Just an fyi to start... I started on methlprednisolone in early December. As I wrote above, I just happened to have the Methypred in the house. After seeing the Rheumatologist she put me on regular prednisone which I started to use. My eperience with the Methypted was a lot more effetive than the regular prdnisone and I liked that it did not have to use my liver to become effective like regular prednisone. At that time I asked my Rheumy to give me a script for the Methylprednisolone. Since mid December when I started Methylpred at 20mg/day, I am now down to 5mg/day as of May 20th. I never had any bad experiene decreaseing my dose. My last decrease to 5mg was just 2 weeks ago. For thr first time I felt some very slight PMR feelings in my shoulders and neck which would disappear as I got moving in the AM. Now it is 10 days that I am on 5mg and I have no PMR symptoms. I have never had a flare up.
I think the primary indicator is how I feel. Started at 15mg of prednisone 6 months ago and my inflammation was way up 30 to 40. It dropped to 4 and last couple checks it was at 14 or so. I have roller coaster down to 6mg of prednisone now and plan to do 1mg drop at 4 week intervals. And continue to exercise and dance to build my muscles back up. Male 65 years old. Currently I am feeling pretty good. As long as I am feeling good I don't feel the need to get my inflammation checked again. Bigger complaint is stiff sore weak hands but that is not consistent, and better by end of day.
@wfroslansky Hi, I am now taking 15 mg of prednisolone for two weeks and my shoulder, legs and hip pain is practically gone but I have stiff and sore weak hands like you described and is difficult to do every day things during the day. I see your post is not recent but I would like to know when and if your hands became pain/weak free? Thank you!
@aisp3b @gem3850
I haven't met him in person. I agree that he seems like a gem of a rheumatologist. He is moving the needle and is making a difference in the treatment of PMR\GCA.
PMR is more complicated than taking Prednisone for pain while waiting for it to burn itself out.
@wfroslansky Hi, I am now taking 15 mg of prednisolone for two weeks and my shoulder, legs and hip pain is practically gone but I have stiff and sore weak hands like you described and is difficult to do every day things during the day. I see your post is not recent but I would like to know when and if your hands became pain/weak free? Thank you!
@ndep Is 15 mg your starter dose? Seems like you may need a bump up to a higher dose. I believe the usual beginning dose is 15-25 mg. Are you in GB? Seems like most people are started on 15 mg there. I was started on 20 mg and all pain was totally gone. Reduced to 15 mg after two weeks and all stayed gone. I’m now down to 12 1/2 after 12 weeks and hoping to taper to 7 1/2 next week. Good luck.
@aisp3b @gem3850
I haven't met him in person. I agree that he seems like a gem of a rheumatologist. He is moving the needle and is making a difference in the treatment of PMR\GCA.
PMR is more complicated than taking Prednisone for pain while waiting for it to burn itself out.
@ndep Is 15 mg your starter dose? Seems like you may need a bump up to a higher dose. I believe the usual beginning dose is 15-25 mg. Are you in GB? Seems like most people are started on 15 mg there. I was started on 20 mg and all pain was totally gone. Reduced to 15 mg after two weeks and all stayed gone. I’m now down to 12 1/2 after 12 weeks and hoping to taper to 7 1/2 next week. Good luck.
@bonandrods Yes my starter dose is 15 mg, I live in Belgium. After 4 days the pain in my shoulders, knees and hips did (slowly) go away, hands are still a bit sore/weak especially in the morning but I can feel it is getting better every day. I don't mind if the pain goes away slowly because the lower the starter dose, the tapering will also be less long. Thanks and good luck to you too!
@aisp3b @gem3850
I haven't met him in person. I agree that he seems like a gem of a rheumatologist. He is moving the needle and is making a difference in the treatment of PMR\GCA.
PMR is more complicated than taking Prednisone for pain while waiting for it to burn itself out.
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Just an fyi to start... I started on methlprednisolone in early December. As I wrote above, I just happened to have the Methypred in the house. After seeing the Rheumatologist she put me on regular prednisone which I started to use. My eperience with the Methypted was a lot more effetive than the regular prdnisone and I liked that it did not have to use my liver to become effective like regular prednisone. At that time I asked my Rheumy to give me a script for the Methylprednisolone. Since mid December when I started Methylpred at 20mg/day, I am now down to 5mg/day as of May 20th. I never had any bad experiene decreaseing my dose. My last decrease to 5mg was just 2 weeks ago. For thr first time I felt some very slight PMR feelings in my shoulders and neck which would disappear as I got moving in the AM. Now it is 10 days that I am on 5mg and I have no PMR symptoms. I have never had a flare up.
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3 ReactionsI need the name of an excellent rheumatologist in Pgh pa
@wfroslansky Hi, I am now taking 15 mg of prednisolone for two weeks and my shoulder, legs and hip pain is practically gone but I have stiff and sore weak hands like you described and is difficult to do every day things during the day. I see your post is not recent but I would like to know when and if your hands became pain/weak free? Thank you!
@gem3850 Dr. Seabastian Sattui
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/comprehensive-overview-of-pmr/
@aisp3b
@gem3850
I haven't met him in person. I agree that he seems like a gem of a rheumatologist. He is moving the needle and is making a difference in the treatment of PMR\GCA.
PMR is more complicated than taking Prednisone for pain while waiting for it to burn itself out.
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4 Reactions@ndep Is 15 mg your starter dose? Seems like you may need a bump up to a higher dose. I believe the usual beginning dose is 15-25 mg. Are you in GB? Seems like most people are started on 15 mg there. I was started on 20 mg and all pain was totally gone. Reduced to 15 mg after two weeks and all stayed gone. I’m now down to 12 1/2 after 12 weeks and hoping to taper to 7 1/2 next week. Good luck.
@dadcue
Thx Mike…. Wish there was some way for this video to be automatically sent to anyone who signs up for this blog.
@bonandrods Yes my starter dose is 15 mg, I live in Belgium. After 4 days the pain in my shoulders, knees and hips did (slowly) go away, hands are still a bit sore/weak especially in the morning but I can feel it is getting better every day. I don't mind if the pain goes away slowly because the lower the starter dose, the tapering will also be less long. Thanks and good luck to you too!
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1 Reaction@dadcue
Very interesting. There needs to be more Research done on PMR
Theresa