My dogs were always super hungry when they got prednisone.
Have you considered getting an epidural at a pain center?
When my sciatica flares up, I like taking meloxicam 15 mg since it's only once a day. But naproxen twice a day is just as good. Of course, you can't use any NSAID with a corticosteroid like prednisone.
In my pain meds cabinet from India, I also have gabapentin and Lyrica, duloxetine, and muscle relaxers. I've never needed opioids, but the pain centers here give them pretty easily.