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Anyone successfully treating PMR without Prednisone?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Feb 18 6:57pm | Replies (58)Comment receiving replies
@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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@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.