1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

Anyone have discomfort or pain when tapering off prednisone?

Posted by monami @monami, Apr 7, 2022

I am currently on a 3 dose of prednisone. I have some shoulder discomfort that goes down my back on either side. The left side is worse than the right. Anyone else experience back issues? It tends to go away by 3 or 4 pm. Thanks to all! We will get over this thing!

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) Support Group.

joan7 | @joan7 | 3 days ago

I am now exercising, using my pool, etc. It all helps!

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alissahe | @alissahe | 2 days ago
In reply to @joan7 "Discomfort is not the word. Tapering from 7.5 to 5 mgs Prednisone caused me to have..." + (show)
@joan7

Discomfort is not the word. Tapering from 7.5 to 5 mgs Prednisone caused me to have severely aching and pain all over. Everything started to hurt. I was in excruciating pain for 4 days and finally took two Advil (which I was told after the fact that I should only take Tylenol). The pain went away. I was waiting for it come back, but it never did. They have been very slowly weaning me down on the Prednisone. I was on 3 mgs for 2 months. This morning I was told I can take 2 mg today and 3 mg tomorrow and alternate days over the next month. Not feeling too bad right now but it is early.

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Has anyone NOT experienced pain & stiffness while tapering?

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1 reply
DadCue | @dadcue | 2 days ago
In reply to @alissahe "Has anyone NOT experienced pain & stiffness while tapering?" + (show)
@alissahe

Has anyone NOT experienced pain & stiffness while tapering?

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I didn't have pain and stiffness for another autoimmune condition which had symptoms similar to PMR. I took Prednisone intermittently for this other autoimmune condition for many years before PMR was diagnosed. I didn't have problems tapering off Prednisone. We are talking 60 to 100 mg of Prednisone and tapering off usually in a month. No problems whatsoever.

PMR was different after it was diagnosed. I don't know if PMR was inherently different but I wasn't able to taper off Prednisone again for 12 years. The thing that was different was that I was told I would need to take Prednisone for at least a year (long term) after PMR was diagnosed.

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