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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Mar 5 11:55pm | Replies (101)
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@jeff97
Your statement of feeling “flat” is the best description of how I feel. Just trying to get through the day and exerting energy just for the necessities of daily life. It’s not what I’m used to so too long in this state would cause depression. I don’t think I’m there yet but I just feel frozen in time.
Replies to "@jeff97 Your statement of feeling “flat” is the best description of how I feel. Just trying..."
@caroljeand Hopefully it's just your adrenal glands needing time to get fully active again. I just googled how long it takes to recover from taking prednisone for 6 months, and it says it typically takes several weeks to several months, and full recovery can take up to a year. I googled the same question for 12 months, and it said basically the same thing.
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@caroljeand
"It’s not what I’m used to -- too long in this state would cause depression."
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I felt similar to this for a long time when I was on Prednisone. Even after I tapered off prednisone it took time to feel better. I described it as being in the "eye of the storm." I always felt like prednisone was just a temporary reprieve from pain.
When I was on Actemra, the eye of the storm didn't seem like such a bad place to be. I wasn't frozen but it was like I didn't want anything to change. I thought the storm might return but instead it dissipated. I felt like a wreck but I also felt like I could "pick up the pieces."
After a few months of physical therapy, I didn't make instant progress but I was getting through all the stretches and exercises easier. I told the physical therapist that things still hurt but the pain was tolerable. What amazed me more was how much my "recovery time" after every exercise improved. I could go from one exercise to the next without much of a rest period between each exercise After every session with the physical therapist ... I didn't need to go home and crash. I thought my adrenal function might be improving since I was off Prednisone.
Now I do long periods when I'm more active. I don't feel like I'm "overdoing anything," I think I should be doing more vigorous exercise. When I was on long term prednisone ... I never felt like I wanted to exercise more because there would be a price to pay.
Instead of lights going up ... I felt like the storm was gone. I had some discussions with the therapist who thought I had elements of Medical PTSD but not clinically depressed. I told her that I felt good as long as I didn't dwell on the past too much. I remember the past but I try not to dwell on it. The storm I was in used to consume me but not anymore.