How to address PMR pain while decreasing prednisone

Posted by barbararene @barbararene, Feb 13, 2017

I have been diagnosed w poly myalgia rheumatica (pmr). Am taking 5 mg of predisone, was taking 10mg.
Every time I go on a low dose, symptoms come back. I can't take pain meds, but do drink wine to ease pain, although I'm told no alcohol w prednisone. Anything you can share as far as info

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

beckie | @beckie | Aug 31, 2019

In reply to @beryl "Good attitude Beckie I am having a return of PMR and trying hard to smile and..." + (show)

Thank you Beryl. Pray for better days ahead. I'm new to this journey, and I can only imagine it's hard to keep from getting discouraged, especially with return episode...

beryl | @beryl | Aug 31, 2019

In reply to @beckie "Thank you Beryl. Pray for better days ahead. I'm new to this journey, and I can..." + (show)

Thank you for your nice words. It has been a bit disheartening but we must keep our chins up Beryl

dreamer38 | @dreamer38 | Aug 31, 2019

Hello, John, I’m back again! Am now on 2.5 mgms Prednisone every other day and the PMR pain has returned...shoulders, neck, hips. As I phoned my rheumatologist yesterday and found out she is out of country, could you recommend anything that might help this pain???? I was told to take pain pills...Tylenol extra strength, 2 every six hours! Anything anyone could ‘throw in the pot’ would be gladly accepted!!!! Thanks.

dreamer38 | @dreamer38 | Aug 31, 2019

In reply to @beryl "Good attitude Beckie I am having a return of PMR and trying hard to smile and..." + (show)

Hi @beryl, I, too, am having a return of PMR and the smiles and happiness are getting kinda thin!! My GP says that it’s only been since last Oct/18, but to me, it’s been sooooo long! I’d never heard of this awful disease...until I got it!!

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 31, 2019

In reply to @dreamer38 "Hello, John, I’m back again! Am now on 2.5 mgms Prednisone every other day and the..." + (show)

Hi @dreamer38, are you able to try splitting the dosage so that you are taking some prednisone daily rather than every other day? When I was tapering off of prednisone I was taking 1/2 mg prednisone each day until I was finally able to taper off. I don't think regular pain pills work for PMR at least they never helped me or I would have never needed to start on prednisone. You could call your pharmacist and ask them and if you have enough pills until your rheumatologist gets back I would definitely do daily and not every other day.

lioness | @lioness | Aug 31, 2019

@johnbishop Just wanted to say Hi have a great Labor day

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 31, 2019

In reply to @lioness "@johnbishop Just wanted to say Hi have a great Labor day" + (show)

Hi @lioness! Hope you have a great and pain free Labor Day also.

dreamer38 | @dreamer38 | Aug 31, 2019

In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @dreamer38, are you able to try splitting the dosage so that you are taking some..." + (show)

Thanks for such a fast reply, John. When you had a recurrence of PMR, did it start up again in the same manner?

John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Aug 31, 2019

In reply to @dreamer38 "Thanks for such a fast reply, John. When you had a recurrence of PMR, did it..." + (show)

Yes, it went into remission for 6 years and when it came back it was about 2 or 3 days before I realized it was not regular pain from over doing activity. Went back on 20 mg prednisone and the pain disappeared.

lindapc | @lindapc | Sep 1, 2019

In reply to @johnbishop "Hi @dreamer38, are you able to try splitting the dosage so that you are taking some..." + (show)

Hello everyone, well after feeling good about getting down to 1mg I too have had a relapse, after being on 1mg for around 2 months and slight pain in my shoulders it has now turned and I have unbearable pain in my neck shoulder and arm. The pain is constant but I have burst of pain so bad I can hardly stand it. Is this normal, as previously I had the pain all the time and once I started on Prednisone it lessened to a slight ache. I have increased to 2mg but has not made any difference and the pain is wearing me down...don't really want to push the prednisone to a higher dose, can anyone recommend some other alternative. Pain relief is not making any difference.