Chronic Pain members - Welcome, please introduce yourself

(PMR) Polymyalgia Rheumatica It comes up out of the blue affects people over 70 that are health & very active. I am on 20mg prednisone every other day some days it works very well & other days it doesn't all I can say that it is very painful

@rolandhp Thank you for educating me on PMR. Here is a discussion you may be interested in as well as connecting with @mach92 and @johnbishop POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA-MY STORY http://mayocl.in/2q2mSDs
For further reading Mayo Clinic offers this information about PMR http://mayocl.in/1wY5hW8
I suffer from fibromyalgia, osteo arthritis, OA, as well as degenerative disc disease and spinal stenosis. Some days heat works to relief, albiet temporary, the fierce ache. You said you are prescribed prednisone but do you have any other treatments that offer relief?

Hello @rolandhp, I am currently experiencing my second episode of polymyalgia rheumatica. The first episode was 10 years ago and lasted for 3 years. I was put on 20 mg prednisone and after a few months started tapering the dosage. The last six months of the first episode I was going between 1 mg and 1/2 mg dosage until I was finally able to get off of prednisone. The second occurrence started a year ago March and I was again put on 20 mg and it made the pain go away. I have been tapering off of prednisone and I'm now at 5 mg dosage with a few aches (but I'm old and figure it goes with the territory). Mayo Clinic has some information on treatments available here - http://mayocl.in/2q61OKo. Hopefully others can provide some info if they are using a different medication. Prednisone has been the magic pill for me but I do hate the side effects - really have to watch out for weight gain.

Hoping for some answers for you.

John

Thank you, yes I am also on 20mg right not trying to adjust the medication time frame. I now take it every other day taking 10mg in the morning & 10mg at night then skipping the next day. Will it work I will find out.

No other medication is needed. PMR works opposite of arthritis with PMR pain is at night & the early part of the day & arthritis is opposite so I am told. I had a series of blood test done just to eliminate arthritis all proved negative So I have PMR, now depending how my systems with taking steroids only time will tell..

That's interesting. I've always taken the complete dose every morning at the same time when I get up which is what my rheumatologist told me to do. It will be interesting to find out if it works for you.

Like I said trying to adjust the medication. Breaking up the dose half in the AZ & half in the PM just trying to eliminate the morning pain. If it does not work I will go back to the full 20mg in the AM Will keep you posted

Thank you, I found that this has been an individual path. I am still trying to accept how lonely that is.

Hi Kelsey, I am Kristine and I suffer from Intractable pain. I think it is important to be educated on this since I have lived with suffering since I was 37 with an initial Fibromyalgia diagnosis. I think this was just a primer on things to come. Living with chronic pain is one thing but living with pain levels at a 10 plus 24/7 is another. I have Osteoporosis, severe bone pain, and a collapsing spine with a 5 level thoracic failed fusion. Many here sound similar and familiar in their suffering and for that I am very sad. I finally was put on opiods a year after my fusion since it did not relieve my suffering. I hope I have something to add and can support as well as be supported here. Every day I wake up, I try to have courage to face another day.

Hi, I am new to the group and I suffer with chronic pelvic pain and have been for the past five years. I've seen every doctor imaginable and have had every test done you can think of. I have seen 2 pt who specialize in pelvic pain, but nothing seems to last more than a day. Anyone else suffer from this horrible disorder?