Connect
← Return to Has anyone had steroid shots in their shoulders for PMR?
Discussion
Has anyone had steroid shots in their shoulders for PMR?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 9 minutes ago | Replies (34)Comment receiving replies
PMR is a chronic inflammatory problem. Steroids are the classic anti-inflammatory drug that is effective. The goal is to be on the lowest pain free dose needed. Then the next goal is for your body to go into remission. That means you can taper successfully. You can not "make your body go into remission". That will happen when and if your body does it.
Many people can taper to zero and remain pain free, thus they are in remission.
Once you see a rheumatologist they will have a strategy they prefer to have you try. I would say to find the lowest pain free dose until then and stay there.
You might start a daily pain log of pain morning, afternoon and night, where it hurts and levels of pain. That way you don't have to rely on just your memory.
I hope you are taking your steroids all together in the morning and not splitting them during the day.
Replies to "PMR is a chronic inflammatory problem. Steroids are the classic anti-inflammatory drug that is effective. The..."
@jabrown0407
I regards to splitting dose: I would like to hear your opinion.
I just got diagnosed by Rheumatologist 7/31/26, after suffering brutal pain in shoulders, upper back, upper arms and fingers, stiffness, weakness in upper arms, stiffness in legs after sitting that made it hard to walk. The pain was so brutal and woke me up every single night since Mid-March. About 2am it rears it's ugly head and I had to get out of bed and go sit upright on couch to lessen the pain a little. Sleep on back due to small rotator cuff tears (73 yrs). Started on 15mg Prednisone 7/31 and got significant but not complete resolution of all symptoms. My left shoulder, upper back, upper arm, and fingers still wake me up. After 5 days @15mg, I let my Rheum know and she upped my dose to 20mg. It still hasn't resolved the left upper body pain/waking me up/ nor pain that lasts well into the day in left arm. (Since 8/5/26, today is 8/13). Everything is so much better though, that it's a blessing. I messaged my Rheum again 2 days ago (8/11) and let her know 20mg still not resolving left side. She said "Split the dose, take 15mg am and 5mg later in afternoon/early evening. I tried 5mg at 4pm first day(too late I found out). Couldn't sleep from Pred and no change in pain or it waking me up. Yesterday took 5mg at 1pm. Still couldn't sleep and still no change left side.
I've been so sleep deprived for 4 months that it's hard to even want to continue splitting one more day. My gut feeling is that in my case, I might need a higher initial dose to get complete relief. I read somewhere it said 30mg sometimes necessary to start with some cases. My pain was brutal and incessant. My symptoms lasted all morning for about 4-5 hours after I'd wake up. I'd have to just sit on couch or at table and try to move around a little, drink coffee and water and gently try to move upper body, legs, hands/fingers. My case/pain/symptoms are slightly different from others but definitely PMR confirmed by Ultrasound. What do you think re splitting doseage and have you heard of people needing higher does initially to get full relief? Thanks so much.
Connect
@jabrown0407
Thank you for the good advice. I do take my meds in the morning and started with 3mg instead of 1. Do you adjust your prednisone when you need or wait for your doctor to decide? I started at 40mg and my doctor said to just start tapering and never mentioned not when it feels better but every few weeks.