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Saying Goodbye and Thank You ALL
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 17 hours ago | Replies (17)Comment receiving replies
Congratulations! I only recently found out the PMR support group and have found the members comments and experiences very helpfull. I have had PMR for 10 & 1/2 months and have tapered down from 20mg to 10mg. Tried a couple times to go down to 9mg but had go back to 10mg. I was wondering if you or other members have any personal experience/advice on diet and exercise. I have read some articles about the benefits of a good diet (less sugar, alcohol etc) and also the need for some exercise. I am curious about how exercise and diet along with your tapering schedule have contributed to your success in beating your PMR.
Best of luck in the future.
Replies to "Congratulations! I only recently found out the PMR support group and have found the members comments..."
I take the advice of a naturopathic MD as well as my PCP (haven't found a rheumatologist here yet). My PMR was in remission 9 years and then I pushed myself over the edge through overwork and overstress. Rude awakening! I am tapering off prednisone (from 20 to 15 to 10 then it will be 5mg). I hope to taper off more quickly this time (last time I took it a good 1-1/2 years). My naturopath took me off vitamin D, turmeric-cucumin (which counter prednisone) and has prescribed PEA Discomfort Relief (Life Extension) to try for discomfort and/or SPM Active (Metagenics) as needed if pain is too much. She also had me stop ibuprofen and acetaminophen--though I take the latter for arthritis on a bad day. Most importantly she put me on a strict anti-inflammatory diet with physical therapy. I find water walking the most beneficial exercise--but it wipes me out for the duration of the day. Rest is a reset but I am looking forward to having energy again someday and getting back to my garden.
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Both exercise and diet helped my second time around with PMR. The first time it took me 3 and 1/2 years to taper off and then it came back six years later. The second time I made some lifestyle changes to not gain the extra weight from prednisone so tried to eliminate sugar as much as possible and eat a healthier diet with less inflammatory foods. I was able to taper off of prednisone in 1 and 1/2 years the second time and so far the PMR is still in remission going on 7 years. I believe it has helped others also. Here's a search of Connect with links to the discussions and comments from others:
-- "PMR exercise": https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=pmr+exercise
-- "PMR diet": https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/?search=pmr+diet