PMR & GCA flare
Posted , 3 users are following.
If PMR flares does that necessarily mean that GCA will flare too? Have been waking with really severe pain in buttocks and thighs the last few mornings and as per PMR the pain goes after moving around. Am worried that this might be a flare and if so will GCA flare too which is obviously a huge concern. Like others I've been doing more because of the season that's in it so I know that could be a cause. I'm at 10mg pred for the last 6 weeks. Any ideas greatly appreciated. Wishing you all a very happy, peaceful and pain-free Christmas
1 like, 5 replies
EileenH Mrs_Hobbles
Posted
I suppose it depends how you define flare. There was a study done in London/Southend which showed that there is still evidence of inflammation after over 6 months at high dose pred (defined as over 20mg/day) even though the patients had no symptoms. PMR-type pain can be a symptom in GCA too - and it isn't unknown for someone whose original diagnosis was GCA to develop PMR symptoms as they reduce the dose even though they weren't present before they started pred. 10mg is quite low enough for PMR symptoms to reappear - and I have had 3 biggish flares over the 12 years I have had PMR, two of them being while I was on a pred that had been managing my symptoms well previously.
I would think it is far more likely that the 10mg is not quite enough to manage the current level of inflammation in the muscles - maybe 10.5mg is and over the 6 weeks the tiny bit of left-over inflammation each day has built up to the stage where you can feel the effect. Particularly in combination with doing too much!
Mrs_Hobbles EileenH
Posted
Thanks Eileen! I only say flare as I haven't had pain and in the last few mornings I've had pain, alot of pain, so am assuming it's a flare. The pain I'm having now is far worse than when I was originally diagnosed although this time I don't have shoulder/arm pain. I didn't realise that a bit I'd inflamation can be left over each day and if so can see how it'd accumulate. I'll go the chemist tmrw and get half and/or 1mg pred and hopefully they'll help. That and slowing down!! Thanks for your advice again! Have a lovely Christmas 🎄
EileenH Mrs_Hobbles
Posted
You might need a few days of a higher dose to clear things out before the "lower but not quite so low" dose will work - it is better to hit hard than pussy-foot about letting things get even worse.
java4u Mrs_Hobbles
Posted
Some days it lasted all day but better as I moved around
Seems when the weather changed the symi useptoms seemed worse
My hands were aching as well as shoulders
Increased the predsone by 1 and it helped but I have never been pain free
Just live each day praying it gets better
I too have flare upd especially if im too active
Have learned slow and steady works
Simple things can make it flare up as well
I use motrin platium and 400mg ibprofen when it flares up
Seems to help
Mrs_Hobbles java4u
Posted
Thank you! I'm glad that you've had some relief. Did you try increasing by more than 1mg to get more relief? I've definitely being doing too much, and hopefully that's the reason for the increase n pain. I'm going to try an extra mg tomorrow and see if that helps too. Wishing you a pain free Christmas!