Peripheral Neuropathy - Result of PMR or Prednisone?
I am 8 months diagnosed with PMR currently down to 6 mg daily Prednisone. I have recently developed Peripheral Neuropathy and am unable to move several toes, and the ball of my foot and toes have little feeling. Has anyone else experienced this as a result of PMR or Prednisone? If so what should I expect as an outcome? Thanks much
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.
Have you been on the steroids long term for an underlying diagnosis. Is there a symptom description
leading to neuropathy in your history ?
.
I already had peripheral neuropathy (an NFI version--No Fucking Idea why) and was able to stop its progression with red light therapy and supplements. I still do the therapy and the one numb toe has a little feeling in it. Mine has not worsened with PRM or prednisone. I'm three months in on prednisone. Started at 1 mg, went to 8. Side effects so awful, I'm tapering off. Down to 6.5
What supplements are you using?
Thanks.
Which supplements did you take for peripheral neuropathy, the NFI kind? have had it for 25 years. I get sensation as soon as the acupunturist puts in the needles anywhere in my body. Will research red light therapy. Only someone who has experienced the side effects of prednisone knows how awful they can be. Trying to get off prednisone. I am at 5mg and in hell. I wish you success on your journey!
Only Lyme arthritis.
I have idiopathic peripheral neuropathy which started about a year after PMR was diagnosed. I started long term prednisone shortly after my diagnosis of PMR. I don't know what caused the peripheral neuropathy but I didn't have it before being diagnosed with PMR.
My peripheral neuropathy got progressively worse while PMR was treated with Prednisone. After 12 years of Prednisone, PMR was treated with a biologic. I finally tapered off Prednisone. I still don't know what caused my peripheral neuropathy but now it is getting progressively better. It might have been PMR because it is better too. It might have been caused by something else or another autoimmune condition but I don't know. All I know is that Prednisone didn't make my peripheral neuropathy any better.
The supplements I took came as part of a package program: BluePrint Vasoproplus and Inflammax plus, on my own, Total Beets and an excellent superfoods powder. I believe the red light therapy on my feet for 20 minutes twice a day made the difference. I now do 20 minutes once a day for maintenance.
"I started long term prednisone shortly after my diagnosis of PMR."
--------------------------
I should say that I started prednisone shortly after my diagnosis of PMR but my symptoms of PMR got a head start by about 6 months. My symptoms of peripheral neuralgia started about 6 months after prednisone was started.
Peripheral neuralgia is listed and one of the potential side effects from long term Prednisone use in the following link. I have to wonder what adverse effects prednisone doesn't cause.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-are-prednisone-side-effects-1941763
----------------------------------
The link below says this:
"Generally, PMR is not associated with serious complications; however, patients treated with corticosteroids are at risk for long-term complications of corticosteroid therapy."
https://www.uspharmacist.com/article/polymyalgia-rheumatica-a-severe-self-limiting-disease
Thank you for these links @dadcue. Very informative and helpful.
I wish I had known all of this at the onset (and my GP too).
Perhaps if we had tapered much more slowly at the beginning things would have gone better. Wishing you all the best!
"Perhaps if we had tapered much more slowly at the beginning things would have gone better."
-------------------------------
I don't know but maybe I tapered too slowly. It took me more than 12 years to taper off prednisone. My rheumatologist said I tapered too quickly at the start of PMR. She recommended a "stable dose" for an "extended period of time" before trying to taper.
I never lowered my dose every month until I was less than 10 mg. It was more like staying within a certain range for a long time. I was in the 20-30 mg range for 5 years. After the first 5 years I was able to stay in the 10-20 mg range for another 5 years. It wasn't like I didn't try to taper ... I just needed to stay within a certain range.
I wasn't able to do less than 10 mg for another 2 years. That was when my rheumatologist convinced me to try Actemra. After that my taper was much faster:
1 mg per month for 3 months to 7 mg.
1 mg per week for 4 weeks to 3 mg.
I was instructed that I should NOT taper any lower than 3 mg because my cortisol level was too low when I was on 3 mg. I had to stay on 3 mg for 6 months until my cortisol level improved at which time an endocrinologist said I could simply stop taking Prednisone without tapering. I tapered anyway.
1 mg every 2 days to zero.
I have been off Prednisone for nearly 5 years but I still do a monthly infusion of Actemra. I still have some pain but I feel infinitely better being off prednisone. I don't need anything except for Actemra to control my pain ... not even ibuprofen.
I still see an endocrinologist who is helping me overcome my Prednisone side effects. My rheumatologist controls my Actemra dose.