Do you have to take prednisone every day for PMR

I never gained weight; it just got redistributed to my cheeks and belly.  

The trick to feeling well is to keep active without overdoing it.

You will need to take pred every day if you want to keep the pain at bay. I assume you have started taking pred, what is your dosage? There are a lot of side effects but to stop the awful pain they are worth putting up with. I did watch my diet very carefully and gave up gluten and simple carbs as I had heard that they caused a moon face. It did seem to work. As you reduce the side effects slowly get less. PMR is life changing and you need to take things easy and pamper yourself. 

Hi, 

Yes, you do need to take the pred every day, or you’ll be in pain. Plus it has to be weaned off slowly. 

I never gained weight or acquired the dreaded ‘moon face’. In fact, I didn’t have any side effects that I know about yet. So you might not, everyone is different. Give it a go, you’ll feel a lot better without all the pain.

I didn't gain weight.  But I did get high blood sugar so I virtually eliminated refined grains especially wheat, and I eat a lot of vegetables, especially leafy greens, to help fill up.  It doesn't take too long to retrain the gut flora to be happy with the new diet and that in turn reduces craving for verboten food.  I now crave leafy greens if I don't have some every day.  Go figure! 

Hello jalyn62 - you have obviously been through a really tough time recently with your health and feel understandably nervous about taking Pred. But don't despair most side effects are manageable on a PMR level dose - and weight gain is very controllable with a little effort. Almost everyone who has not gained weight - and even lost it will recommend a 'low carb' approach. I have tried that myself on a high dose of Pred (I also had GCA) and lost 10kg quite 'easily' over a few months - and never felt hungry after the first week or so. Rashes and incontinence are not side effects I've heard about in relation to corticosteroids but the pain of PMR is certainly controlled by them if not completely - then usually to a major extent. But you must take Pred daily and taper the dose down over (generally) some years - so it is not a short-term thing.

The 'experts' will be along soon and point you in all the right directions - but truly if you have PMR - just NOT living with so much pain and stiffness will not only dramatically improve your quality of life but possibly also 'protect' you from also developing it's 'relation' Giant Cell Arteritis and some other 'nasties' as a result of untreated vascular inflammation.

Best wishes

Rimmy

Best wishes

Rimmy

I'm afraid that as long as the underlying cause of the PMR, an autoimmune disorder that makes your immune system attack your body by mistake, you will need to take some pred to manage the inflammation. 

If it is PMR you have you will be on relatively low doses - you usually start at 15-20mg and then reduce in small steps to find the lowest dose that works for you to give the same result as that starting dose did. As the others have already said - cutting carbs drastically WILL help avoid weight gain. On the other hand - if you give in to every desire for a donut, you will gain weight...

I have had bladder problems in the past - but it was more due to the PMR than the pred and to say it causes you to pee your pants is a bit OTT! That's what Tena lady are for if you DO have a problem. Almost all ladies of a certain age experience it - it really isn't the end of the world - and I have almost no problem at all now, it all cleared up once I was on pred.

Rashes? Maybe, but pred is often used to deal with rashes. Just remember on most forums you will find the people who have problems - this one is a bit unusual, most of us have learned how to cope with problems and talk about that rather than tell the world pred is evel!!!

Unfortunately, in order to make any headway with PMR the prednisone is a necessary evil. But it isn't as scary as it might seem when you read things about it. I had no ill side effects.  I did gain a bit of weight but not a lot, and you can manage that with diet. Hearing about your bladder issues is familiar to me, my incontinence began with the PMR and actually got better during treatment.  

Don't worry too much.... I try to look at it with the attitude that it could be much worse. We could have something that can't be as easily managed as PMR is.

Don't worry about having a pity party once in a while.... you've got a lot to deal with.  I know that you must feel as if you are being piled on after dealing with something as serious as anal cancer, look at it this way, you got through the cancer treatment you'll get through this. 

I sincerely pray you get some relief and a lot of peace.... best wishes.

Hi jalyn, when first on Prednisone I gained about 10 lbs, then started watching my diet and have lost it all. Stay active keep exercising, good brisk walks or something. Yes, everyday with a gradual taper, do not rush, take your time. Prednisone has many unpleasant side effects, but you can have a quite normal life while taking it. The side effects are far easier to deal with then PMR pain. I am PMR pain free basically since last June. Think positive and try to smile. I think it helps. ☺️