Suffering from PMR Any suggestions on other meds other than steroids

Hi,

I heard that the injections of the Novocaine to the vertebra "Infected" parts could be succesfull. It was offered to me but I not decided to go.

Good Luck.

CW

Pred does not cure the underlying problem in the immune system which is causing your body to attack itself, so the sympms have to be managed until that auto-immune problem goes into remission naturally, in the meantime the pred helps  and you have far fewer or sometimes almost no symptoms despite the real illness being active, stop the pred and the symptoms will return.

Are you on steroids now you cannot just stop taking them....you can become very ill and get Adrenal Crisis.....my best wishes...

There is no medical alternative to corticosteroids to manage the inflammation caused in PMR. Novocaine is a local anaesthetic - it may relieve pain briefly but since PMR is a system disorder which causes ongoing inflammation to develop it won't work as a long term solution.

It is not advised to take both steroids and NSAIDs (such as Mobic/meloxicam or ibuprofen) since both of them can cause stomach irritation and even bleeding and taking both at the same time reinforces the effect. In fact, the majority of patients with PMR find that NSAIDs do not relieve the PMR pain and stiffness although they may work for what I call the "add-ons" that are so often found alongside PMR.

Is there any particular reason why you do not want to take preds? And what dose are you on?...you would have to do a

very slowly taper to discontinue taking preds, but this would have to be carried out under the supervision of your doctor or rheumatologist.......my best wishes to you cheryl176425....