recently. Oh, well ... life do have its problems! ________________________ Can one get "diplomacy" ... ... without a prescription? Perhaps a touch of that on the part of some participants might help pour some oil on troubled waters, around here. While I fairly frequently find some of snidely's information somewhat unfeeling and rather abrasive ... I find that I've learned some things from them, as well. Dad used to say that one should let a lot of life's problems lacking direct consequence for one's self ... ... roll like water off of a duck's back. ole joyful

ci_lantro - that is very good information about Voltaren and Volfenac. thank you. Shows you how much my doctor knows about meds, I apologize for believing him, and appreciate you correcting my ignorance. I have always had the idea that if physicians diagnose and pharmacists prescribe we'd be so much better off. Don't you? Also, I believe that pharmacists should be able to dispense supplements, herbal, alternative, and non-traditional medications based on diagnoses, and follow you as your sole pharmacist no matter where you live in the US. They have years of intensive training where I think physicians prescribe what the last pharmaceutical rep were touting. Probably callous or snide, sorry. Reading the anecdotes here it looks like y'all have been personally drilling down to what aggravates and what alleviates for you without meds. I will start looking at my diet and keep a diary of what foods help or hurt though I've never felt there was a difference. Right now the only thing I've identified is that a drop in barometric pressure makes my arthritis flare up, like the coming of a storm or a drastic drop in temperature, but not a change into dry warm weather. I also know that the more active I am the less likely that my arthritis will flare. I follow the Mayo Clinic Hand Exercises for Arthritis that totally works for me and do it pretty much mindlessly while I am reading or being bored in front of the TV, or being a passenger. After a few months of this (and continued from 5 years ago) I could really see that the progression of arthritis in my hands had lessened and years later, I think, has kept the worsening of it at bay. But, now I have it in my neck/spine bones from several head-on collisions years ago that even though chiropractic has helped, there is no exercise for those bones. Y'all have given me much to consider.

Unfortunately, I am very lax on exercising... I used to go to the pool and exercise when I lived in former town, but it got to the place the chemicals made me itch and break out so badly that my skin bled... I walked 3-4 miles a day...then came 3 joint replacements and arthritis in every joint in my body and I have constant pain. The surgeon who relpaced one of my hips, cut the nerves and I walk with a terrible wabble and it feels like it is caving in with each step, and no fixing it...the nerves are dead....so makes my back hurt and have terrible balance when I do try to walk. I have gained a lot of weight and it know it makes all of my health problems worse..plus I am blessed with tremors in my hands..so I think I have just given up on extending my years. I am able to keep up with my house and take care of my personal needs, but life has lost its "fun" for me any more.