Helpful morning routines

I started with PMR symptoms in 6/2020. I finally was weaned totally off Prednisone in 8/2024. My inflamatory markers were normal until 4/2025 (they were high). Next bloodwork, a week ago, my markers were back to normal. I'm wondering however if this is normal. Within the past week I have been having a lot of joint pain in my fingers and elbows and pain in my neck. I also wake up every morning with stiffness in my fingers. Is this a post inflamatory symptom to my markers going up? I do not have arthritis in my fingers or joints. Any thoughts?

I’ve been trying to lower my dose of pred for over a year. I’m on Actemra Infusion once a month in to help me ween off, but each time I get to 2.5 - 3 mg the pain in my shoulders, lower back thighs returns, especially upon rising in the morning. . I’ve now at 3 mg for 2 weeks and I wanted to go back to 5 mg , which is my comfort zone. My Rheumatologist put his foot down and insisted I continue the taper, which drops to 2 mg next week. He’s concerned that I might never get off it and insists the Actemra will take over and that too will be eliminated eventually. I’m frustrated and I hope he’s correct, so I’ll keep on soldiering through. I’ve been on roller coaster for almost 2 yrs and pray I’ll turn a corner once I’m totally off prednisone, but there’s no guarantee.

I’ve been trying to lower my dose of pred for over a year. I’m on Actemra Infusion once a month in to help me ween off, but each time I get to 2.5 - 3 mg the pain in my shoulders, lower back thighs returns, especially upon rising in the morning. . I’ve now at 3 mg for 2 weeks and I wanted to go back to 5 mg , which is my comfort zone. My Rheumatologist put his foot down and insisted I continue the taper, which drops to 2 mg next week. He’s concerned that I might never get off it and insists the Actemra will take over and that too will be eliminated eventually. I’m frustrated and I hope he’s correct, so I’ll keep on soldiering through. I’ve been on roller coaster for almost 2 yrs and pray I’ll turn a corner once I’m totally off prednisone, but there’s no guarantee.

There is a really a good probability that the pain your experiencing is from coming down of the Prednisone. I grinned and bared it too and when I was coming down off the Prednisone, and when I was finally off of it my symptoms subsided. Hang in there, there is a really good possibility it could be the side effects of the Prednisone.

@joan7 how long were you taking it

@sharon44r Hi, It took me a year to be weaned down from 60 mgs.. The last 20 mgs was when I started to feel pain. It got really bad when I was down to 10 mgs. Then it became a juggling act with the med to avoid pain. 10 mg one day and 9 the next and 10 the next day and 9 the next. After two weeks took 9 mg and then 8 mg the next day and so on. I also took Advil Gels which helped once a day (check with your doctor). It wasn't until I was off the Prednisone that I realized it was the meds that were causing it. When I was off no more pain. To help yourself feel better warm showers or baths, staying active (laying there will only make it worse), find something that you really enjoy doing (in summer go swimming, gardening, in fall go walking, in winter get yourself a treadmill, bake, go out with friends, etc....whatever makes you happy). Try to focus on getting better.

@sharon44r Hi, It took me a year to be weaned down from 60 mgs.. The last 20 mgs was when I started to feel pain. It got really bad when I was down to 10 mgs. Then it became a juggling act with the med to avoid pain. 10 mg one day and 9 the next and 10 the next day and 9 the next. After two weeks took 9 mg and then 8 mg the next day and so on. I also took Advil Gels which helped once a day (check with your doctor). It wasn't until I was off the Prednisone that I realized it was the meds that were causing it. When I was off no more pain. To help yourself feel better warm showers or baths, staying active (laying there will only make it worse), find something that you really enjoy doing (in summer go swimming, gardening, in fall go walking, in winter get yourself a treadmill, bake, go out with friends, etc....whatever makes you happy). Try to focus on getting better.