1. Community
  2. Bones, joints and muscles
  3. Polymyalgia Rheumatica and GCA

Possible diagnosis waiting of polymyagia rheumatica question

Posted , 17 users are following.

clare84716
clare84716

My Gp suspects PMR and I'm awaiting blood results at present but he started me on a 4 day course of prendidalone to see if it resolves it.

How long was it before you felt any relief from starting prednisalone at 15mg per day?

Just trying to prepare folks.

Thanks in advance.

1 like, 69 replies

69 Replies

Prev Next
  • Michdonn
    Michdonn clare84716

    Posted

    Hi Claire 87416, I started on 20 mg and started to feel better in 2-3 days and myself in about 2 weeks. That was last August. Hope that gives you an idea.

    Good Luck!

    • clare84716
      clare84716 Michdonn

      Posted

      Many thanks michdonn . so glad you have found your level which helps you feel better.
    • Michdonn
      Michdonn clare84716

      Posted

      I was doing great, then a relapse, had to work up to 30 mg to get relief. Now have to work myself back down. My lowest level was 7 mg. I will come down even slower this time.
    • clare84716
      clare84716 Michdonn

      Posted

      Aww so sorry to hear you needed to adjust again from what bit I've seen it does seem pretty common situation Sadly . hoping for better times for you lovey.

    • Michdonn
      Michdonn clare84716

      Posted

      Thank you, I have not been on the forum very long, but it does appear that relapse are quite common. Good luck!
  • Rimmy
    Rimmy clare84716

    Posted

    Hi Clare

    Although 15mg is a normal - lower staring dose for PMR you may need a bit more - there is some evidence body weight makes a reasonable difference from what I have read here and elsewhere. My symptoms evaoprated in 4 hours - almost like a 'miracle' at the time. But I was started at a much higher dose as my GP wasn't quite sure and I had 3 days at 50mg and down rapidly to 25mg. Anyway when I got to around 16-18mg symptoms of GCA emerged and I am back at high levels again. As far as bloods are concerned some find they almost bear no relativity (at least subjectively) to their symptoms while others refer to them assiduously as clear parallel markers to their pian/stiffness. Some fab people/experts on this forum - you'll get lots of help and support here if you need it.

    All the best with everything

    Rimmy

    • clare84716
      clare84716 Rimmy

      Posted

      Thank you for your response rimmy. I'm a chunky monkey lol so that could be the issue as you mention . It seems hard to manage from what I've read can I ask once diagnosed are you the best treatment decider or your doc? I know many expert patients who docs will happily go by rather than by their own knowledge.

    • Rimmy
      Rimmy clare84716

      Posted

      Hi again

      this is an interesting question and as you'll also read here there are lots of different ways people and their medicos 'manage' PMR. I am an unusual example in some ways as I live in a rural area of OZ and had to do lots of research myself due to the fact real 'experts' in this condition aren't prolific around here. So it all depends really - many people have a specialist Rheumatologist and others seem to prefer a helpful and well-informed GP. Many ARE well versed and very 'expert' but there are quite a few disturbing accounts of others who seem to know very little and confuse their patients and treatments quite a lot. Not pointing any fingers though as PMR is a relatively 'rare' condition despite the fact it feels 'common' when we are all chatting on these and similar forums - and to be fair many GPs only see one or two people each year with PMR and or possibly GCA. So anyway I have a 'good' GP who is very helpful and has engaged with all the research I have also done and read the clinical guideline(s) papers I have shown him - without any unnecessary 'defensiveness' - thank heavens !! But I am having an ophthalmologist involved as I also have GCA symptoms as well.

      The whole issue of establishing an initial appropriate dose and 'tapering' it down appropriately in line with your experience/symptoms is a big one too as you'll also read here with many medicos seeming to want to get you off the drug asap due to potential side effects - of which there are many. But while some seem to get a few and others almost none - that depends as well on your experience. You'll find lots of info on past discussions here about all that and this can be helpful to show a doctor if you think it necessary.

      As I am only 5 months into my foray with all this I will leave you to those here with far superior knowledge than me and I am sure you will find them really helpful. One last thing is that although I have found this a challenging experience I have also learned a great deal from it - especially how kind and generous people here and elsewhere can be sharing their personal experiences. I cannot imagine how different all this might have been once in the pre-Internet days and how difficult to find clear and useful information without hours in libraries and being able to talk with someone who knows what it all 'feels' like !!

      Best

      Rimmy

    • Michdonn
      Michdonn Rimmy

      Posted

      Timmy, you are sooo right, it took me about a year to find this forum. The wealth of information I have learned is unbelievable. Thank God I stumble upon this forum, knowledge is very powerful.

      Good luck we are all in this together.

    • Anhaga
      Anhaga Rimmy

      Posted

      Rimmy, you are so right!  I think most of us feel isolated when first diagnosed - how many of us had never even heard of this ailment before we were stricken with it?  I dread to think where I'd be now without the digital companionship of you others on this journey! 💕

  • nick67069
    nick67069 clare84716

    Posted

    it depends on your size and how much inflamation is accumulated over time. Starting dose is usually between 15 and 25mg. With lower starting dose it may take longer, sometimes 3-5 days, but you should see some improvements along the way,
    • clare84716
      clare84716 nick67069

      Posted

      Many thanks nick67069 I am finding its better as the last 2 days have passed but still wasn't sure. Guess I'll no more as days go on and after doc app Monday. Thanks again for replying.

    • nick67069
      nick67069 clare84716

      Posted

      I was getting concerned (  I was started on 15mg too), that "magic" did not happened and I thought that maybe I did not have PMR. All the posts here were talking about immediate releife.  It did not hapened for me. But after 4-5 days pred finally kicked in and I was one of the few lucky ones that ALL pain was gone.  I hope it will work for you too.

      In addition, when you start reducing pred, you will be 10mg ahead of the usual schedule ( average starting dose is 20- 25mg) biggrin.

    • clare84716
      clare84716 nick67069

      Posted

      I was thinking the same. No magical disapearence of symptoms then maybe not. I am getting better it seems as days go by but I have a lot of other pain causing ilness so couldn't really be sure. The pain has gone down from ending it all hell to managable but still not nice so fingers crossed it may be that and the meds are beginning to work. Thanks for replying.

Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.