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← Return to Tapering prednisone
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I've had issues dropping first below 10 MG and then below 9, aches and pains galore in my journey from 15 MG. Major flareup of something in February (I also have Smoldering Myeloma). It calmed after a few weeks. My last 2 reductions (to 6 and then to 5) went seamlessly. I've been dropping a MG each month. So I'm hopeful can reduce more. Seeing my rheumatologist late this month, see what she says.
Replies to "I've had issues dropping first below 10 MG and then below 9, aches and pains galore..."
Just to add my two cents worth. When I got off Prednisone I still had aches and pains galore. The pain is "tolerable" and I haven't needed Prednisone for years. It helps when the pain is accounted for and there is an explanation for the pain.
My rheumatologist says I have a "full range of things" which cause pain. She asks me if I need "something" for pain. She isn't referring to prednisone like I took for years. She says there are plenty of other options to relieve pain.
I'm not a glutton for pain. Knowing what causes the pain and that there are other options besides prednisone allows me to live with my pain. Knowing the options gives me more of an idea about how much pain I can tolerate. I have been advised that surgical intervention is a better option but rather than having surgery ... I choose to live with the pain.
PMR pain had no explanation for the cause and it would hurt for absolutely no reason. When Prednisone relieved the pain it reinforced my thinking that it must be PMR.
My thinking was completely wrong. Prednisone decreases the inflammation that causes pain. There are an infinite number of things that cause inflammation and the vast majority aren't PMR.
I agree with @art43 --- "If possible, try to not start chasing random pains with varying doses of prednisone." Do communicate with your doctor if these random pains bother you too much.
I remember reading advice on the internet to increase Prednisone for "niggles of pain." That advice is totally wrong unless a medical professional agrees the niggles are PMR. Most of the time even the medical professionals won't know for sure, However, they have the tools to investigate the cause of these aches and pains rather than assuming it is PMR.
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From 10 to 5, I tapered at 1 per month. Most random discomforts were during this period.
From 5 to zero, at 0.5 per month. Very few incidents of random pain.
Below 10, never tempted to delay the taper or increase the dose. Tylenol, an an occasional 125 Ibuprofen (once I was below 3, and wirh docs agreement/permission) worked for me.
If possible, try to not start chasing random pains with varying doses of prednisone.
Good luck. Some is needed.