1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Prednisone and Opioids

Posted by thomsoncat @thomsoncat, Feb 14 2:55pm

Pred put me into type II diabetes with BPs up to 185/115. I also have Crohn's disease and cannot take NSAIDs. I've had PMR for over a year and after my pred taper it got worse than ever. Is anyone using opioids for pain?

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dlc2025 | @dlc2025 | Feb 18 2:44pm

Has anyone tried LDN for symptoms of PMR?

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1 reply
oxzab | @oxzab | Feb 19 11:32am
In reply to @dlc2025 "Has anyone tried LDN for symptoms of PMR?" + (show)
@dlc2025

Has anyone tried LDN for symptoms of PMR?

Jump to this post

Hello, 2 plus years of PMR and Prednisone. I tapered to zero and lasted 10 days before going back to 5 mg Prednisone and started a rapid taper of 1 mg reduction a week. I started LDN (can’t remember exactly when) and I am now on 3rd day of zero prednisone and feel ok. I can’t know for sure it’s the LDN that helped me taper, but I will stay on LDN as it helps me sleep and seems to have a positive effect on my mood. I may see if 4.5 mg LDN is tolerated in a few weeks. I was motivated to get off Prednisone as it apparently caused tendinosis in hips, knees and shoulders. I like to hike/bike and want to heal. I plan to stay on LDN at either 3 or 4.5 mg.

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3 replies
coachg7420 | @coachg7420 | 6 days ago

Follow up to my post earlier in the week. 4 years of Pred. Was down to 2.5. Pain increase. Up to 5 then. Bad night pain. Started a week long 20mg course last night. Hoping to kickstart remission

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dmfulton | @dmfulton | 6 days ago
In reply to @oxzab "Hello, 2 plus years of PMR and Prednisone. I tapered to zero and lasted 10 days..." + (show)
@oxzab

Hello, 2 plus years of PMR and Prednisone. I tapered to zero and lasted 10 days before going back to 5 mg Prednisone and started a rapid taper of 1 mg reduction a week. I started LDN (can’t remember exactly when) and I am now on 3rd day of zero prednisone and feel ok. I can’t know for sure it’s the LDN that helped me taper, but I will stay on LDN as it helps me sleep and seems to have a positive effect on my mood. I may see if 4.5 mg LDN is tolerated in a few weeks. I was motivated to get off Prednisone as it apparently caused tendinosis in hips, knees and shoulders. I like to hike/bike and want to heal. I plan to stay on LDN at either 3 or 4.5 mg.

Jump to this post

What are your symptoms of "tendinosis" and how was it diagnosed?

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2 replies
DadCue | @dadcue | 6 days ago
In reply to @dmfulton "What are your symptoms of "tendinosis" and how was it diagnosed?" + (show)
@dmfulton

What are your symptoms of "tendinosis" and how was it diagnosed?

Jump to this post

The suffix -osis denotes chronic conditions.

The suffix -itis implies acute inflammation which usually improves.

You can have both tendinosis and tendinitis. Prednisone might treat tendinitis in the short term. However, long term prednisone use weakens the tendons and causes tendinosis.

When I had so many symptoms of tendinitis ... prednisone was prescribed.

It usually takes significant force to rupture a tendon. When I had a "spontaneous tendon rupture" prednisone was blamed. That was when it was called tendinosis because according to the surgeon who repaired the rupture --- there was no evidence of inflammation when my tendon ruptured.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3312643/
-----------------------
The overlap of many -itis and -osis conditions happens when the -itis is chronic. This is the nature of autoimmune conditions. That is when it is hard to separate one from the other.

REPLY
oxzab | @oxzab | 6 days ago
In reply to @dmfulton "What are your symptoms of "tendinosis" and how was it diagnosed?" + (show)
@dmfulton

What are your symptoms of "tendinosis" and how was it diagnosed?

Jump to this post

Hello, I started having pain and stiffness in hips and knees. In the morning upon waking, lying on back it was hard to lift leg and bend knee. I at first figured it was a new kind of PMR pain. Rheumatologist and Primary Care Dr did not mention other possible reasons so upped Prednisone. I eventually had a general pelvic region MRI and report indicated tendinosis. I have a similar feeling situation in my shoulders. I was sent to an Orthopedic for hips/knees but he had little interest in tendinosis. I am getting PT and Dry Needling. I have a referral to Sport Medicine Doctor.

REPLY
2 replies
DadCue | @dadcue | 6 days ago
In reply to @oxzab "Hello, I started having pain and stiffness in hips and knees. In the morning upon waking,..." + (show)
@oxzab

Hello, I started having pain and stiffness in hips and knees. In the morning upon waking, lying on back it was hard to lift leg and bend knee. I at first figured it was a new kind of PMR pain. Rheumatologist and Primary Care Dr did not mention other possible reasons so upped Prednisone. I eventually had a general pelvic region MRI and report indicated tendinosis. I have a similar feeling situation in my shoulders. I was sent to an Orthopedic for hips/knees but he had little interest in tendinosis. I am getting PT and Dry Needling. I have a referral to Sport Medicine Doctor.

Jump to this post

"I at first figured it was a new kind of PMR pain."
---------------------
Easy mistake to make --- I did that too.

REPLY
dmfulton | @dmfulton | 6 days ago
In reply to @oxzab "Hello, I started having pain and stiffness in hips and knees. In the morning upon waking,..." + (show)
@oxzab

Hello, I started having pain and stiffness in hips and knees. In the morning upon waking, lying on back it was hard to lift leg and bend knee. I at first figured it was a new kind of PMR pain. Rheumatologist and Primary Care Dr did not mention other possible reasons so upped Prednisone. I eventually had a general pelvic region MRI and report indicated tendinosis. I have a similar feeling situation in my shoulders. I was sent to an Orthopedic for hips/knees but he had little interest in tendinosis. I am getting PT and Dry Needling. I have a referral to Sport Medicine Doctor.

Jump to this post

Thanks.

REPLY
1 reply
dlc2025 | @dlc2025 | 5 days ago
In reply to @oxzab "Hello, 2 plus years of PMR and Prednisone. I tapered to zero and lasted 10 days..." + (show)
@oxzab

Hello, 2 plus years of PMR and Prednisone. I tapered to zero and lasted 10 days before going back to 5 mg Prednisone and started a rapid taper of 1 mg reduction a week. I started LDN (can’t remember exactly when) and I am now on 3rd day of zero prednisone and feel ok. I can’t know for sure it’s the LDN that helped me taper, but I will stay on LDN as it helps me sleep and seems to have a positive effect on my mood. I may see if 4.5 mg LDN is tolerated in a few weeks. I was motivated to get off Prednisone as it apparently caused tendinosis in hips, knees and shoulders. I like to hike/bike and want to heal. I plan to stay on LDN at either 3 or 4.5 mg.

Jump to this post

Im afraid I am traveling in the same direction, My Rheumatologist will not prescribe LDN.
I need to sleep as well.
trying to taper currently at 3mg for two weeks then 2mg for two weeks then 1 mg for two weeks then none.
so you will stay on prednisone as well as LDN?

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