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@dorlera

I wonder how long you have been on the Prednisone. I began with 20 mg of Prednisone 2.5 months after the onset of symptoms. I was in very bad shape and it took 4 days of treatment before I even noticed the stop of the increasingly progressive symptoms. Finally the symptoms went the other way and began to decrease. When I finally slept through the night, I couldn't believe how amazing that felt! It still took quite some time to be able to turn in bed and eventually get back to side sleeping. I'm almost on treatment 5 months now, down to 10 mg of Prednisone a day in the mornings, Methotrexate once a week for about 7 weeks. I still have the pain and soreness in my hands/wrists/fingers and in my shoulders but the rheumatologist is hoping the Methotrexate will help with that. It can take up to 12 weeks to work. With regards to getting an appointment with a rheumatologist, that can take a while. Possibly have your Doctor's office call the rheumatologist for you to get an appointment. Maybe then they will fit you in sooner. When I went to the emergency room at one point, that Doctor was able to get me in to a local physician sooner than I had managed. Good luck!

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Replies to "I wonder how long you have been on the Prednisone. I began with 20 mg of..."

dorlera, thank you for the helpful information. My mild symptoms started early July. On 11 July, I saw my PCP, and he assumed it was osteoarthritis and put me on Etodolac (NSAIDS) for 15 days. However, the symptoms kept getting worse. When I saw him on 30 July, he ordered a lot of blood work, suspecting rheumatoid arthritis. Last Wednesday he told me the bad news about PMR. My CRP had gone from less than 3 (four months prior) to 29.6. Other markers were also out of kilter (granulocytes had gone from 1.90 to 7.10, and lymphocytes down from 44.10 to 16.70. Iron was low, ferritin very high. Dr. gave me 40 mg of injected prednisone, and prescribed the 50 mg. tablets, which I've been on since then, so less than a week. I am still in a lot of pain when I get up in the morning, but it seemed slightly less today than yesterday, so maybe the Prednisone is working. Still trying to get my appointment with a rheumatologist. Thanks for your concerns. Blessings!