Pain in legs with PMR

Posted by tomek456 @tomek456, Oct 1 2:13pm

Has anyone experienced severe buttocks pain and running all the way down into your shins and calves? My Rheumatologist says that is more likely a back nerve compression issue when it gets below the knees. But my spine doctor doesn't think that is the issue even though my MRI shows moderate spinal stenosis and a herniated disk. To my amazement, when I mentioned PMR, he asked what is that! It takes months to see a doctor and when you do they tell you go see another doctor! Meanwhile I'm in a lot of pain and the poison, prednisone.

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joanmm | @joanmm | 6 days ago

The rheumatologist has suggested 15 mg for 2 wk, 12.5 for 2 wk, 10 mg for 2 wk and then taper by 1 mg per month. I had met a rheumatologist from the US while in Mexico and he just goes down to 10 mg and stops, but the guidelines might be different in Canada. Not sure. It does sound like a lot of you on this site taper down. Has anyone just stopped after 10 mg?

kayept | @kayept | 6 days ago

My symptoms began in my hips thighs and calves, as well as shoulders. What I termed a seering hot pain, like you describe. Often like my muscles were being torn off my bones. Made me drop in my tracks. Ine did relent after noon most days. OK, enough of that.
Once I started the prednisone, it was a 3 day miraculous turn around. Started at 15 mg and I 'self medicated' to 10 mg in 4 weeks and now maintain there. I seem to be an outlier, so far, with this 'spot on' diagnosis and treatment. However; one must always keep in mind, rheumatic diseases are fikle, they can manifest differently in a variety of situations.
Sometimes more info is more confusing. Sometimes you find you get what you need!