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tapering Prednisone

Posted , 6 users are following.

rhea28447
rhea28447

I'm currently on 9 mg of Prednisone, but the last few days, I've woken up with sore neck muscles.  Not nearly as painful as when I first started Prednisone.  But I'm wondering if I should go up to 10 mg, or split the dosage--5 mg in the am and 4 in the evening.  Another question--do you need to be totally pain free before you go down another mg?

Thank you!

 

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH rhea28447

    Posted

    If you had to be totally pain-free then many of us would never reduce. Your guide is the degree of freedom from pain you achieved with your starting dose. Any more than that and you have gone too far. Some people have little pain but it really is quite unusual. But pain may be due to other things - what I call add-ons, such as myofascial pain syndrome or piriformis syndrome. MPS can affect your neck, PS is low back and legs. Both will improve at higher doses of pred but then reappear at lower doses. 

    Have you considered the other obvious causes? A draught, new pillow, needing a new pillow/mattress? Doing something you shouldn't have? Was 10mg in one dose adequate? Have you tried going back to 10mg - did it work? 

    • Silver49
      Silver49 EileenH

      Posted

      I agree with your answer, Eileen. As I've come down I've noticed the neck pain returning but realise it has been the result of something I've been doing. It would be all too easy to blame the PMR and up my dose but I've hung on and it has improved. As I'm at 2mgs and feeling good I have increased my activities especially gardening. Yesterday I was a bit gung ho with the clippers and clearing large swathes of overgrowth so felt it today but it has eased. The day before I was busy with a repetitive action which I could feel as I carried on regardless......minor suffering. Today is dreich and autumnal with almost non stop rain thus saving me from further discomfort. It's sometimes difficult to tell but I've decided to go with the overdoing it until I know otherwise. I have been wondering about my pillow as you have suggested. Thank you. I'll try that as my OH maintains a lot of his pains are down to his pillow(s). He has tried so many we can now stock a well known store!!😂

  • Michdonn
    Michdonn rhea28447

    Posted

    rhea28447, I am PMR pain free, stayed on 30 mg till pain free about 6 weeks, now at 17.5 reducing to 15. I am very active and want to be PMR pain free. Some people cannot get PMR pain free, so I am one of the lucky ones. Think positive and smile! 🙂

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