1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Flare

Posted by gingergirl24 @gingergirl24, 6 days ago

I was diagnosed with PMR June 24 and began Prednisone 15mg x1 month. Saw Rheum and began weaning schedule: 12.5mg x 2 weeks, 10mg x 2 weeks and then
decreasing by 1 mg every 2 weeks. I did fine until I got to 3 mg. I developed one sided hip/buttock pain, L thigh pain. The pain has been significant but has me uncertain if this is a flare of my PMG as the sites of my pain are not the same as where they were in my initial diagnosis ( wrist, shoulders, hip all bilateral). I increased my Prednisone to 4mg but increased again to 5 mg after just a few days. Its been a week at 5 mg with minimal improvement. Should I continue or increase Prednisone or assume my pain has another cause? Thanks.

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karinaph | @karinaph | 10 hours ago
In reply to @gingergirl24 "I appreciate everyone's responses. I had appt with my Rheumatologist. He checked my sed rate and..." + (show)
@gingergirl24

I appreciate everyone's responses. I had appt with my Rheumatologist. He checked my sed rate and CRP. All normal. Also did some XR's to R/O Inflammatory Arthritis, all normal. So, my discomfort probably muscular, not PMR flare. He wasn't worried about me increasing my Prednisone from 3mg to 5mg. He advised me to return to 3mg and continue tapering. So far so good. I have the date for my last dose! Hopefully.
PMR is such a unique experience for all of us. I value everyone's responses and wish you a continued recovery and good health.

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Reading your post and others. I've been on this roller coaster of PMR for nearly 5 years.. sad to say. I've had flares several times. Each time has been different not as severe. I'm on just 2 mg. And can't seem to go below that. I was P free for several months, then got a nasty flu in June and soon thereafter ,boom back to bilateral stiffness ( immobility) of shoulders and knees and cramps.
I'd say that perhaps your taper is too aggressive? Normal course is 2.5-5 years according to my Rheumatologist. I too wanted to get off the P swiftly, learn the hard way that was not going to happen. But with that said. We're all having unique experiences.
Question for all:
Do you have pain and cramping in your muscles? That seems to be one of my symptoms. Strange cramps in back, buttocks & pelvic area, neck. Not the usual toes and calves.
My Md says this isn't typical. But it emerged when PMR started.
Take care all, this is a bummer for us all but we can be active... just not quite as much. Time to rest is important for certain.

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