I have been prescribed oral steroids 6 times within a year. should i be concerned that this might cause other health issues.

Discuss with doc: I am assuming that you have a condition serious enough to require frequent use of oral steroids. Steroids do have significant effects when use regularly ; i will not list them here but I am sure your doctor has gone over them. Use of strong drugs always goes under the balance between the primary effect against some illness and the risks of the drug use. Discuss with your prescribing doc.

For What?: Short courses of steroids usually do not cause serious side effects as long term use of steroids.We do not know what your condition is for which you were prescribed steroids and how long the course has been and what was the dosage discuss your cocerns with your treating doctor and I am surehe/she can explain to you why you need it and what health issues if any it can cause.

Yes: Any medication can cause adverse side effects if taken for too long or repetitively. Oral corticosteroids are no exception. Side effects can include weight gain, mood changes, muscle weakness, bone weakness (osteoporosis, avascular necrosis), high blood pressure, early onset diabetes, glaucoma, and delayed wound healing. If any of these symptoms are present, see your doctor.

Corticosteroids are…: Beneficial for a number of conditions, but like all meds, can have serious side effects, especially with prolonged/frequent use. Not knowing for what condition u r receiving the steroids greatly limits our ability to give u a better answer. If u need them often, perhaps your doc can re-evaluate the condition to find med(s) that can better control the condition without the use of frequent steroids.

See details: You do not list the dose or how long you stay on them each time. Are you taking a 6 day dosepack? In any event, that frequent a use should be avoided and you need to seek better treatment options. Those options depend on the cause of the pain, MRI results, etc.