Difference between DOMS and pmr flare

Posted , 10 users are following.

how do you tell the difference between DOMS and a pmr flare? per my latest post, ive been packing to travel back home for the summer; needless to say, packing is grueling on my poor pmr body. my upper thighs feel like ive done 100 squats (i havent); my upper arms are sore and achey, i just feel unwell, unable to get my daily little walks in...too stiff and sore.

i reduced to 6 1/2 mg. 10 days ago--so is the dose too low which means i need to increase or am i just overdoing it with the extra activity of packing, cleaning, etc. seems to me ive read something on the forums about a 10 day benchmark and needing to go back up if things dont settle down...but given my current situation, im not sure that is the case. thanks.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Edited

    2 questions, Twopies: reduced from what to 6.5 mg? And: what is DOMS?

    Just off the top of my head, I'd be going back up to 10 mg for the next 3 days, then 7 if that works until fully settled in the summer spot.

    • Edited

      reduced from 7 mg to 6 1/2 10 days ago. DOMS is delayed onset muscle soreness from overtaxing our muscles. it is different from a flare and not alleviated by an increase in pred; only rest and time will help it, as i understand. ive had it before, it does get better with time and rest but it takes a while (several days); at least it did for me.

  • Edited

    Pain from DOMS should go away in a few days. Flare pain increases over time unless you compensate with extra prednisone. If you are planning to increase your dose because of pending trip, then maybe you will take care of the issue regardless.

    • Posted

      thanks--im gonna do just that. it might be a flare from too low a dose because when ive had DOMS before, i swear even my hair hurt. this seems to be different in that its not all over achiness, its in my upper thighs, not groin (never had that before!) and upper arms. thats why i thought it was from packing and cleaning, hence this post. thanks for your reply.

  • Edited

    Difficult to say since you just reduced the dose 10 days ago and often that is the time it might take to show you have gone too low - but you have been doing things that would cause DOMS. DOMS often improves with ordinary painkillers - PMR doesn't. Have you tried that? And if it is PMR then a few days at (say) 10mg should ease it, DOMS doesn't usually respond to pred as it is effectively muscle injury rather than inflammation.

    Bit late now but it is a good idea to delay a reduction until after a road trip!!

    • Posted

      yes, in hindsight i should have waited. today im very bloated which for me is another sign that its a flare. will increase and hope for better days ahead.

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