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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR): Meet others & Share Your Story
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Nov 18 7:12pm | Replies (1907)Comment receiving replies
I too was being treated by a PCP and had a ragged start to diagnosis and treatment. I was on and off prednisone with the usual tapering. When the doc finally had my inflammatory markers measured, I was referred to a rheumatologist. And I think it's a very good thing to have a rheumatologist treat you. There are so many side effects from the prednisone and the rheumatologist is being diligent at monitoring things like bone density, kidney function as well as the inflammatory markers. When I got to 10 mg of prednisone he had me start a taper of 1 mg per month. Now I am at 5 mg and my next steps will be to reduce prednisone by 0.5 mg per month. So far, so good, no reoccurrence. And at 5 mg I'm sleeping much better. As much as I'd like to be off prednisone, I'd rather take it than be in the pain I had from PMR.
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I too had a rocky start with my PRimary doctor who took time to see me and then she only gave me 6 days of Prednisone with no followup so I immediately bounced back to severe pain and she would not renew the script for some reason. Having this all happen over Christmas week didn’t help. Luckily I got in with Rheumatologist on 12/28 so I’m back on 12.5 mg Prednisone til end of Jan when I get retested.
it sounds like you are with a good Rheumatologist. I like how he is monitoring your vitals for Prednisone’s side effects. Mine sent me back to my primary for that and I don’t like that. I am going for second rheumatologist opinion on 2/1 so will ask him how he handles. Thanks!
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Thank you for your good advice, and my sentiments exactly. Before I had PMR, I didn't understand how people became addicted to pain killers, but I have certainly become humbled! One thing that has helped me is getting up very early in the morning, eating a light breakfast, taking prednisone and then going back to bed for an hour or so. I find that when I do get up again, the worst of the stiffness and pain is gone. Of course, as a retiree, no one is waiting for me to clock in early in the morning!