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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Apr 1 4:55pm | Replies (52)
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I was diagnosed at 54 and needed 50mg per day to relieve symptoms. Eventually switched to methyl prednisone and got much better results. Took 13 months to taper off. Now 3 months later still having the pain in shoulders and general stiffness despite no inflammation markers. Also having pain and swelling wherever i have old injuries or arthritis and occasionally my knee swells up so bad it needs drained. Ibuprofen and Tylenol barely help. Very frustrating to always be in pain
Replies to "I was diagnosed at 54 and needed 50mg per day to relieve symptoms. Eventually switched to..."
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Welcome @gmanrock, It definitely can be frustrating to always be in pain and not getting much relief. There have been a lot of other members who also have pain despite having no inflammation markers using the ESR and CRP tests. Here's a search of Connect listing the many discussions and member comments on PMR with normal labs if you want to learn what has been shared by others - https://connect.mayoclinic.org/search/.
I also had one of my knees drained when I was initially diagnosed with PMR at age 63. I was started on 20 mg prednisone and it took me 3 and half years to taper off. The PMR came back six years later but I was able to taper off in 1 and half years and it have been in remission since 2018. I still have a lot of off and on pain but mostly it's from degenerative arthritis, carpal tunnel and a few other conditions. I know we all want to get off of prednisone as quick as possible but it does sound like 13 months is a very short time for tapering off. Have you had any tests done to determine if your pain/swelling is caused by your old injuries or arthritis?