In fact, in the widely criticized hydroxychloroquine study from Henry Ford, steroids were probably the reason why hydroxychloroquine patients had marginally better results, because the patients that did poorly didn't get steroids

Steroids dampen the immune system. When a patient’s immune system goes into overdrive trying to attack the virus, it can start attacking everything, causing acute lung injury and respiratory distress. Steroids can depress the immune system and avoid this.

As I recall from an article I read earlier, the issue is still a question of refinement and finding right dosage: suppress the immune system too much and it won’t fight the COVID, too little and it won’t prevent the cytokine storm. It’s a balancing act between managing two deadly conditions. It was a female rheumatologist who first started trying this.

When my spouse got suddenly ill with advanced stage lymphoma, which spread like wildfire throughout his body, the first thing they did was throw him in the hospital and administer infusions of steroids while we awaited the nuclear results of the biopsies that would determine the proper chemo. He couldn’t breathe or speak, and the steroids, over about 5 or 6 days really reduced the swelling that was blocking his lungs and vocal chords. But he looked like Frankenstein by the end of those five days, all contorted and blowed up. Then the chemo included steroid infusion followed by a week of very high dose oral steroids, over 6 months. It worked, and he’s been well for 5 years now (knock on wood). I’m down with steroids, but they’re nasty.

So there's that.

Every 5 years or so I get a spinal steroid shot s to stop the pain and inflammation in my spine.

I became diabetic about 4 years after the last injection.

I don't know what to do when it's time to get more shots.

They work very well at controlling the pain.

I'm kind of scared wondering what to do about the diabeties issue.

Pain causes stress and raises your sugar levels.
Steroids raise your sugar levels.
A no win situation.

Right now Motrin and Tylenol keep the pain away.

I do not want to take opioids if I can't get spinal shots again . But the pain gets really intense when the shots wear off.

I keep my blood sugar levels well under 120

Usually in the 80's -90's.

and steroid injections.

I think the steroids used with Covid are higher dose than spinal.

It was even possible let alone manageable. I'll talk to my endrocrinologist.
And my pain doc when it comes time to get shots again.

Btw if anyone gets spine injections ask for anti nausea meds with it because the day after shots I have gone to the ER with severe dehydration after loosing everything out both ends.

Well....we can't have that!

get acutely ill patients throughout the crisis and to recovery. Sounds promising.