Newbie for the Polymyalgia Rheumatica discussion

Hi, I wish you well with your PMR : I myself have had it for 4 months and am also on Preds, high dose 40mg when I had GC symptoms, now going down, on 35mg but my body is not liking it at all. They dropped me 2,5 for 2 weeks and then another 2.5 for 2 weeks ( 5mg all up ) 1st 2 weeks ok, last week the worst and still in pain. But I have to have a breast operation in a few weeks so they are trying to lower them. I think to fast for me, I dont want to end up back at the beginning again.... 

They say not to take NSAIDS with Prednisone: I take Codeine or Panadol (paracetamol) to try and help. But I can only tell you what is best for me>

Good luck, and yes this is a great site, very informative :

I was diagnosed with GCA in June, was in hospital for six days before they figured out what was wrong with me, I was very ill at that time with two many symptoms to name. I waited too long to be diagnosed even tho I was suffering, I thought it was sinus problems and aging. I was immediately put on 60 mg of Pred. in the hospital. Dr. concerned about losing my eye site. Now  I'm on 20 mg. I am tapered down to 5 mg every 14 days. My pain has subsided but the side effects are horrible n I believe it's from withdrawal, not sure.  I have mostly bad days with shaking inside n out and I'm very weak and tired. I rest a lot. I only seem to to have a few hours of feeling somewhat normal and they are far in between. I miss my exercise programs too, I loved it but I'm to weak now. I have noticed my headaches are coming back with the 20 mg of Pred but I hate the idea of going back up on it and it's not to painful right now.... I believe when your Pred is increased your pain will subside. That was the only positive from Pred for that for the first time in a very long time Ii have no crippling pain. Good luck to you and I hope you get to feel better soon. Keep us updated. 

Hi Valdez, I''m sorry you are in pain. The only thing that really helps is prednisone.

I don't really understand how you could have had a 'relapse' if you've only just been diagnosed. 

You have to take enough pred to reduce the inflammation and you will be on it for at least a year or two until the PMR goes into remission  - that may take many years.

You need to learn to pace yoursefl - your life has changed - but it will slowly, and I mean, slowly, get better as you learn how to manage the disesase and the drug treatment. 

My best advice is to read everything you can on here - we have all been through what you are going through now and there is a lot of wonderful advice and discussion about living and treating PMR.

What dose of pred are you on and when did you start?

What side effects do you think you have? We may be able to help you deal with some of them.

I was diagnosed on June 25 by my GP and will have my first appointment with the rheumatologist on Friday. That's how long I've had to waiting to get into one. So I'm looking forward to getting on prednisone and I never thought I would say that. And because I have chronic pain from my back as well I'm on opiates and they aren't even working for my pain.

I was diagnosed on June 25 by my GP and will have my first appointment with the rheumatologist on Friday. That's how long I've had to waiting to get into one. So I'm looking forward to getting on prednisone and I never thought I would say that. And because I have chronic pain from my back as well I'm on opiates and they aren't even working for my pain.

Dear Val I am so sorry you are in pain. If you did not have a magical improvement with the pain either you are on too low a dose or it is not PMR. 

Sorry you are in pain, but Welcome to the group! I just posted about the value of staying at 10m of prednisone for one full year before attempting to reduce. I know how distasteful that is! Tapering too soon is a recipe for disaster. Others will stress the importance of this!😊 Best wishes on your journey...

I want to thank all who responded to my posting last evening.  I was first diagnosed about 3 years ago, went on steroids, and then it went into remission.  I knew nothing about it.  But it returned this past summer, and my GP started me on low dose Prednisone, due to fact I also have osteoporosis. I took myself off of it after 2 months, and it really came back worse in more body parts than I thought imaginable!  Bottom of my feet, between toes, back of knees, hands.  Unable to sleep for many nights tossing in pain. Trying to not have to go back on steroids.

Enough is  enough.  I started back this week, increasing up to 20mg now Prednisone.  Finally feeling better!  Energy has returned also.  Finally slept.

I was so relieved to see that there is this group. My question to you - how many of you hold down jobs?  I work full time as an urban classroom teacher. 

Also, is this a lifetime illness?  A friend who is an internist told me that it will go away, but I would have to take large doses of steroids for a period of time first.

Thank you again, and I look forward to hearing from you.