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Anyone else have PMR with some serious sternum/rib cage pain?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 3 days ago | Replies (46)Comment receiving replies
Wow, that is quite a journey. I was originally prescribed 20 mg of Pred when it all started (18 months ago). I have self-tapered to the point where it is all manageable with 3 mg (I did try going down to 2 last week - mistake!).
Working with acupuncturist to see if that will help. That, plus exercise and naproxen seems to help.
Replies to "Wow, that is quite a journey. I was originally prescribed 20 mg of Pred when it..."
Interesting to me that a lot of us seem to get stuck at 3 mg. My rheum said it's possible the higher-dose pred (which I was on for many months, tapering by 1 mg/month until 5 mg, then slowing) caused the body to stop (or reduce) producing its own corticosteroids, and that 3-5 mg is close to a "biological dose," i.e. the amount our bodies make naturally. So I may need to be on it long-term.
Or maybe I already am
😉
I don't want side effects any more than the next person, but I try to relax and just be real about what is working and what isn't. 2.5 didn't work for me so I'm back up to 3 (still with a little ache here and there, later in the day, since my docs have all told me to take all my pred first thing in the am, never to spread it out).
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I just had a similar experience. I was doing so well at 2mg., so I decided it was time to take 1 mg.
Started having painful lower back issues, so now I am at 3 mg.
My goal is get back to 2 mg. And stay there for months, then go down to 1.5 mg. Slower and smaller steps.
I had a chat with my Rheumatologist, and learned that many PMR members stay at 2 mg. for many years. And, even though I have never had Giant Cell, I will need to have the SED test yearly for the rest of my life.
Best wishes with your journey.