1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Skin infections while on Prednisone

Posted by paulinef @paulinef, Jul 10, 2017

I recently had a fall and mildly, or so I thought, scraped my knee. I am currently on 10mg day of Prednisone for PMR and the scrape
became infected so have just finished a course of antibiotics (cephalexin) which cleared it. Now I have another scrape that appears to be infected so wondering if others on prednisone have experienced this and if antibiotics are the only recourse..

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peach414144 | @peach414144 | Jul 20, 2017
In reply to @barbararene "Hello PMR friends, Well I went to the Rhematoid Dr yesterday. I live in a Midland,..." + (show)
@barbararene

Hello PMR friends,
Well I went to the Rhematoid Dr yesterday. I live in a Midland, Tx, a city of 150,000 and 15 minutes down the road is Odessa, another city of 150,000.
Anyway what I thought was interesting, was I asked my physician how many pts she had w PMR. She said I was only her second pt. in her clinic. She said the other pt was 83 yrs old. I am 59 yrs. old. I think she is learning along w me about PMR.
She is a young Dr. Probably in her 30's. She did say something discouraging and I don't believe it. I am on 3 mg. My plan is to do 3mg for 1 month, then 2mg, then down to 1mg. Her comment was, you may be on 3 mg the rest of your life. Really, not a very positive comment. As you know prednisone is hard on the bones and can increase osteoporosis. Well on my bone density tests, she said my lower 4 lumbar are very dense and I could be close to hairline fractures. (whatever that means). I guess meaning if I fall, there will be a break.
She wants to give me some shot that lasts one year, (I can't recall the name of it), but it is suppose to slow down the progress of osteoporosis. I am not open to taking any of these medications at this time for my bones. I did recently incorporate dairy back into my eating. My family has a history of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis.
One of you mentioned taking prednisone in the morning and then the other dose in the evening. She told me no, don't do that bc it will make it harder to get off of. I'm just telling you what she said. I know your Dr said do it. I go back and say I believe my Dr is still learning about PMR and does not have much experience. It was a surprise to hear that she had 2 PMR pts out of a city of this size. . I guess that does tell us that we are a unique group.
Let's keep sharing and get this illness figured out.
Barbara

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thank you.

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barbararene | @barbararene | Jul 21, 2017

Thanks for the feedback. I do need to incorporate some consistent exercise plan. I know yoga would be helpful. I am so fatigued after work, I want to take that 2 hour nap! I do appreciate that reminder about the exercise.
Barbara

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2 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 21, 2017
In reply to @barbararene "Thanks for the feedback. I do need to incorporate some consistent exercise plan. I know yoga..." + (show)
@barbararene

Thanks for the feedback. I do need to incorporate some consistent exercise plan. I know yoga would be helpful. I am so fatigued after work, I want to take that 2 hour nap! I do appreciate that reminder about the exercise.
Barbara

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I can really relate to being too tired to exercise in the evening after work. I find I have to block off a little time specifically for exercise. I'm lucky that I'm an early riser and have always been a morning person so I get up 30 minutes earlier and ride a recumbent exercise bike to keep my legs moving. I try to do it 4 or 5 days a week but sometimes I get too busy with life and forget. I also try to do some upper body exercise with a therapy band during the day when I take a break for a few minutes. All that said - NAPS are important!!, especially for old geezers like myself.

John

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paulinef | @paulinef | Jul 21, 2017

All the feedback on PMR is so much appreciated. I too agree about the exercise factor and definitely feel better for pushing myself to walk a lot with my dog. I don't know about anyone else but I have great trouble sleeping through the night and if I take Melatonin to help I feel even more fatigued when I wake up, so don't take it now and instead read lots of books until I nod off again!

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1 reply
peach414144 | @peach414144 | Jul 21, 2017
In reply to @barbararene "Thanks for the feedback. I do need to incorporate some consistent exercise plan. I know yoga..." + (show)
@barbararene

Thanks for the feedback. I do need to incorporate some consistent exercise plan. I know yoga would be helpful. I am so fatigued after work, I want to take that 2 hour nap! I do appreciate that reminder about the exercise.
Barbara

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naps: that is true and when you reach 80 the body does this naturally.  but alas, not enough times.  but good to know.  thank you.

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marylou705 | @marylou705 | Jul 21, 2017
In reply to @paulinef "All the feedback on PMR is so much appreciated. I too agree about the exercise factor..." + (show)
@paulinef

All the feedback on PMR is so much appreciated. I too agree about the exercise factor and definitely feel better for pushing myself to walk a lot with my dog. I don't know about anyone else but I have great trouble sleeping through the night and if I take Melatonin to help I feel even more fatigued when I wake up, so don't take it now and instead read lots of books until I nod off again!

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I&apos;m not sleeping too well either, for some reason.  I have just changed from Cimzia to Humira.  Tried the Cimzia for 6-7 months but eventually took to my bed for two days, so I called the Dr.

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barbararene | @barbararene | Jul 28, 2017

Thought I would share that I went from 3 mg of prednisone to 2 1/2 mg. I can't believe the difference. My shoulders hurt, bottoms of my feet hurt, ache all over. So frustrating. I was determined after my Dr visit when she said, well you will probably be on prednisone the rest of your life bc now your body doesn't know how to function wo it. I do not like hearing that. I'm not sure if the pain and discomfort is from PMR or the withdrawals from the prednisone.
Barbara

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3 replies
Mentor
John, Volunteer Mentor | @johnbishop | Jul 28, 2017
In reply to @barbararene "Thought I would share that I went from 3 mg of prednisone to 2 1/2 mg...." + (show)
@barbararene

Thought I would share that I went from 3 mg of prednisone to 2 1/2 mg. I can't believe the difference. My shoulders hurt, bottoms of my feet hurt, ache all over. So frustrating. I was determined after my Dr visit when she said, well you will probably be on prednisone the rest of your life bc now your body doesn't know how to function wo it. I do not like hearing that. I'm not sure if the pain and discomfort is from PMR or the withdrawals from the prednisone.
Barbara

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Hi Barbara, don't give up. My PMR went into remission after 3 years of tapering off of prednisone. It was gone for 6 years and came back last year in August and I too am struggling to get off of it. I started back on the 20 mg dosage and am now at 5 mg going up and down by 1/2 mg if the pain kicks up. I don't think it's withdrawal pain but more likely that the prednisone is controlling the inflammation that causes the pain so you take away the prednisone and the inflammation is still there (non medical trained thinking here). It's also important to keep doing at least some mild exercise without over doing it.

I hate taking the stuff too!

John

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charlena | @charlena | Jul 28, 2017

Does anybody else in this group ever feel like doctors give the PMR diagnosis because it's easier than looking deeper into your symptoms?

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5 replies
barbararene | @barbararene | Jul 28, 2017

Thanks John.
Charlena, I think my diagnosis is for sure PMR. I had to convince my physician that was my diagnosis. She kept wanting to diagnose me w a type of arthritis. She said at 59, I was too young to have PMR. Well when I was visiting family in Pennsylvania, I met a 70 yr old woman and we started talking and she had just been diagnosed w PMR. We had the same exact symptoms. I think the way they can tell the diagnosis is correct, is that prednisone works for it.
John, I think I will need to go back to 3 or 4 mg. I just don't want this much discomfort.
AHHH
Barbara

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