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Relapse advice

Posted , 12 users are following.

Lesley_M
Lesley_M

Hi.I am 58 female and work full time? After 3 years of PMR and a very slow reduction in pred to 3.5mg where I have been fine and thinking about reducing to 3mg I seem to have had a flare up over the last few weeks where I have slowly been getting worse by the day. Stiffness back in hips and shoulders and feeling very run down and weepy. Tops of my arms feel as though I have been lifting weights (heavy ones) and feel a burning sensation when I move them. Spoke with my GP Thursday by phone (really good about knowing that I know my body and manage the condition and not asking for blood tests to prove anything) suggested 5mg until today and if no effect back up to 15mg!!!! Felt so rough agreed to whatever on Thursday and upped to 5mg. I am improved - stiffness reduced but still feel as though I've been weight lifting and the burning in my shoulders & tops of both arms. Very reluctant to go back to 15mg - any suggestions prior to speaking with GP. I only read the forum when struggling for advice (sorry guys)! Advice would be appreciated.

1 like, 33 replies

33 Replies

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  • gerri38206
    gerri38206

    Posted

    Also, I am on 5 mg prednisone.
  • EileenH
    EileenH

    Posted

    Hi Gerri!

    If your rheumy has put you on methotrexate and sulfasalazine as well as low dose of pred he must suspect it isn't simple PMR but another rheumatic problem. I've not come across sulfasalazine being used for PMR - although I had a rheumy who wanted me to take it. I declined since I was about to move to Italy and you have avoid sun when taking it. Easy enough inthe UK maybe - not here!

    Eileen

  • gerri38206
    gerri38206

    Posted

    Autoimmune runs in the family and I have had inflammation problems for years before the PMR flattened me out. My thinking was if it is prednisone that is causing the problems I just want off of it and very aggressively tried to get off of it putting myself in relapse. Been in constant pain for 2 years. I had myself down to 2mg so she put me back on 5 mg that really didn't do anything but after 3 (weekly) shots of methotrexate and a month of sulfasalazine I am pain free. I don't know if it is good or bad but I feel like I have been set free and gone to heaven!! lol The sulfasalazine makes me very sleepy in the day time so have to play with that as you are suppose to take it twice a day. I take my prednisone at night with the sulfasalazine and sleep like a baby and wake up pain free and clear mind. Before my mind was mush all of the time!

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