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PMR without ever taking prednisone
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: May 18 10:21pm | Replies (26)Comment receiving replies
@suetex PMR causes IL6 or maybe it is that IL6 causes PMR. IL6 is a type of inflammation that elevates when PMR is a problem. I have been researching inflammation types because up until recently I did not realize there were multiple types. There are more types than I can count - little did I know.
Apparently IL6 inflammation is one that is a big portion of PMR, thus the IL6 inhibitors like Actemra, Tyenne, and Kevzara.
Based on my less than scientific research there are several different types of inflammation involved with PMR. It seems that they feed off each other, so it looks to me that if they shut one type down (IL6) then the other types cannot sustain the inflammation, all types appear to be needed. I am not an expert, and I certainly do not want anyone to think of me as one on this topic.
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@jabrown0407
The immune system is fascinating the more you read about it. Inflammation gets a bad rap when the immune system goes haywire when we have an autoimmune condition. Inflammation is a good thing as long as the body regulates it with a hormone called cortisol. I finally reached the conclusion that I was foolish to think that I could regulate my inflammation with prednisone. I thought that I knew how to take prednisone and taper off again. I eventually had to concede that I had no idea what I was doing when I took prednisone.
I have moved on from cytokines like IL-6 because I will never understand cytokines. Some are pro-inflammatory, some are anti-inflammatory and some are both. There is a communication network where all these hormones and cytokines “talk” to each other and to respond appropriately as necessary. There was no way to take prednisone only when needed and at an appropriate dose and time.
My body used to regulate my inflammation and cortisol levels but without me knowing. My immune system kept me very healthy too until I was diagnosed with PMR and took prednisone.