Anyone have discomfort or pain when tapering off prednisone?

Maybe consider asking about getting on Methotrexate or one of the drugs such as Enbrel, Humira, etc. But consider the side effects of being on Prednisone for a long period vs taking the other drugs. My personal experience was that while I loved the feel of sufficient Prednisone, there are side effects that are not desirable like it affects your bones, etc. I tried replacing the Prednisone with Tylenol for Arthritis (800 mg per day) and that helped a lot, but I am managing things to my satisfaction with a combination of Methotrexate and Enbrel. You cannot drink alcohol with Methotrexate though.

Thanks

How are you getting on with Methotrexate regarding side effects

I've been on the methotrexate just over 2 weeks now (completed the 3rd week of dosing, slowly increasing up to the 7 pills ((total 17.5 mg)) that will be the dose I take once per week beginning this coming week). I've not experienced side effects thus far. Still have the soreness/pain in fingers/wrists and shoulders but I understand it will take a bit for the methotrexate to take effect. I have not totally given up alcohol but have cut back on frequency. Hopefully the liver will not be compromised. My labs so far have been good. I have not had any labs since adding the Methotrexate yet.

I was on prednisone for almost two years starting at 15 Mg but quickly learned my magic number was 10mg. Unreal how pain would disappear in 2-4 days after it returned if I hit 5.mg. My inflammation markers also increased . I was given 20 mg of generic cymbalta a year ago to help relieve pressure pain in my legs. 6 months before that I was given gabapentin and had to stop it due to swelling in my ankles. After my 3 rd attempt and stopping prednisone and gaining 30lb my rheumatologist put me on kevzera in April. I continued to taper down and finally hit zero 3 weeks ago. 7 weeks ago I noticed my ankles and fingers were swollen and almost painful. I also have severe pain in my legs. It is different than my PMR pain 7 -8 months ago it was getting harder and harder for me to get up from the floor and climb steps. Again different than PMR pain. My thighs hurt so much after I would get up from sitting ; the pain would dissipate after standing for awhile . I could walk more than a mile on a flat service .
My doctor thought I have prednisone
Myalgia . Due to swollen ankles I stopped Cymbalta. Swelling is not a side effect from Kevzara but is from Cymbalta. As previous said my inflammationh markers have not gone up on Kevzera even though I am in terrible different pain I am giving Kevzera one more month. Maybe it is causing the pain I am havingg Don’t know what to do . I read what everyone writes and there is no major cure.
I want to be painfree!!! Hope time is the cure

I would suggest you talk thru your delima with your PCP. I discovered that several of my pains that my rheumatologist lumped into PMR have other unrelated causes. Also being on Prednisone for 2 years can interfere with your adrenal glands functioning. you might eliminate! that as a source of some of the problems.
Do online research either before a visit or afterwards to arm yourself with facts.
Just guard against self diagnosis. Dr Google does not know you and the details of your history.

Has anyone ever done a taper with one day on and one day off at a 2.5 mg. dose? He has tapered from 25 mg down to the 2.5 over a course of 9 months. My husband's doctor has told him to do this for a month. It seems like a drastic schedule to me. Honestly after reading so many stories of how long it took to taper I am really concerned. Thanks everyone.

There was some old research that alternate day dosing was helpful when a patient had adrenal insufficiency. Supposedly when your cortisol level drops low enough without a replacement dose of Prednisone that would be a clue for the adrenals to produce cortisol. I don't think those studies were ever validated.

I tried doing alternate day dosing when I thought PMR was in remission. It wasn't that drastic but I wouldn't recommend doing that if you are still having symptoms. My endocrinologist wasn't opposed to me trying alternate day dosing but not as a fixed schedule if I started to have symptoms on the day I didn't take my dose. My endocrinoloist warned me that it could be dangerous if my adrenals weren't able to produce enough cortisol.

Also, I was on a biologic that controlled PMR when I tried alternate day dosing.

Thank you, that makes so much sense.

If the pain is not going away, you might suggest an MRI because this may not be PMR but another complication such as osteoarthritis or a tear in a joint or tendonitis. Prednisone covers up the immediate cause by killing the pain. It is worth it to get a diagnostic test. I am glad I did. I thought I was still dealing with PMR but found out I have tendonitis and osteoarthritis. No more PMR.