1. < Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR)

How to avoid flares

Posted by megz @megz, Dec 5, 2023

Flares seem fairly common, so I'm wondering if they can be predicted or if there are warning signs?

For example, some morning pain returned for me (not too bad) a couple of months ago when I pushed the reductions to a shorter time than recommended in my enthusiasm to get off prednisone. I knew not to reduce further and potentially cause a flare, with the pain still there after a month. A 1mg increase for a month got rid of morning pain again and I continued reducing. Full blown flare avoided.

If you have had a flare, was there anything you noticed before it happened which you now know to be a warning? Please share your flare avoidance strategies.

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

pb50 | @pb50 | Dec 6, 2023
In reply to @dadcue "Yes ... prednisone is amazing stuff. I had a good relationship with my rheumatologist. I said..." + (show)
@dadcue

Yes ... prednisone is amazing stuff. I had a good relationship with my rheumatologist. I said things about prednisone which I probably shouldn't say. Just to give you an idea about what was said --- I asked my rheumaologist why prednisone wasn't a "controlled substance?" My rheumatologist said she didn't want me to become "reliant" on prednisone but it wasn't addictive.

It was my ophthalmologist who prescribed the maximum amount of prednisone for uveitis. Since uveitis can cause vision loss, the maximum amount of prednisone was justified. Even my ophthalmologist said he didn't want me to feel "too good."

What was your bad experience on steroids? I'm a nurse so I have seen everything. Patients get steroids for many reasons. Fortunately, the PMR dose of prednisone is considered to be "low dose" and "relatively safe" if prednisone isn't taken "too long."

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Well I have been a patient of my Rheumy for five years. He is also Pharm D and a super smart guy. My exact words to him when he checked in to see how I was doing on the 20mg prednisone, I told him I hadn’t had that much fun since the 70’s 🙂

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