Is Steroid Therapy Right For You?

Is Steroid Therapy Right For You?
Steroid therapy is the use of steroid medications, also
known as corticosteroids, to treat many types of autoimmune
disease, including myasthenia gravis, lupus, and multiple
sclerosis, and other disorders, such as asthma. Steroid
medications include medications like prednisone and
cortisone. Corticosteroids can be prescribed to be taken
orally or in other ways, such as by inhalation.

According to Western medicine, steroid medications are
medically necessary to treat many conditions and diseases.
It is important not only to follow the recommendations of
your medical professional regarding steroid use, if you
have decided steroid therapy is right for you, but also to
explore other medical options if you have second thoughts
about steroid medications.

Is steroid therapy right for you?

Steroid medications have major effects on the metabolism of
calcium and bone. Steroid therapy can result in severe bone
loss, osteoporosis, and broken bones. High dosage of
steroid medications can cause rapid bone loss, up to as
much as 15 percent per year. If you are on steroids, you
are more than twice as likely to have a spine fracture as
compared to a person not taking steroids. Fracture risk
increases as the daily doses of steroid medications
increases. The major impact of steroid medication on bone
is fractures (broken bones) that occur most commonly in the
spine and ribs. There are different rates of bone loss
among individuals on corticosteroids. Bone loss occurs most
rapidly in the first six months after starting oral steroid
medications. After 12 months of chronic steroid use, there
is a slower loss of bone. However, not all patients who
take steroid medications experience bone loss.

Other adverse side effects of steroid medications are
elevation of blood pressure, weight gain, decreased
resistance to infection, indigestion, thinning of skin, and
potential development of cataracts and glaucoma.

Let me relate my own experience with steroid therapy.

I was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis several years ago.
Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular
disease characterized by varying degrees of weakness of the
skeletal (voluntary) muscles of the body. The hallmark of
the disease is muscle weakness, which increases during
periods of activity and improves after periods of rest.
Certain muscles, such as those that control eyes and eyelid
movements, facial expression, talking, chewing and
swallowing are often involved in this disorder. In
addition, the muscles that control breathing, neck, and
limb movements may also be affected.

Due to myasthenia gravis, I had developed ocular symptoms,
such as ptosis (drooping of eyelids) and diplopia (double
vision), and weak neck and limb muscles. Fortunately, I did
not have weakness of the pharynx muscles, which could cause
difficulty in chewing and swallowing, as well as slurred
speech in many cases of myasthenia gravis.

I was prescribed steroid medications and had been on a
steroid therapy for three years. In addition, I was also
given medications to deal with bone loss and other side
adverse effects associated with the use of steroids.

In my case, there was some improvement, but not significant
enough to make me decide to continue the steroid therapy
after three years of treatment. I had to balance the risks
of steroids and the symptoms of myasthenia gravis.

My rude awakening came when I realized that my immune
system, which was the cause of the disease in the first
place, is not only an integrated network of cells that
would protect me in times of an infection, but also a
system with many regulatory mechanisms that, if
uncontrolled, would become my enemy instead of my friend.
More importantly, these steroids may control the symptoms
of myasthenia gravis, but they may also impair my immune
system with lasting effects on my overall health and
wellness further down the road.

I recognized that the human body has a natural mechanism
for self-healing, if given the appropriate environment.
Accordingly, I ttok matters into my hands, and made a
drastic decision to stop my steroid therapy without
consulting my physician (Warning: I do not ask anyone to do
the same.) I stopped the medication very slowly and
gradually. Meanwhile, I did everything to improve my immune
system through a thorough detoxification program, and a
change of diet. I did not gain weight, my blood pressure
became normal and, most important of all, my myasthenia
gravis conditions did not deteriorate. Up to this day, I
still have some double vision, which I have learned to cope
with (I can still drive), but my other symptoms have
disappeared. I have been off steroid therapy for several
years already.

Hippocrates, the father of medicine, once said: "No man is
a better physician than himself, who knows his own
constitution." No one can decide for you what is best for
your health. A doctor can only give advice, but you are the
one who makes the decision on whether steroid therapy is
right for you.

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Stephen Lau is a researcher, writing medical research for
doctors and scientists. His publications include "NO
MIRACLE CURES" a book on healing and wellness. He has also
created several websites on health and healing, including
the following:
http://www.longevityforyou.com
http://www.rethinkyourdepression.com