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On Actemra, experience slight rise in CRP
Hi,
I am PMR/GCA patient; currently taking 30 mg prednisone/day and monthly infusion of Actemra-3rd month. I started at 60mg/ day of prednisone. Just got blood work back and CRP is still less than 3mg/L but it is higher than the previous two months. I am experiencing some thigh pain when walking up hills or doing squats. Does anyone have any ideas what might be going on?
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Your CRP and ESR levels aren't that useful when taking Actemra. Anti-Il-6 therapy will reduce CRP and ESR values to very low levels but it is still worthwhile to have your inflammation markers checked.
I would expect some pain when walking up hills or doing squats. I have done monthly Actemra infusions for the last 2 years and I still have "some pain." I don't particularly like doing squats because that hurts my back. I'm impressed that you are doing squats and walking. Keep up the good work but don't overdo it. You still have PMR/GCA.
I do aquacise and that is a good workout for me. I had PMR for more than 12 years before Actemra allowed me to discontinue prednisone. I'm still recovering. Everything started to head in a better direction after I got off Prednisone. It took me about a year to taper off Prednisone after Actemra was started. Hopefully it won't be that long for you. Some people remain on low dose Prednisone and Actemra to control their symptoms.
I look forward to my monthly infusion. If I go much longer than a month, my CRP and ESR do go slightly above the normal range and my doctor says I still need Actemra. I don't have any side effects from Actemra so there is no reason to stop my monthly infusions.