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Prednisone tapering is challenging. What does remission feel like?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 3, 2023 | Replies (209)Comment receiving replies
I have a question that I would like feedback on before I run it by my Rheumy. Since the pred is effecting my glaucoma adversly, pressure to taper is strong and here is the quandry. I realize that there are a lot of things giving me leg pain that is similar to PMR pain. I have trochantor bursitis (started in left side due to hip surgery, now effecting right side because of overuse.) I have balance problens involving weight bearing in my feet. (No dizziness or vertigo, fine on a horse.) These both make me struggle to walk and are very fatiguing. But the pain I experience in my biceps is unique and I am thinking of using it as my indicator of a flair and asking my Dr to try a taper. Hopefully, a slow one since in the past he has had me taper too fast. I welcome comments and advice. This is a very educated group. I am currently on 12 mg of methylprednisolone.
Replies to "I have a question that I would like feedback on before I run it by my..."
My rheumatologist never pushed the taper. He always told me to listen to my body and if dropping to the next lower level caused more or difficult to deal with pain, possible up the dosage half of the previous taper for a week or so to see if it got better. He had me keep a daily pain log with the dosage I was on. For me, anything above a 2 or 3 level on my pain scale meant that I should taper to a lower level yet. Each of us are a little different with our pain so that's why it's important to taper slowly and listen to what your body is telling you.
Have you tried chair yoga to help with your balance? Here's a video that provides some gentle exercises that might help: https://youtu.be/8niEsMKSj2M
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I've had the stabbing pains in the biceps with my PMR before I got on prednisone. I'm always looking for symptoms when I taper that are unlike anything I have had before and that is one of them. With my last flare it was stabbing pains under my shoulder blades, and chest muscles so tight that it hurt to take a deep breath. I am making my third attempt now to taper below 10 mg of prednisone. My main conclusion so far is that trying to "tough it out" through pain after a drop in dosage does not work. Symptoms just get worse. My MD has instructed me to stay at 9 mg for 3 weeks, then at least 4 weeks on 8mg. He will check my labs before I go lower.