PMR Flare with New Issues

I am down to 2.5mg prednisone from 15mg a year ago. Also taking 400mg plaquenil daily.
Two weeks after lowering to 2.5 my right hand started killing me. Middle finger swells and thumb joint hurt. It’s as if I suddenly developed rheumatoid arthritis which I never had. Going for blood test next week to see what’s going on. Starting to get leg and arm symptoms of PMR again which I haven’t had in a long time. But I refuse to increase prednisone. I already had osteoporosis before this medicine so it’s just exacerbating the situation.

I wonder if I will ever be able to get off the meds? I feel like this is a lifetime curse and the meds create other problems. Wish I didn’t have to start. Will my body ever start making its own cortisol again?

Also, with all the pain I was told you can’t take Advil while on these meds. I read above that someone was taking it to help with pain. Anyone else told not to take it?

Lots of websites offering medical advice say you should only take Advil and prednisone together if that's your doctor's advice. The combination can cause bleeding in your gastric system.

Have you tried Tylenol? That's safe to take with prednisone.

I am down to 2.5mg prednisone from 15mg a year ago. Also taking 400mg plaquenil daily.
Two weeks after lowering to 2.5 my right hand started killing me. Middle finger swells and thumb joint hurt. It’s as if I suddenly developed rheumatoid arthritis which I never had. Going for blood test next week to see what’s going on. Starting to get leg and arm symptoms of PMR again which I haven’t had in a long time. But I refuse to increase prednisone. I already had osteoporosis before this medicine so it’s just exacerbating the situation.

I wonder if I will ever be able to get off the meds? I feel like this is a lifetime curse and the meds create other problems. Wish I didn’t have to start. Will my body ever start making its own cortisol again?

Also, with all the pain I was told you can’t take Advil while on these meds. I read above that someone was taking it to help with pain. Anyone else told not to take it?

I am down to 2.5mg prednisone from 15mg a year ago. Also taking 400mg plaquenil daily.
Two weeks after lowering to 2.5 my right hand started killing me. Middle finger swells and thumb joint hurt. It’s as if I suddenly developed rheumatoid arthritis which I never had. Going for blood test next week to see what’s going on. Starting to get leg and arm symptoms of PMR again which I haven’t had in a long time. But I refuse to increase prednisone. I already had osteoporosis before this medicine so it’s just exacerbating the situation.

I wonder if I will ever be able to get off the meds? I feel like this is a lifetime curse and the meds create other problems. Wish I didn’t have to start. Will my body ever start making its own cortisol again?

Also, with all the pain I was told you can’t take Advil while on these meds. I read above that someone was taking it to help with pain. Anyone else told not to take it?

When I got to 1, my doc said ok with ibuprofen, but to take a Prilosec with it as well.
If your doc says ok, note that there is a low-dose combo available that has 250 (standard 500) Tylenol and 125 (standard 200) ibuprofen. That has worked well for me. Start small, increase if necessary.
There are limits on Prilosec, both amount and timing. Make sure your doc is involved. Good luck.

Thank you, I’ll ask my doctor about that. Of course I’m just praying I can get down to 1mg soon.