The stuff is fucking horrible mate, was on it for 2 years at age 14 then on it for best part of the time from age 22 to 28 for colitis which just wouldnt quit. Had large intestine removed and internal pouch sugery and was best thing ever done.
Also have fucked up knees but hips were fine when had the bone density scan thing so lucky in that regard.
Happy to hear the surgery worked for you. I was diagnosed with crohns disease several years ago. To my understanding, crohns and ulcerative colitis are pretty much the same thing. Luckily I never needed the surgery. Though my weight dropped to a fragile 120 pounds and I spent many months in agony. Along with the prednisone I was also put on pentasa at 3 grams a day. Wasn't until I was put on hydrocodone and got back to working out, that I got to being healthy again. Stayed on the pain meds for only a week and in that single week I put back on 30 pounds.
But shit, thinking back to all the side effects the prednisone caused. That stuff can even blind you. I remember this other stuff called bentyl I was on for a week or so. Side effect: feeling like your trying to piss a brick out.