Prednisone and Pain

Posted by keelin @keelin, Oct 29, 2022

Am I the only one that found the prednisone did NOTHING for the pain? I am 6 months into this nightmare and am slowly taking myself OFF prednisone entirely. I had horrible side effects, and it seems that everyone e else I read about has total relief from pain while on the prednisone. ?
The only thing that helps slightly is an anti inflammatory. But of course I am warned about stroke, heart attack, and kidney problems taking it long term.

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

Can LDN be taken concurrently with Eliquis? Unfortunately I have history of PE's this past 12 months and will be on Eliquis long term? Thank you...

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This is my second taper after 3 years. I’m feeling good now on 2 mg but we shall see. I go to Rheumatologist in 2 weeks again and hope I can go to 1 1/2. The taper has to be very slow. The dose I totally may have not been high enough for you to be pain free. Yes there are many side effects from the prednisone but the rush of not treating the PMR are worse. This condition is somewhat a mystery to doctors. My husband is an Ophthalmologist and has many patients he treats with the condition. The Prednisone does work if taken right and if tapering doesn’t work than there is Methotrexate to try. Good luck to you and maybe a third opinion.

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@loresathome

Can LDN be taken concurrently with Eliquis? Unfortunately I have history of PE's this past 12 months and will be on Eliquis long term? Thank you...

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As far as I can tell, there is little contraindications with other drugs and LDN, except opioids of course. Up to the doctor, of course but best to start with a low dose and work up if necessary.

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@cookiegirl1944

According to scientific studies the Sed rate and the C-reactive can be normal and a person can still have the disease ( PMR). This is also stated on the Mayo website under PMR.

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My sed rate and C-reactive are also in normal range yet my low level symptoms remain the same. Dr says prednisone is working. Tried reducing from 7.5 to 5 and shoulder pain immediate recurred.

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@flymetothemoon

This is my second taper after 3 years. I’m feeling good now on 2 mg but we shall see. I go to Rheumatologist in 2 weeks again and hope I can go to 1 1/2. The taper has to be very slow. The dose I totally may have not been high enough for you to be pain free. Yes there are many side effects from the prednisone but the rush of not treating the PMR are worse. This condition is somewhat a mystery to doctors. My husband is an Ophthalmologist and has many patients he treats with the condition. The Prednisone does work if taken right and if tapering doesn’t work than there is Methotrexate to try. Good luck to you and maybe a third opinion.

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Thank you @flymetothemoon! I appreciate learning more about tapering experiences.

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@copeterson

Forgive me / what is LDN?

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low dose naltrexone

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I’m on 3mg a day now, down from 15mg a year ago. Pain levels seem pretty constant over this journey - moderate to severe before dawn, reducing to a continuously present nagging that is ignorable during the day when I’m moving about or exercising. It is, however, a continuing source of worry to me that the characteristic PMR pain has extended its reach over the year beyond the girdle joints of shoulders and hips, where it began, to hands, arms and legs. No signs of RA, fortunately; in my case the pain seems to be confined to the strings that pull the muscles. As I reflect on my tapering regime over the past year, I sometimes wonder if I went wrong, somewhere down the track. Perhaps there was some different combination of doses and reductions that would have provided a golden road of pain free progress to recovery. But there’s no going back. The prospect of a complete weaning from Prednisolone is now in sight when, at best, I expect to feel much as I do now - off Prednisolone with a PMR pain level that is manageable and consistent with a happy, rewarding and reasonably active life.
Best wishes to all of us in this strange community of PMR suffering with such a diversity of experiences and outcomes. May 2023 bring all of us renewed hope!

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@connelly

I’m on 3mg a day now, down from 15mg a year ago. Pain levels seem pretty constant over this journey - moderate to severe before dawn, reducing to a continuously present nagging that is ignorable during the day when I’m moving about or exercising. It is, however, a continuing source of worry to me that the characteristic PMR pain has extended its reach over the year beyond the girdle joints of shoulders and hips, where it began, to hands, arms and legs. No signs of RA, fortunately; in my case the pain seems to be confined to the strings that pull the muscles. As I reflect on my tapering regime over the past year, I sometimes wonder if I went wrong, somewhere down the track. Perhaps there was some different combination of doses and reductions that would have provided a golden road of pain free progress to recovery. But there’s no going back. The prospect of a complete weaning from Prednisolone is now in sight when, at best, I expect to feel much as I do now - off Prednisolone with a PMR pain level that is manageable and consistent with a happy, rewarding and reasonably active life.
Best wishes to all of us in this strange community of PMR suffering with such a diversity of experiences and outcomes. May 2023 bring all of us renewed hope!

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Wishing you the best in 2023 @connelly and hoping you get some relief. My first time with PMR took 3 and half years to taper off without the morning pain. I still have the stiffness in the morning until I start moving around but that's pretty normal for my age.

Have you made any lifestyle changes to see if it might help with your tapering and pain? Some good information here if you haven't already tried them.
-- Can Diet Affect Symptoms of Polymyalgia Rheumatica?:
https://www.healthline.com/health/polymyalgia-rheumatica-diet

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Thank you particularly John for the reminder that ageing makes its own contribution to morning aches and pains. It’s important to remember - PMR isn’t responsible for everything I feel!

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