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Anyone else have PMR with some serious sternum/rib cage pain?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: 4 days ago | Replies (46)Comment receiving replies
Yes. My PMR went to everywhere below my hips -- neck, arms, hands, all parts of my back upper and lower, ribcage front and back, hips) (except weirdly it REMOVED the pain I'd had in my feet and ankles in the am for years!).
I am 3+ years into pred - started at 20 mg and was almost instant relief (now at 3 and can't get below).
Before pred I was going steadily downhill; got to where I had trouble getting dressed and taking a shower. Had to do many careful maneuvers to turn over in bed. VERY slow bending down to pick something up.
Then one night I couldn't get out of bed, bcuz the slightest use of torso muscles would send them into wrenching spasm.
The next day my doc game me pred and gave me my life back.
But now I have not been able to get below 3 mg. And even so, by day's end and next morning I have (mild) ache in ribs and/or back.
When it was bad I got to avoiding coughing, sneezing, even sighing, bcuz they hurt... and eventually led to spasm (as things got worse).
Also I don't remember having shoulder pain, which is typical, tho I had it in my left scapula.
But definitely yes, rib pain, front and back!
Replies to "Yes. My PMR went to everywhere below my hips -- neck, arms, hands, all parts of..."
I managed to reduce me Prednisone by small increments of 1/4 tablet. I would wait until I was feeling pretty good then take a week off from my life and reduce again. It wasn't easy or pain free but it worked, you just have to out wait it. If the pain is too intense, go back to the previous dose and wait to try again. Your experience mirrors my own. It's hard, and the hardest thing for me was getting used to an illness that took years to end, not the one or two weeks we are used to. I am almost there right now, after 4 years, and I bless every day when the stiffness wears off in a quarter of an hour instead of half a day.
I'm reading your story and can't believe how your symptoms sound identical to mine. Crazy pain, started 3 years ago in November when I had Covid for the first time. Prednisone also gave me my life back, have been slowly decreasing (for the 3rd time 🙁 ) and still can't get completely off. Down to 3mg and the pain is worse again, although at 5mg I had virtually no pain. Been on Kevzara for 5 doses, but sadly doesn't seem to be helping. I also have the rib and sternum pain! Thought I was crazy. Also my collar bones ache so much.
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Welcome @knyhus, Tapering off of prednisone can be difficult when you get below 5 mg. My first time with PMR it took me 3 and half years to taper off with the last six months going back and forth between 1 mg and 1/2 mg until I could finally stop taking it with only minor stiffness and aches when I got up in the morning. Here is another discussion you might find helpful:
--- PMR Dosages and Managing Symptoms: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pmr-dosages/.
Keeping a daily log with my level of pain when I woke up and the dose of prednisone I was taking for the day helped me when tapering to a lower level. Do you keep a daily log?