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← Return to Tapering off of Prednisone
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Hi @redboat, I think the answer to your question may be different depending on who you ask. I I think that's because each of us have different pain tolerances on a scale of 0 to 10, my 2 level may be a 0 for some and maybe 3 or 4 for others. I also started at 20 mg/day prednisone for both my occurrences of PMR but others have started at 15, 30, 40 or something else depending on their symptoms and pain.
You mentioned still experiencing significant pain in the morning. I assume that is before you take the prednisone dose for the day. I always had a little pain in the mornings after work but I would classify it more like an ache on a scale of 1 or 2 max and it usually went away when I got up and started moving around some and was all gone shortly after my morning dose of prednisone.
Is any of the pain you experience in the jaw, scalp or temple areas? These types of pain can indicate a more serious condition of GCA which can accompany PMR and is normally treated with a higher dose of prednisone.
Replies to "Hi @redboat, I think the answer to your question may be different depending on who you..."
My experience is close to yours, except I have four areas that stubbornly hang on. Top and sides of thighs, and neck and shoulders. It can all be taken care of with one or two Tylanol first thing in the morning. I hang on to the comfort of knowing that I have made great strides in the past year, cutting the pain by 80% and will probably be able to bring down my 3mg prednisone to 2mg soon. True, there are good days and bad days. I work on the good days and rest on the bad.
Hang on and keep believing that you can survive. My best for your recovery.
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Thanks for your reply. My pain is not GCA related, it is in my hips, shoulders, arms.
I take prednisone around 8:30 am. My pains are there all day, but they are less in the evening. It is now 8:40 pm, and I am experiencing quite noticeable pain in my upper legs, hips, arms, and shoulders.
The question I really was hoping someone could answer is: Should all pain be gone before beginning to taper? As I read between the lines of your comments, it seems the answer is "no".