I’m new to this site and so glad I found it. I’m also fairly new to PMR. Mine started about 5 months ago with pain in my neck and upper legs. Celebrex helped me a lot but I saw an endocrinologist and got an accurate diagnosis and then started prednisone the middle of July. I started with 1 mg and ratcheted it up by 1 mg every two or three days until I reached 8 mg. After a few days I felt good with no pain and a lot of energy. I was on 8 mg for about six weeks. My doctor wanted me to try tapering down a little bit so I have now been on 7 mg for a little over a week. I felt spacey and low energy for four or five days but now feel OK and have minor pain.
My big question, that I can’t seem to find an answer to, is…
To achieve long-term remission is it necessary to stay on prednisone until you can taper slowly without the pain returning? I understand that it is important to be on a dosage that deals with the pain completely. Then, when tapering down, do you have to stop tapering or go back up if the pain continues?
I have the beginning of osteoporosis so that is one of my major concerns regarding staying on prednisone too long.
PS. I have also found that curcumin and ginger pills help with minor pain.