How to address PMR pain while decreasing prednisone

thanks so much for your input..i was beginning to think i was crazy..got the covid vaccine yesterday and the only new sensation is nausea

Yes, I agree. Severe fatigue even doing little things but try to push through it. Wish I knew if it was the PMR or the Prednisone, but I am only on 4 mgs. at present but cant seem to get below that before pain starts again.

Yes to all of the above ie. exercise, heating pad, even TENS machine helps. When I am up to it. i fear the winter weather inhibits me. My mobility is poor due to the stiffness and I have fallen twice that put me back to months, and now fear has crept in.

Interesting, like you no pain or lack of sleep or weight gain but I wondered if the prednisone, contributes to stiffness? I don't take well to many meds including ibuprofen, Tylenol3. I seem to have some sort of a reaction. Maybe, as has been suggested here, we are overmedicated and the body just can't take it???

Hi John,
I too started the Wahl diet about 2 months ago.
Do you think it has helped you in any way?
After 3 weeks I noticed the constant soreness in my shoulders went away and the minor pain in my knees too disappeared. Now 2 months into it I'm disappointed to say my neck and knee pains are back.
I'm going to give it another month and probably stick with part of the diet and reintroduce some of the foods. It's really a strict diet!!
Thanks for any advice,
Carol

Hi Carol @dubuquer, I see that you've been a member for awhile but this is your first post so I would like to welcome you to Connect. The Wahl's diet can be pretty strict depending on which version you do. It's been awhile since I first read the book and got interested in eating more healthy to support my immune system. At first I was following the basic diet in her book and do think it helped my overall health. I wasn't taking it for PMR at the time because that was in remission. I started it because I thought it could have an impact on slowing the progression of my small fiber peripheral neuropathy which it didn't really have an impact on. I have eliminated processed foods and try to eliminate or limit the amount of sugar I consume.

You didn't mention but I'm assuming your pain is due to polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Are you still tapering off of prednisone?

Yes, I am on 4 mg. All and all I feel good - a lot better than most of those that post! I get these little niggles and I worry that I'll have to increase again.
This also is my second go around. I believe I was in such a hurry to get off Pred the first time that I ignored the signs.
Anyway, my Dr. suggested Metrodextrate to help me reduce if I keep having problems. I don't want to go that route!
Thanks for getting back to me so quickly.

Flush Face and Ears that itch

Was diagnosed with PMR in August 2020...Started on 20 mg of Prednisone been reducing...Am now on 6 mg...The last week have been developing red cheeks and ears that really itch bad...Any help with what is going on and is there a solution to condition ??</p>

@reeveshouse Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect, a place to give and get support.

August is a recent diagnosis and I'm assuming this is all new to you.

You will notice that I added your question to a previous discussion. I did this so you could connect with members like @dubuquer @munchie @bunkysmum78 @glendal @smugs59 @roberta125 @kimh @karinaph @dmsbronch in a central location.

If you haven't already done so, you may wish to scroll through the past posts to look for members that have experienced something similar.

May I ask if you have had a chance to explore other related discussions in this group? There are many that you will likely find helpful.

Once you get to 10 mgs, reducing by 1/2 mg is recommended. Never reduce more than 10%. You want to reduce to the amount that takes care of the PMR inflammation but no lower, otherwise the inflammation keeps growing until you have a flare. If the PMR is gradually going into remission, you then have to make sure the adrenals are working before going any lower. The adrenals create cortisol, the equivalent of 6 or 7 mgs prednisone. Your body stops making cortisol when you are on pred for a long time. It takes a year or longer for adrenals to begin making cortisol again. Some adrenals do not recover and prednisone takes over. The slower you reduce, the greater chance for the adrenals to awaken.

I was on 6/7 mgs pred for almost two years. I am in my fifth year of PMR and am on 3 1.2 mgs. I would be lower except for an arthritic hip for which I am awaiting hip replacement. I use the following method (Dorset Lady's) to reduce: Sun-new dose other days old dose; Sun/Th new dose, other days old;SunTuTh new dose, other days old; SunTUWTHU new dose, others old; SunTUWThSat new, MF old; the following week all new dose. It is easy to stop if the new dose shows signs of a flare and prevents seesawing up and down..
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