upper body pain

Hi everyone, As has been said many many times, PMR is a very personal journey and different for everyone but to respond to this latest question. I was diagnosed with PMR May 2016. Like everyone, was terrified of going on steroids and negotiated with my GP that I would 'manage the pain!' I didn't and ended up going back to the GP in a matter of weeks in tears begging for the steroids. I was rolling out of bed in the mornings, terrible pain at night, pain in shoulders and hips, waddling when walking and was struggling with basic dressing. I have always been a keen member of a gym and couldn't attempt any of my usual classes which was very depressing. I was an emotional wreck most of the time. My GP started me on 5 mgs  October 2017 and although I noticed an improvement in 24 hours I wasn't pain free so we increased to 7mgs. This was miraculous for me........I am gradually weaning off the steroids following the tried and tested procedure and am working towards 5mgs now. I have had a couple of blips with the weaning, not resulting in increased pain but dizziness and nausea. Anyway, after 12 months, I am pain free and back to the gym but more gentle classes than I used to do. I know this isn't the usual pattern of PMR for most people but it's important to describe the range of 'journeys' that are out there and, for me starting on the lower dose and increasing worked. 

diana21296, some people have a short journey, some long, some a smooth journey, some bump. The first 10 months of mine was smooth. I had from 20 mg to 7 and I had a flare, had go to 30 to get relief. I had to roll into my doctor appointment in a wheelchair. I am now trapering to 11, had 2 small flares under 15.

We are all different with individual cases. Good luck to your friends, but remember it is not a race. 🙂

Diane, I think initial dose is higher then people need to get rid of accumulated inflammation. After that  you are looking for "maintenance" dose, that manages PMR symptoms. This dose depends on how active PMR is and is very individual and also can change over time. I think your friend is lucky to have mild version that can be managed with relatively lower dose.

diana, my initial dose was 20 mg then 9 months later a flare need 30 mg to get rid of accumulated inflammation build up from 7 mg to 30 mg in little steps. Now as soon as I get a flare I bump my dosage quickly. SMILING 🙂

If it is diagnosed very quickly and is a mild episode where the longterm dose may be as little as 5mg or less then 8mg may well be enough if there isn't much residual inflammation to clear up. There is also the bioavailability to think of - some people absorb 90% of what they take, others only 50%. Someone could start on 15mg but only effectively get 7.5mg while another takes 8mg and effectively gets nearly 7.5mg. I know a couple of people who started on 10mg and that worked fine.