Well just came back yesterday from a 800 mile motorcycle ride. Still doing ok with my 10 & 5 pred. regiment, I just have a little discomfort but right now I don't think it is worth increasing my dose. The discomfort is mostly when I awake & evenings but that is all just a discomfort. I suppose with what you said & what I read about PMR it should go away on it's own that is with the help of pred. So far so good I have had not reactions from the pred.

Sounds like you had a fun ride and like to stay active. I think staying active is key to helping with PMR or any kind of arthritis. It just gets a little harder the older you get (for me anyway). My biggest issue is the weight gain so I have to make it a point to get some activity in addition to really watching what and how much I eat. I have to focus my mindset on eat to live instead of live to eat.

Hoping your PMR will be short lived and go into remission soon.

John

That is my biggest concern about steroids I hear that one retains water making you put on weight so I am watching that very closely. When I came down with PMR I was at 148 since then I lost 10 lbs & being on pred. I am still at 139 of course I stand at only 5'6"

Hey John, I know I'm replying to an old post here, but anyway hoping you get it.
I was doing so good, on 1/2 mg of prednisone. Felt like I was almost completely healed, then bam!, all came back. I am back up, (on my own decision), to 2 mg. I am also taking 1-2 tramadol, 50 mg a day. That is something new, bc I wasn't doing that before. I see my Rheumatoid Dr at the end of January, but have decided to see another rheumatoid Dr for a second opinion. My pain has been terrible and I am somewhat depressed at my quality of life at 59 years old. I work from 5am till noon each day and then pretty much go home and lie on the couch for about 3 hrs. Not much activity. I do try to walk my dog about 15 minutes a day and this forces me to get some exercise. I'm wondering if I increase my prednisone again, that my pain would go down some. I know only my Dr can advise, just asking your thoughts. Now I'm wondering if I have rheumatoid arthritis, although I have no swelling of the joints, or have I been misdiagnosed. I just don't know. Got anything to share w me?
Barbararene'

Hello barbararene...this is Joe (Mach92). I'm sorry you had a relapse. When were you diagnosed with PMR? I assume you had all the required blood test testing your inflammation markers? BTW, when I was diagnosed, ALL my blood test were normal. I sure didn't feel normal.

Last March I also had a relapse after reducing from 15 to 2.5mg of Prednisone over a 17 month period. Like you, I thought I was in remission. Ironically I was at the Mayo Clinic at the time for second opinions. The Mayo rheumatologist suggested I go back to 7.0mg, since I had just reduced to 2.5 a few days earlier. However, 7.0mg didn't help and I ended up starting over and going back to 15mg. BTW, once I returned home and visited my local rheumatologist, he put me on 40mg of Tramadol....my first time. I was having difficulty sleeping through the night as I would wake up in a lot of pain and unable to get back to sleep. It did help!

Since March I've been trying to reduce my dosage of prednisone 2.5mgs at a time at 3-4 week intervals. My doctor gave me the green light to adjust up or down at my discretion. I am currently on 10mg and hope to reduce to 7.5 in two weeks. BTW, there were times I did have to increase the dosage. So it's been somewhat of a roller coaster ride for me. Presently (knock on wood) I am doing OK on 10mgs. I see my rheumatologist on Monday.

Unfortunately everyone with PMR will have a relapse at some point. I can't tell you to increase your medication, only tell you what worked for me. I would encourage you to stay active, walk your dog daily.....it does help.

I'm sure John will reply as well. He is a wealth of knowledge and an inspiration!

Hi @barbararene, sorry to hear your pain has come back. I'm still struggling a little with my second round of PMR. I'm down to 3 mg and plan to go to 2-1/2 mg next week for 2 weeks or a month depending on how I feel at the time. I think when you get to the lower doses of prednisone you can be flexible to try it a few days to see if the pain goes away quickly with a little higher dosage. I would go for it.

It's not a bad idea to get a second opinion from another rheumatologist if the symptoms are changing or you get some new ones. My rheumy told me that PMR is arthritis all over the body when he described it to me the first time it was diagnosed. It went away for 6 years and I'm hoping I can get off prednisone again and it will stay in remission for awhile. I have to believe diet plays a large part in the day to day feelings but have no proof other than to know when I eat really good, I feel better ☺

Hope you can let us know how your appointment goes with the Rheumatologist at the end of January.

Hoping for a pain free weekend for all our PMR and PN folks out there.

John

I have not been given Prednisone as far as I know. I do know every time I go to the doctor, she gives me a shot before I leave. It is a Steroid Shot. Is that Prednisone? I just know the pain calms down and I am alive again. At this point I hurt so much and feel like I am working my heart much to hard, I would take anything to get past this. All these initials,,,,,I don't know what they mean. PMI, PMR etc. My doctor appears to be serious in her treatment, but I don't know how much longer I can take this pain. Just getting up in the morning is a large chore. I took CoQ10 for some months. I believe it was due to my heart not getting something it was supposed to get. It was being depreciated by the drug I was on. There are so many complications associated with this disease. This not only takes everything out of me, but it also had put a valley between my kids and Myself.

John, I would rather be weened off of Prednisone than morphine. My Primary doctor thought it was in my best interest to use morphine instead of sending me to a specialist. WRONG. You never want to come of Morphine. NEVER.

Rolandho...I have no idea how you work. If I had to work, you might as well lock me up. I barely get around, and I am much to young to e in this shape. 75. I have always had tons of energy and walk circles around my friends who are my age. I swore I would never get to the point that living was not worth it. I just know my doctor must have an answer for all this pain. I do have a referral to a pain doctor now. I see the doctors at the University of Texas. Almost as good as Mayo. But, they do not prescribe pain meds. People like me are being punished because of the actions of a few addicts.

Hello @oregongirly, I'm sorry for the confusion. Acronyms can be a problem when you are trying to understand what it is. PMR is the acronym for polymyalgia rheumatica which was explained to me by my Mayo rheumatologist in laymans terms as arthritis all over the body. For me it's been legs, shoulders, arms and hands it my two rounds with it. Prednisone was what worked for me and if I'm not mistaken it's the drug of choice for PMR. I have had a corticosteroid shot in my knee years ago for some pain issues related to an injury but I'm not sure if it's what your doctor is doing for you.

@oregongirl, I would recommend talking with your doctor specifically about what the shot is and what your diagnosis is. They should be more than willing to discuss it with you.

I found the following information on the National Institutes of Health site that may help explain the treatment with corticosteroid shots.
Treatment of polymyalgia rheumatica with intramuscular injections of depot methylprednisolone.
-- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1004588/

John