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I was dx with PMR 3 weeks ago, started on 40 mg. prednisone and having a quick remarkable recovery, feel great, no pain, lots of energy, functioning well! I have developed hand cramps, also foot and ankle cramps occasionally, and wondering if anyone else has experienced this? I have had some trouble sleeping, also a cut on my hand a week ago still has not healed, bruising. My MD is cutting my red down to 30 on Dec. 1. I hope it isn't too large of a cut because I do feel so well. What do you experienced patients think? Elijo
1 like, 25 replies
Anhaga Elijo
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Elijo Anhaga
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Anhaga Elijo
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Oregonjohn-UK Elijo
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Oregonjohn-UK Elijo
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My reductions are VERY slow. I use the following pattern to reduce each 1mg:
1 day new dose, 6 days old dose
1 day new dose, 5 days old dose
1 day new dose, 4 days old dose
1 day new dose, 3 days old dose
1 day new dose, 2 days old dose
1 day new dose, 1 day old dose
1 day old dose, 2 days new dose
1 day old dose, 3 days new dose
1 day old dose, 4 days new dose
1 day old dose, 5 days new dose
1 day old dose, 6 days new dose
Best of luck - John male 75
Elijo Oregonjohn-UK
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Anhaga Elijo
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Oregonjohn-UK Elijo
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Oregonjohn-UK Elijo
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noninoni Elijo
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Dave-California Elijo
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I have been working on PMR reduction with prednisone and methotrexate for almost 2 years and after several ‘flares’ I have continued my ‘slow’ taper from 20 mg pred using a 5-10% dose reduction of the medication 1-2 monthly over that period.
Generally the prednisone kept pain and aches in my thigh, shoulder, hip and shoulder girdles to a bearable background level that has allowed me to keep the taper going at that rate.
But – one big issue that really bothered me was my HANDS. The pain in the hands was not like carpel tunnel –but in all joints of both hands from the wrist to the furthest finger joint.
With my regular prednisone dose, I did improve slightly toward the evening but the pain was never gone to a reasonable level each day.
I decided to make a slight increase of 2mg prednisone for a 2 month period to see if it would improve or to try to determine if it was something else that was causing the hand pain. The increase did work and then I continued with an even slower taper 0.5 mg for 2-3 months and it has maintained a low bearable level of discomfort. And I’m currently at 4mg prednisone.
So I guess that HANDS are PMR related and the degree of ache and pain can be very different from the other joint zones of the body.
Hope yours improves.
Dave
Elijo Dave-California
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mitalia37573 Elijo
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Anhaga Elijo
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EileenH Elijo
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I too had cramps in hands and feet with PMR - however, if you didn't have them before it could be the pred as it makes you lose more magnesium and other things through the kidneys. One thing to try might be a magnesium supplement - just because the blood level is OK doesn't mean there isn't enough in the muscles so taking a supplement at the normal RDA could help. It is the first thing doctors here in mainland Europe try for patients with muscle cramps. If that doesn't work as the simple answer they then look at other reasons.
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