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Anyone successfully treating PMR without Prednisone?
I am in severe pain with soreness aching in shoulders, upper back, both hips and now headache. I am starting to get some numbness in both hips. I was treated for GCA several years ago starting at 60mg prednisone. Within 6 months I was down to 5mg then a flare so doctor put me back up to 80mg but quickly got me down to 20mg. I continued tapering over the following 6months then off. I had some lasting side effects and watching for in infections from dental work so I am very fearful of taking Prednisone again. This came on gradually over the past month. I called my Rheumatologist to ask if Plaquenil or Methotrexate would hep but he insist this is from long standing Fibromyalgia due to labs normal for inflammation. I can barely walk, stand up or turn over in bed. Taking 400mg Gabepentin daily as Dr recommends. No help. I have never had this severe pain from Fibromyalgia. My husband came down, suddenly, with PMR about 10 years ago with symptoms like I now have. His gradually cleared with Plaquenil and Methotrexate. Has anyone had success treating this type pain with OTC meds such as Omega or Bromelain or anything else?
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@prettypatti76 I feel your pain. I was 110Ib before PMR, down to 103Ib at on set of PMR. Now it is back to 110lb. I do not worry too much about my waistline. It is my drooping eyelids made me sad. That was another curse from that devil drug. I try to do yoga and walking to keep myself fit. Prednisone pulled me into osteopenia category. At least I can live without prednisone now. Best wishes for your speedy recovery.
I have taken prednisone, methotrexate, kevzara, and humira - all without any pain relief at all. My shoulder bones are being eaten away (reverse total shoulder replacement-left on 10/29/25) and now my right shoulder needs replacement as well. Kick started when I had a shingles sot 18 months ago.
Today I will return once again to my rheumatologist to convince them yes, I do have RA/PMR. I need drugs (just been on Aleve and Tylenol Xtra since 7/21/25. I have begged for Rinvoq but doctors don’t want me on it because of the black box warnings.
I wish you well and will be praying for your relief.
@nm11643 Thank you for your good wishes, and I wish the same or you. Because the devil drug messes with our immune system, I got an eye infection from an unknown origin, underwent an emergency Vitrectomy, and am now partially blind in that eye. Be careful.
Oh no. Patti, I am sorry. In August 2024, two months after my shingles shot, while on prednisone I developed conjunctivitis and an internal stye. Second eye became infected also. I looked like a Halloween monster. Now, my eyes and area are tender and I watch carefully for GCA. I’ve worn hard contact lenses since 1961 and still wear them but not as long each day.
@prettypatti76 I am so sorry to learn what you had gone through. That was terrible. Thanks for the warning. I pray for your recovery, with hope for the miracle.
@dadcue her supplement helped immensely when I was taking prednisone.
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1 Reaction@vbird
We need all the help that we can get. It makes sense that prednisone depletes our stores of vitamins and minerals. If Prednisone doesn't ... all the other medications commonly used to treat prednisone side effects surely will deplete vital nutrients.
https://www.verywellhealth.com/drug-induced-nutrient-deficiency-11860709
@dadcue can we chat in a few days;-) Being on this Mayo Clinic chat and hearing what so many have gone through with pain and the side effects of this devil's drug Prednisone, I am trying without drugs. Onset was early December 2025, early January we figured PMR was it. My CRP was 20 and ESR was 96, super high early January. I made a drastic diet change: vegan, no sugar/salt/coffee/alcohol. Fasted for a week mid January, ate for 10 days, now fasting for 2 weeks. Only downside is my BP and cholesterol would come down, which would lower general inflammation. Testing again today to see if there are any changes. Fingers crossed.
Just so afraid of Prednisone, then other medications to counter the side effects. The pain is still terrible, but at least I can move around. There were days I needed help getting out of bed, getting dressed. And yes, always worked out about 6 hours a week.
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1 Reaction@pmrnew
I don't want anyone to be afraid to take prednisone. I probably would not have survived without prednisone because of all the pain. I thought my death certificate would say my cause of death was pain!
I just don't believe it anymore when people say it is about "quality of life." Prednisone for the rest of my life was not a good option. I took Prednisone for a third of my life and there was not that much quality.
I was getting conflicting advice from my doctor who always encouraged me to keep trying to taper off as soon as possible and another person on the internet who said I should take prednisone for the rest of my life if necessary.
My rheumatologist has more credibility than the latter person who minimized Prednisone side effects. I only wish that my rheumatologist could have found a way to get me off Prednisone sooner.
I'm currently on a biologic instead of Prednisone. My quality of life has improved immensely since I tapered off Prednisone. By the way ... I tried fasting to reverse the weight gain that I experienced on Prednisone. I think fasting made me malnourished and I still gained weight.
@dadcue I have been following your thread on Mayo clinic for sometime now. I know that you are happy with taking a biologic. I have been off of prednisone since June 2024. I use OTC pain meds to control the PMR. However, I am wondering if I should try a biologic. I am a borderline asthmatic (1-2 times a year). I understand that the biologic might weaken the immune system, so I am concerned about that aspect. I was wondering if you tend to have more upper respiratory infections due to being on the biologic?