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Replies to "Thank you Mike for that reflection on "flares". Your story is another example of how very..."
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jun 26 4:18pm | Replies (69)
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Thank you Mike for that reflection on "flares". Your story is another example of how very different this disease is for every person and hence the difficulty with treating it. I will keep your words with me as I proceed on the journey. Strangely, in some ways I hope I fail and have "flares" as that is the only way I am able to prove to insurance that I can use a adjuvant such as Kevzara. As a first line defense, the insurance and the medical establishment does not recommend it. But I am sure that that too has its drawbacks. Time will tell. Thanks again. Peter
Replies to "Thank you Mike for that reflection on "flares". Your story is another example of how very..."
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I had another autoimmune condition that was characterized by recurring flares. For flares of uveitis my routine was 60 mg of Prednisone and I would taper off in a month. I can safely say I had more than 30 distinct flares of uveitis because remission was achieved with a short term burst of Prednisone. Uveitis can be chronic but my flares never were. Remission was easy to achieve and I would be off Prednisone for a year or so until the next flare. I knew when I had a flare of uveitis but my ophthalmologist had to verify it. The routine was to take the Prednisone and taper off. My follow-up visit was a month later when my ophthalmologist verified that my eye was clear and quiet and the inflammation was gone.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/uveitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20378734
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After Prednisone was started for PMR ... I couldn't taper off again for 12 years. The approach to PMR is to start Prednisone and "wait until PMR burns itself out."
People with PMR take prednisone for years instead of a month or two. It is hard to know when "remission" is achieved . Remission is elusive for PMR.
Waiting for fire to burn itself out isn't treating the fire or preventing it. I assume that is where the terminology of a "flare" comes from. It is akin to something burning or inflamed.