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Changing from prednisone to NSAID’s
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jul 26 1:31pm | Replies (37)Comment receiving replies
I was diagnosed with major inflammatory arthritis in my early twenties ( I’m 74 now). I could not turn over in bed, walk or get up from a chair! At the time I was hospitalized and given whole body hydrotherapy (like a very warm whirlpool, it felt so good on my joints). They would rotate between hot and cold therapy. I was also put on a medication called Indocin (a NSAID), aspirin for pain and prednisone—which was pretty much all the meds they had at that time! I was unable to work for a year—had a lot of physical therapy during this time, especially to my knees.
My PMR didn’t start until 2 years ago. I’m on my second flare and tapered to 7.5mg of prednisone, waiting to start infusions of Actemra.
I also have osteoarthritis with age, in my hands and in two of my fingers I have those ugly “bone spurs”.
Best of wishes on your health journey.
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When do you start the Actemra infusions?
I hope you have an excellent response to Actemra. I was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis with associated uveitis in my early 30's. PMR was diagnosed when I was 52.
My rheumatologist said I have "a wide range of rheumatology problems" that caused systemic inflammation. I took Prednisone for a total of 30 years. For the first 15 years, I took intermittent (twice per year an average) high doses (60-100 mg) of prednisone followed by a fast taper (1-2 months). This was the treatment for flares of uveitis, reactive arthritis and trigeminal neuralgia. Remission was quickly achieved for all the above with a prednisone burst. I tried many different "flavors" of NSAIDs between these flares whenever I wasn't taking prednisone.
After PMR was diagnosed, I took prednisone continuously for 12 years. I started with 40 mg of prednisone. I was able to reduce this dose by approximately 10 mg every 5 years. I was still taking 10 mg of prednisone when Actemra was tried. I went from 10 mg to zero in one year but most of that year was to allow time for my adrenals to recover.
Now I only do a monthly infusion of Actemra. I have been completely off prednisone for the last 3.5 years. I don't seem to need any other medications to treat pain. My rheumatologist says Acterma is an "anti-inflammatory" medication not a pain medication so she offers me "something else" for pain if I need it. I don't seem to need anything else for pain. If I needed something for pain, I would take an NSAID but I don't seem to need those either.
I have severe arthritis but the pain isn't that severe. My spine doesn't look so good but the pain is tolerable. I guess the inflammation in my joints isn't a problem anymore.