what to expect when starting prednisone for PMR

I was 1st dx w/ PMR about 10 yrs ago. After about a yr I went into remission til around this Christmas. At 1st I just thought my aching was arthritis but it got worse and I remembered the PMR. I was going on a cruise and would be at sea for awhile so my provider put me on 5mg which help but slowly the pain increased. I tried to get in to the Rheumatologist but have been waiting 6 months. In the meantime my PCP has been trying me at 5mg x 2wks, 4mg×2 wks etc. Still having lots of arm pain. Can't even pull the covers up in bed! So frustrating. He bumped me back to 4mg but til I finally see Rheumatology next week. Now my right hip is involved and I feel like I did w/ sciatica. Ugh! Topical doesn't help. I've been taking the 4mg at bedtime w/ 800mg but and am getting some sort of sleep. Still hurts to roll over, if I even can. In the am I'm stiff but everything seems less painful and I can do my ROM exercises. But as the day goes on... Dreading the night. So glad I found this support group!❤️

Find all these comments very helpful...does seem to be a different challenge for everyone. For me it was close to 3 weeks before the prednisone did anything.
Good luck to all of us.

The caution is to not take NSAID’s while you are taking prednisone. There can not only be a severe risk of internal bleeding, but of intestinal perforation.
My doc ok’d OCCASIONAL use of ibuprofen once I was down to 2mg of prednisone, and only if I took a Prilosec as well.

"I've been taking the 4mg at bedtime w/ 800mg but and am getting some sort of sleep. Still hurts to roll over, if I even can. In the am I'm stiff but everything seems less painful and I can do my ROM exercises. But as the day goes on... Dreading the night."
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PMR can be described in 2 ways:
1) I have suddenly aged.
and
2) My bedroom has become a torture chamber.

After 6 months of feeling miserable I was started on 15 mg and had almost 100% relief after 3-4 days. So far have slowly tapered to 4 mg over 6 months.

You are very fortunate. And to get to 4 is amazing. Don’t bee in too big a hurry to get off prednisone. It’s like you take 2 steps forward then 1 step back. Trial and error. I’m just glad to see that physicians are trying various treatment plans for this very unusual condition. ☺️👍🏻

Same for me. 3 weeks to feel the effects, then I shot on past to superwoman. As I tapered, I went from 30 to 40, etc. until I reached my current age, 70. It was a nice reprieve.

Diagnosed in May with PMR.
Started 20mg prednisone x 2 weeks and felt 85% better within 3 or 4 days. Then 15 mg x 2 weeks, then 12.5 x 2 was. Started feeling more achy so my rheumatologist cut me back to 15 mg for 2 weeks. Tomorrow I go back down to 12.5 mg. Both my primary care doctor and my rheumatologist told me not to rush the process but prednisone is making me crazy. Insomnia and feeling jittery all day several Roid Rage incidences. Plus I'm developing osteoporosis so now taking Fosomax. I went from being a healthy athlete to a woman with a daily pill container which in itself is giving me great anxiety. I do not want to be chasing the effects of medication with more medications. But I couldn't even lift my shoulders up with PMR so something had to be done. I just want to have hope that this isn't my life now

I am also a new patient of PMR ( I wanted to say victim) I was diagnosed in March and start prednisone at 30 for 3 weeks, then 20 for 3 weeks. tapered more so now at 5mg and still ok. The prednisone was immediate relief from pain that was so bad it was alarming. No pain relievers would help. I was first bad at night and early morning and then lasted longer into the day. In the morning I couldn't lift my coffee to drink--a crisis for me. I had to wait till late afternoon to wash my hair because I couldn't lift my hands above my head. Many daily activities were impacted. Prednisone interrupted my sleep and my mood. At times I would be so angry and then in tears minutes later. Very emotional. I too added Fosomax but now have dental issues and Fosomax limits my options for taking care of my teeth. The various conditions interacting and confusing, frustrating, and hard to accept. I have also gained weight and have a moon face. I have gotten back to exercise but am reluctant to push it. I am afraid of that pain returning. I want to get off prednisone and am trying to stay optimistic that I can do that.