Can do less each year.

YES! This is year 6 for me and its my worst year. My first 3 years I was able to stay around 5mg, Prednizone. The last 3 years I range between 10-20mg. Ive always been very active. Walking, cycling, swimming and kayaking. Well 2019 has brought on more than i can handle. My left hip area is so painful I'm in tears. I had gotten my pred down from 20 last fall to 10 in Feb. Then the hip kicked in. I cant seem to do anything except sit around to keep from hurting later in the day. Ive been to a physiotherapist, and upped my pred to 30. It seems to be ok for a couple days then all hell breaks loose. PAIN!

I will return to my rhumy asap and see what he suggests! I totally understand your issues. I cant do anything at all right now, I just want to cry. Nothing is working!

Your situation runs almost parallel to mine Linda. I started on 40 mg March 2014. Thanks to a couple of flares and having to drop by .5 mg on the DSNS plan I've only managed to get down to 9.5 mg. That was in June last year. I didn't succeed in stayin there thanks to a minor flare, which I got under control fairly quickly. Then, thanks to a major flare earlier I had to increase from10 to 15 mg earlier this year. I only stayed at that level for 10 days and have made it back to 11 mg so far.

As for my ability to do a variety of activities, that's definitely deteriorated bit by bit. However, it might be from lack of effort on my part more than anything else. When I was diagnosed with PMR I was doing water aerobics three times a week. I was able to continue with that for more than a year. Then our local pool was closed for over 5 months due to a union strike. I know now I should have done something in terms of an exercise routine to maintain my level of fitness,. My muscles became much weaker. I have yet to get back to a constant routine to build them up again. I know it can be done.

When I reached about 15 mg, fatigue and lack of motivation held me back. It was a struggle some days to reach for my glass of water, let alone keep up with the activities of daily living and minor household or cooking chores. Fortunately, I have a husband who understands what I'm dealing with and is very supportive.

I still enjoy life to the best of my ability, but feel very frustrated at times with my new normal.

yes yes and yes. its kinda shocking. i look at my same age friends and get teary eyed. the longer im on pred, the harder it gets. and it aint for lack of trying or lack of motivation. to put it simply: i would if i could. some days, most days, its impossible to do even the basics. i just cant move at all. 2 years and 7 months since starting pred, currently at 5, but who's counting?

Hi Linda, as we get older we would normally slow down, I question myself constantly is it the PMR slowing me down or is it just my age. I don't have the answer. 🙂

Pam, I have right hip pain. sometimes it is sciatic nerve causing it. I have herniated discs in my back by the sciatic nerve. ALL kinds of pain causing issues. BEST WISHES!☀☀☀

I don't notice anything less...in fact I think I do more in my second year....just take it 10 minutes at a time...my mother in law told me housework will always be there so take time for the kids..in my case I take time for wc painting. My husband in a saint and just keeps truckin' but some time he won't be able to take up the slack and a smaller compact place is coming sooner or later. keep a happy face in adversity...it's less energy than tears.

I'm sorry to hear PMR has affected you so badly. I definitely can't hike and climb as I used to I admit, but I still get out and try to do the most I can. Though I need a climbing partner for mountains, I still make my yearly trip to Maine and my son helps me get over the more difficult parts of each climb. What used to take a few hours now takes most the day. I can't run as far, but still try to jog two miles. I lift weights but not to the extent I used to (bodybuilding), so I just push myself enough to enjoy activities but not enough to cause a flare or too much pain. Finding a balance is tricky but I'm grateful to be as functional as I am. I'm at 4 1/2 mg prednisone, hovering there till school is out. I hope you feel better!

It is called aging I fear ...

But I don't feel I have deteriorated other than that.