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@scpartain
I'm still very early in my PMR journey. Can you define what remission for you means? Is it both a normal low CRP and being completely pain free or is it a "manageable" amount of morning pain? The prednisone dose I started with (12.5 mg) gives me reasonable symptom relief from noon onwards but from 4 am - noon, I have the usual pain
Replies to "@scpartain I'm still very early in my PMR journey. Can you define what remission for you..."
@dave923 I've enjoyed two remissions. The first lasted thirteen years and when PMR returned, I had almost forgotten I ever had it and did not realize what was wrong with me at first. I've now been in my second remission for over five years. Remission to me means a complete absence of symptoms. It did take me at least a year to regain full motion of my joints, especially in my shoulders. Inflammatory markers have been raised from time to time, but without PMR symptoms, so I assume there was some other reason for that. Many factors, including simple ageing, can cause a rise in inflammation levels. I wish you good luck in your journey!
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@dave923
There might be at least four different cases of being in remission ... maybe more.
The first is "remission on steroids" ... I don't think it means "no pain" but maybe it means "no relapses."
The second kind of remission is "steroid free remission." Once again it has more to do with not having a relapse of symptoms as opposed to not having any pain at all.
I'm probably considered to be in a steroid free remission but I am still on a medication called Actemra (tocilizumab). You could say I'm in remission with a medication but not prednisone. Therefore. I'm in a "steroid free remission induced by another medication." I do much better being off prednisone while still being treated with a biologic.
Lastly, there are people in remission without needing any medication. Those people might be said to be in a "medication free remission" which might be the best type of remission.
Keep in mind that there is no cure for PMR so remission is the best thing we can hope for. Also, having some pain is probably a "fact of life." I had pain before PMR was diagnosed so I never expected to be completely "pain free" with or without PMR and prednisone.