Holistic medicine approach to PMR

Funny you say that. I have completely cut off the news. I finally decided there was nothing I can do about it so I need to cut myself off from it. I try to be a Phoenix Suns fan. I had to cut out watching any of the games. I just cant deal with much of anything that stresses me. I hate to live in a bubble but....

I resisted steroids until I had COVID and my inflammatory numbers were as high as many doctors had ever seen. One even said he had no clue they could be that high. I started at 5mg, then went up to 7.5 and up again to 10 - leveled out there for a few weeks then tapered down. There is not even a single protocol for treating people with PMR. I have seen that if you need over 20mg /day then it is worth considering it's not PMR or at least PMR + something else. My first rheumy wanted to start me at 40mg and when I said no-way she backed down to 20. I didn't even do that because she stepped back from practicing the same week - Covid had just hit and her husband is a hospitalist.

I eat organic and I would suggest that as a first step, that cuts out processed foods and non-gmo by definition. My understanding is the Whal Protocol is much like a Paleo diet - so you might start there. Paleo cuts out dairy, refined sugar, legumes and grains. My advise would be to go at a pace that works for you. If it is a lifetime change - there really isn't a big hurry.

Thank you for your response. I am on an anti-inflammatory diet, mostly Keto Flex 12/3. My BMI is 23. I also have a fairly unstressed lifestyle being retired. I hike or bike most days of the week. I have a loving family and great grandkids. I also practice pain reprocessing therapy. I just don't know what more I can do to improve my condition of PMR and get off of Prednisone. I guess I should be grateful we live at a time where treatment with Prednisone is available. I’ll have to add that to my gratitude practice.

I resisted steroids until I had COVID and my inflammatory numbers were as high as many doctors had ever seen. One even said he had no clue they could be that high. I started at 5mg, then went up to 7.5 and up again to 10 - leveled out there for a few weeks then tapered down. There is not even a single protocol for treating people with PMR. I have seen that if you need over 20mg /day then it is worth considering it's not PMR or at least PMR + something else. My first rheumy wanted to start me at 40mg and when I said no-way she backed down to 20. I didn't even do that because she stepped back from practicing the same week - Covid had just hit and her husband is a hospitalist.

I eat organic and I would suggest that as a first step, that cuts out processed foods and non-gmo by definition. My understanding is the Whal Protocol is much like a Paleo diet - so you might start there. Paleo cuts out dairy, refined sugar, legumes and grains. My advise would be to go at a pace that works for you. If it is a lifetime change - there really isn't a big hurry.

In the vein of holistic approaches… what have you tried to boost your own production of cortisol naturally? I have read that Vitamin A & C, Bromelain, and Zinc, can help. Plus, paying attention to your circadian rhythm and getting natural sunlight within one hour of waking. Delaying coffee intake until mid-morning (something I have not been successful doing).
Anything else?

Interesting conversation! I've been on 5mg of prednisone every other day for years. I'm fascinated by Dr. Gundry's thesis about "lectins." They're found in potatoes, tomatoes, peppers to name a few vegetables. My only question is, how did my ancestors survive on these? Well, I remember peeling potatoes every day for dinner. Perhaps, that's why there didn't seem to be a problem. I do like his suggestion to skip the grapes (too much sugar) and drink red wine! I like his suggestion only eat beef if it is grass fed and eat eggs from chickens that have a chance to run around in the backyard, like the "good old days.

What works for one person doesn't work for another. Frustrating. Be grateful, we have doctors and the free will to make our own decisions. Have a great day!

Lectins affect some people more than others. I'm eating low lectin and low oxalate and quite a few foods have high levels of both.

You're right about potatoes. Years ago we always peeled them and boiled them to mushy and tipped the water off which removed a lot of the lectins. I was eating tomatoes but removing the seeds where most of the lectins are, but it got too fiddly so now I don't eat them. When I drank years ago I had to avoid red wine which gave me a headache, blocked nose and bright red face, likely from the sulphites and higher histamines in it. As you say, what works for one person doesn't for another.

I am a registered dietitian and Gundry is a quack in the nutrition science world. He is just trying to sell something. Look at the Blue Zones in the world where people often live to 100 with very little chronic disease. They all have beans in common in their diets. If I were you, I would follow http://www.nutritionfacts.org . NUTRITIONFACTS.ORG is a science-based nonprofit organization founded by Michael Greger, M.D. FACLM, that provides free updates on the latest in nutrition research via bite-sized videos, blogs, podcasts, and infographics.