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Flareup

Posted , 9 users are following.

joan123456
joan123456

I have had PMR now for 6 years.  I have had my prednisone down to .5 mg per day.  I had a flare up, my gp suggested I go back up to 1, however it doesn't appear to be working yet (4th day). I really don't want to take too much as I have been almost been in remission, but the back ache is painfully.     Comments please?

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • amkoffee
    amkoffee joan123456

    Posted

    It would seem that 1 mg is not enough, and that you are not in remission as you think. Or your back pain is due to an injury or something else all together. Do you know if you possibly could have injuied it? Being a lower back sufferer myself I can tell you that I am not 100% sure when or how I injured my back, I just know that it started hurting one day. Of course for me I didn't have PMR to blame the pain on so there was no confusion. And as I've aged I have also aquired a lot of arthritis in my back. That is another thing that you could have in your back. Any one of these is something you might consider.

    • joan123456
      joan123456 amkoffee

      Posted

      Thank you for replying, I haven't had an injury and I remember the pain from the pain I had before I was diagnosed with PMR and it is identical.  I was wondering myself if I should go up another 1 mg, and see what happens there.  I will wait one more day then try that. Thanks

  • BettyE
    BettyE joan123456

    Posted

    I know how disheartening it is to feel you've almost got to the end only to be knocked back. I had PMR altogether for eight years in two episodes and there were numerous glitches along the way but I did get there in the end.

    If  1mg. is not controlling the symptoms then it looks as though that is not enough. If you are not happy to monitor your own doses could you get a 'phone call from your GP to ok something higher?

    I used to keep detailed records of doses and how I was feeling and take them to my appointments and I was then left to adjust as and when.

    • joan123456
      joan123456 BettyE

      Posted

      Thanks Betty, I am so anxious to get off the meds, I am a little discouraged.  I will wait a couple of days to see how things go, then go up more, if needed.  I sounds as if your are totally off prednisone which is awesome, this drug has been really hard on me.  I lost my hair in patches and now need cataract surgery, I just want to be done with it.
    • pam1793
      pam1793 joan123456

      Posted

      Being on Prednisone is awful.  I'm down to 12 mg from 60 mg one year ago. I already had the cataract surgery, but after gaining twenty pounds I'm anxious to see if the continued decrease will help get rid of some of this weight and water retention.  Being in my sixties I know it's not going to just fall off.  If you're down to one mg, try not to get discouraged.  That's is great that you've made it this far! Hang in there!

    • amkoffee
      amkoffee joan123456

      Posted

      Joan123456 if you lost hair in patches then it is likely alopecia areata and not from prednisone. Prednisone hair loss is typically overall and not in patches.
    • kathy67492
      kathy67492 BettyE

      Posted

      Betty, it is so nice to hear from the people who have gotten thru the PMR!

      Thank you for responding on this forum...8 years is a long time, but leaves us hopeful😊

    • joan123456
      joan123456 pam1793

      Posted

      Thanks for your reply.  I went back to my gp, she things I sent my immune system into a tail spine.  I came down with various infections that were hard to get rid of, I need two rounds of antibiotics.  I have increase my dosage to 1.5 and am feeling better.  Infections finally gone.  My eagerness to be off the drugs, was my downfall.  
  • barbara73592
    barbara73592 joan123456

    Posted

    Hi Joan,

    I started on 30mg a year ago and am now down to 7mg. I must admit though in the mornings,I am very stiff and sore. I take my prednisolone after breakfast and gradually throughout the day the stiffness gets better. If in a lot of pain I also take paracetamol which helps a lot. By the afternoon and early evening I am much better,but never absolutely pain free. Like you ,there has been the odd occasion where I have wondered if I had had a relapse,but my Rheumotologist advised that when tapering you can often get symptoms of PMR but it can be the body reacting to less steroids and adjusting itself to to the lower dose.  Obviously in your case,if you do not feel any better after a few days you will have to increase your dose a little to get back on an even keel. Like other sufferers I also find it useful to keep a daily log of symptoms and the current dose of medicine. 

    I think too it's important to keep as active as you comfortably can.

    Regards,

    Barbara

    • joan123456
      joan123456 barbara73592

      Posted

      Thank you Barbara, great information.  I continue all my activities no matter how painful.  😊

  • Guest
    Guest joan123456

    Posted

    I got the PMR diagnose last summer and started with 10mg. I tapered it down slowly, but I was never sypmtom free. I always get stiff, when I am sitting for awhile. Therefore moving and exercises helps me a lot, but it has to be slow and with low impact. I am on 3mg Prednisone right now and take additonally 2 x Tumeric 450mg per day. This helps me to lower the Prednisone dose and get up easier in the morning. I would try Tumeric and/or also increase the Prednisone perhaps to 5mg to get pain free and stop the inflammation, then taper it down. Good luck!
    • joan123456
      joan123456 Guest

      Posted

      I also use Tumeric but only 1, 2 sounds like a great idea I will give it a try.  Thank you.
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