Is wrist pain and finger pain typical with tapering off prednisone?

I think it must be. Every time I see the rheumy he feels my knuckles and wrists and asks if they hurt. Up to recently they have not but I have just transitioned down to 5 mg and I notice especially in the morning that my wrist and running down to the middle fingers of both hands are stiff and a little painful. He tried to tell me last time that it might be rheumatoid arthritis but if it is then why would it have just cropped now with the PMR diagnosis? Anyway like you I find that it goes away sometime after breakfast. Good luck on your tapering!

In some cases PMR can evolve into an inflammatory arthritis.
Consider revisiting your rheumatologist and repeat of arthritic lab
tests and inflammatory markers. My PMR eventually was diagnosed as psoriatic arthritis after weaning off steroids. Ultrasound can be helpful.

I experienced significant pain in the hips and spine while tapering down to 4mg a day. X-rays and an MRI revealed the pain was caused by significant osteoarthritis and spinal stenosis, both of which were concealed by the prednisone until I reached the lower doses. Perhaps the same thing applies to wrists and fingers.

@elizabethannr all... Suggestion: Ask your doctor next visit why he thinks you may have rheumatoid arthritis. Hopefully, you had a good discussion about his suspicions and you asked all your questions? If not, you must begin doing that at your visits. You need information to make decisions about your health care, and you are your advocate. He's supposed to be knowledgeable and with you asking legitimate questions, you'll work together to resolve your health issues.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in an autoimmune disease. PMR is an autoimmune disease. Frequently, if you have one you can expect another autoimmune illness... I have osteoarthritis, has another name now and is quite degenerative. No rheumatoid although the doctors thought a long time I did... blood-work didn't support that diagnosis, but arthritis is severe. I also have Sarcoid, Vasculitis, GCA and probably others not yet diagnosed!!!!!

Yes, absolutely, reducing Prednisone can let other pain producers show their faces... Prednisone is an excellent pain reducer as it reduces inflammation, swelling which both increase pain. So, if you have joint issues anywhere with pain and inflammation... hips - PMR, back, shoulders - PMR, fingers, wrists, feet, knees, etc... You may expect those areas to begin yelling at you with Prednisone tapering. Doc should explain that to you...

I am tapering from 20mg Prednisone since last May. A full year. I've written about that year in this site so won't go in depth, but am having trouble tapering. If I get below 14mg, the increased pain is severe, muscle spasms and paralysis returns with a vengance, my legs won't work and feet won't pick up, so I'm in a real pickle. It can even hit me in the morning on waking with full body paralysis, so I take a Robaxin 750 mg 4X daily, and often one in the middle off the night if I'm having increased stiffness and muscle freezing. I can then wake up with less issues...

So, I am stopped at 14 mg Prednisone. Not ideal, but workable. I still experience increased pain all over, especially my shoulders, wrists and hands. I take Robaxin which I find is most helpful releasing muscles that increase joint pain. Xanax small dose daily for anxiety. It is helpful. Sleep with a Bi-pap and O2 every night, now use the Bi-pap most days as well. Helps keep O2 above 90... Feel much better with O2.

Also take a host of other meds for heart, gut, reflux, etc. I found taking Probulin Colon Support Probiotic daily is helping me in many ways, keeping my intestines working sort of like they should. It's a dream come true. I take extra capsules when on antibiotic, which is frequently with recurring severe UTI and lung infections, sepsis, etc. Probulin keeps away or helps control quite well diarrhea from antibiotics.

So, all to say, chat with your doc. If he has suspicions or rheumatoid arthritis, is suspect he is ordering a series of blood tests for autoimmune diseases, rheumatoid factor, etc. I'd get that done soon to get answers and begin treatment.

Hopefully, some of this info helps with your situation.Blessings on your health journey...Elizabeth

Thank you very much for your explanation. He did order a bunch of tests last year so probably when I see him in June he will want some followup. I hope you will have better luck as you taper down gently.

@ess77 Interesting. I am on a super fast taper because of mental health reasons. I am on 2.5 and on Wednesday 2.0 mg. The bottom of my feet hurts. I think pmr because the pain is bilateral.

@dswilson913 and all... A fast taper has never worked for me, in the last 40 years. But, some people have fewer issues tapering off Prednisone than others. If your doctor thinks that is best. then perhaps it will work. Having anything other than shoulders and hips involved has not been my experience.

I am not a medical person. I am a patient with PMR like you and others on this site. I have no idea if both feet hurting is a PMR symptom. If so, then I will say I've had PMR for years and never knew. Both feet, both hands, both wrists, both knees... Only PMR diagnosis when I was hit with enormous pain in both shoulders and both hips. Enormous. Debilitating. Excruciating pain.

Perhaps other PMR patients have other stories. That is mine. Only high dose of Prednisone over a long period of time tapering worked for me and had to hold at 10 mg for over a years before going back up to 20 mg last May with hip and leg paralysis. Total paralysis below the hips.

You must consult with your doctor and be open, forthright and clear about your concerns, your questions, your fears. Otherwise, you will continue to be stuck in the horrid health never-land with questionable diagnosis and poor oversight and lack of treatment.

Wishing you well as you tackle this challenge. Blessings, Elizabeth