New PMR patient, wondering if mornings will become pain free someday

I’d say yes. Short term prednisone is a miracle drug for pmr but long term can be a nightmare. I am on 25mg of methotrexate and 9mg pregnisone with the goal of getting off pred by Dec. 1. At the beginning of taking MTX I had two days of blech…headache, nausea, fatigue, dizzy, but now have one day of fairly mild symptoms. Gets a bit better every week.

Your rheumatologist will likely order more studies to
exclude other diagnoses. A baseline Dexascan is helpful
in the event you need long term prednisone. Stay active
and stretch before golf. There are newer treatments available such as IL 6 blockers if you don’t respond to prednisone. When I hit a good drive I would say it was
the steroids. Take your calcium and vitamin D and walking helps. Once your symptoms improve it’s best
to do a slow taper.

@seniormed thanks for the response. Talk about vitamin d and calcium. What is best supplement (brand or type)? I take a senior multi right now.
Thx

Calcium supplements can be problematic for some people, potentially causing kidney problems and artery calcification. Best to increase dietary calcium intake instead and take vitamin D3. I also take vitamin K2 which directs calcium to bones and directs calcium out of arteries. Vitamin D is best split into two doses a day to aid absorption, and taken with a meal that includes oil or fat as it is fat soluble. I take two 1000 IU vitamin D3 every day and a K2 (180mg) every second day.

I was diagnosed in November 2022. My “flares” start, and are worse in my hands. I can tell when starting as my fingers swell. Do you have swelling of your hands?

I take my prednisone at 2:00/2:30 with a piece of cheese; when I wake up at 7:00, there’s no pain - just some stiffness.

In reply to @trimomlewis . Hello there. I was diagnosed last August. That was one of my symptoms. Plus sore wrists . I was done to 3 mg of prednisone and l have the same issue again plus my ankles and feet are swollen.
Dr has updated my meds hoping for relief.

Hi, Just to add to the confusion. When I was diagnosed in May 2023 I started with 20mg of prednisone. After a few days I reported to my rheumatologist that I wasn’t experiencing the “miracle pain relief” that she had said would happen. She then upped my prednisone to 30mg and BINGO I was pain free. I have continued to be without pain during several months of tapering. Am now down to 8mg. No side effects so far from prednisone (that I can observe). Also taking calcium, vit D, vit K, Pepcid, and fozamax, plustrying to keep to an anti inflammatory diet. My goal is to get off the prednisone without any flares. Right now I am tapering 1mg per month so it will be some time in 2024 that I will reach this goal. You mentioned that you will be seeing a rheumatologist soon. Hopefully you can get answers to all your concerns. Good Luck, be patient. Liz Ward

If you don't mind me asking, what did your doctor change for your meds?

In reply @trimomlewis . He changed my meds because of the flare up. Increased my prednisone, methotrexate and put me on hydroxychloroquine. Starting to feel a bit better since the increased dosages. ( just over a week ago) Will go back in 3 months for another checkup.