what to expect when starting prednisone for PMR

Thank you for those insights. At this point my doctor is hesitant to label it PMR…because my arms and shoulders are not very sore. (Arms and right shoulder became sore when they started my PT thinking this is an injury.) Initially the soreness was isolated, intense pain in my hips, hamstring and quads that began after several weeks of repetitive bending and lifting while doing a home renovation project. Soreness has been going on about 8 weeks now. Does PMR pain reduce in those initial weeks of onset? Mine was very intense the first 6 weeks and reducing but still painful before the prednisone. I am on 5th day of taking it. My soreness is better on the prednisone but feel confused more than ever about what this is. I appreciate the insights!

For me, the pain for PMR did not reduce at all after onset. The only thing that made the pain go away completely was prednisone. Also, for me, the pain was symmetrical which is a sign of PMR. Both thighs, triceps, biceps and traps. Hope this helps. Best of luck my friend. Keep me posted.

Thank you for that suggestion.

I had the thighs also the worst of all of the other symptoms. Prednisone was the only relief and I tried everything.

I suffered for a month thinking my pain was a reaction to an osteoporosis medicine. After starting prednisone 15mg I had some relief. By 2 AM I was in big time pain again. In desperation I decided take 2 Aleve PM when I woke with pain about 2PM. BINGO I was close to pain free in the morning. I have been working on the taper, at 10 mg now and doing OK. Now my blood pressure has risen? A new challenge...anyone else have a rise in BP?

Hope you are doing well. You should not take Aleve or Ibuprofen while on Prednisone. It is very bad for the liver. Tylenol is ok while taking prednisone. You may be tapering too quickly. One month from 15mg to 10mg may be too quick. 15mg to 12.5 mg to 10mg is the standard taper. Four to six weeks between the mg is the is usually the standard taper.....Yes, Prednisone does raise the blood pressure. I am no doctor, just trying to look out for your well-being with this god-awful disease. Wish you the best.

Yes, it first started in my thighs also and could not even lift my legs to get into the car. Had to use my arms to lift my legs it was so painful. Wish you the best.

Thank you for the heads up...if my doctor told me that I missed it. Will try Tylenol as I am doing so much better. To put your mind at ease I did taper from 15mg to 12.5mg after close to 5 weeks on each. Now the plan is to taper 1mg a month until I am done.
How does your doctor monitor your progress? Sed rate tests? Just how you are feeling?
Thank you for your kind wishes. Hopefully you are doing well too

I see my rheumatologist every three months, and he takes sed rate and CRP and also how I feel. I am tapering slower than you are as I only want to go through this once if I can. I tapered 1mg every two months starting at 10mg. Once I hit 5mg I have been going every three months down 1mg. At 3mg I have been tapering 1/4mg every 6 six weeks. I am currently at 2.25mg. so far so good. If I may make a suggestion, I would taper 1mg every two months at 10mg instead of every month. Hope you are feeling well and best of luck to you and the entire board.

It is interesting reading the suggestions regarding OTC anti-inflammatory and ibuprofen. Not because they are incorrect but how information for us PMR people is widely all over the place. AI and Google and such searches tells us not to take those above due to liver etc
issues, yet my GP (whom actually diagnosed my PMR) has told me that it was ok to take Aleve and Advil to reduce any collateral inflammation as long as I was vigilant with any side effects and/or symptoms and not to over do them (whatever that would mean). As did my Rheumatologist. As a matter of fact we discussed my taking Advil for swelling and pain in my hands until a week before a scheduled surgery where I can then only take Tylenol Arthritis (no ibuprofen for a full five days before). Anyway I would prefer taking Tylenol Arthritis as the side effects are less than the other two but TA only masks the pain and does not reduce the inflammation. And as I have been told, inflammation is as detrimental to our bodies as the side effects of the drugs. Go figure. Anyway as all the directions/disclaimers on the bottles say… “consult your doctor”