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Flareups, Prednisone, Tapering
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Aug 13 10:38pm | Replies (21)Comment receiving replies
Good Luck! it is so difficult to know what to do.
I have been on 15 mg Prednisone for one month the blood tests are better but still having stiffness in right hand in the morning that usually passes by noon and also sometimes shoulders and neck pain in the mooning. not every day one day is ok another not soo...
Could not get in touch with my rheumatologist and went to my GP. he said I should up the Prednisone dose top 20 mg. 10 in the morning and 10 in the evening. Has anyone every tried this?
Frankly I did not want to increase mg but wanted to decrease as my rheumatologist had originally suggested. to 12.5 mg but since I cannot reach him I do not know what to do.
The aches and stiffness is not unbearable but really do not know how to go forward.
any feedback is apprecaited
Replies to "Good Luck! it is so difficult to know what to do. I have been on 15..."
There is a lot of information and experiences available in this group. Become knowledgeable.
Generally, unless and until your inflammation tests are normal, your PMR is not in remission. Until it definitely is, do not be concerned with tapering. I had to increase from 20 initially to 30. It then took one month to get to remission based on testing. That was 11 months ago.
If you talk to two docs, you will probably get two opinions. Be careful you do not start chasing a bouncing ball of dosages and opinions. Slow and steady seems to work for most of us.
Once PMR is in remission, you will still have intermittent and various pain levels as you taper. Almost guaranteed. Unless your tests show it, the pain is most likely not PMR, and is something such as pre-existing osteoarthritis that has previously been adequately suppressed by your cortisol. Stick with a constant dose if possible until the next scheduled taper.
All this assumes your docs have ruled out other possible problems, like lupus and RA. All pain is not PMR pain.
This can be complex, and not necessarily vulnerable to a simple solution. Learn.
Best of luck. It is sometimes needed.
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You have not been on very long. Good news if your blood tests are better. I would say you can always go up. Going down is the hard part. Particularly the longer you are on steroids. I would try for the least dosage you can. If you are at 15mg try 10mg and 5mg. If this causes sleep issues then try your morning dose earlier. My Dr. left my taper up to me . So I did lots of experimenting. If you have less pain then try 5mg and 5mg. Find a comfortable spot. The Dr doesnt know where your comfortable. If you tell him lots of pain in the morning then mostly likely he will say ok take more prednisone.