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PMR Dosages and Managing Symptoms
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jul 27 8:00am | Replies (468)Comment receiving replies
I was wondering how everyone who has been dealing with PMR for a while now manages their Prednisone dosage. I just got diagnosed at end of December 2021, so a newbie. I am being treated with 12.5 mg Prednisone and will check my levels end of January. The 12.5 mg dosage helps tremendously from where I was without meds but I still have some pain and stiffness but manageable. I opted not to go up on the dosage in order to eliminate all pain completely and figured I would just deal with some pain. Is that approach wise or should I eliminate all the pain in order for this to work and get me slowly down in dosage and then off Prednisone completely? Net net question: should the meds eliminate 100% of the pain now in order to eventually be pain free without the Prednisone?
Replies to "I was wondering how everyone who has been dealing with PMR for a while now manages..."
Thanks for sharing that. I still don’t know how you endured that.
Yes I have some side effects but 12.5 mg is considered a low dose. I already have osteopenia so I am really worried about the dose but my doctor calmed me down about it at my visit earlier this week. Said short term use is okay and hopefully the dose will go even lower eventually. But my blood pressure went up really high since being on Prednisone but it could also be the combo from the stress of it all. My face gets flushed too. no weight gain really on this dose. I dont think as clearly and forget words. Yes I think side effects outweigh the PMR pain. I can’t go back there and not being able to get out of bed etc.
I am trying to take natural supplements alongside the Prednisone with hope it helps keep my dose low. turmeric, fish oil. and such. I am taking CBD oil too but I just read yesterday that those with autoimmune should not. and it might go against the Prednisone. I believe that was why.
The Prednisone was working better the first week. Now the 2nd week it seems like it’s wearing off. I will ask my Rheumatologist on 1/31 if I should increase the dose. I broke down and took Motrin last night because pain was getting very uncomfortable. I worry about too much I ibuprofen. Doctor also prescribed Celebrex and said she prefers that for me over Ibuprofen but I am nervous about that drug.
We are suppose to exercise to help with PMR stiffness but my exercise routine totally got thrown off as I could not due to the pain. And now I do yoga like a 90 year old. I am 59 and was in excellent physical shape. I can’t believe this is me now.
I totally agree with you. I dont have family history either. very peculiar. My COVID vaccines were in March and May and my symptoms started in November. but I did have flu vaccine on 10/31 so I am suspecting it. if you research you will find PMR is linked to flu vaccine. 😩. There is a law suit out there also.
Hi @abbeyc. Because you have some of the same questions that other members have shared about in an existing post, you will notice I have moved your post to allow you to join that discussion and even scroll back through previous posts. If you're interested, just click on the View and Reply button.
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Unsure. My dose is 20mg which alleviates almost all the pain. Just diagnosed 2 weeks ago. Still a little stiffness in upper arms...but otherwise good.