Hands started hurting every morning

[arvine]

been tapering , finally down to 4 mgs, hsve been on for aboutva week now, thinking arthritis, bit would withdrawal be the cause or could flare last this long?

[MyStar86]

what medication are you tapering down from? Why are you tapering down? It’s just hard to know what to say without knowing what medication you are taking.

[arvine in reply to MyStar86]

Oh tapering prednisone

[MyStar86 in reply to arvine]

Why are you tapering down? Have you spoken to your gp?

[arvine in reply to arvine]

Been on pred since 2016, rheumy didnt think I have pmr anymore, and possible tears in tendons and atrophy in muscles possibly caused by being on prednisone for so long, do have osteo, hip, back, and other back issues

[MyStar86 in reply to arvine]

Then Yes I would think it’s possible that reducing your steroids are is causing the pain because on a non related issue my mum has terrible knee pain x-rays and tests are clear no diagnosis given just painful but she unfortunately developed breast cancer and part of the treatment she was put on steroids and her knee pain totally disappeared she was so happy and able to walk much easier but as she completed her treatment she was taken off the steroids and her knee pain came back exactly as it was before the steroids and also had really painful hands in the mornings.

[arvine in reply to MyStar86]

Well thank you, i have a virtual appt with rheumy this morning, they just set that up yesterday when i called to have the 1mg prednisone script refilled, as my bloodwork isnt until thursday and personal appt with him not until the 21st? Which I thiught was unusual, he has faxed scipt to my pharmacy before without an appt ? And the health forum people who deal with pmr have in many cases suggest increasing dose by 5 mgs for a week or so, reluctant to do so for few reasons , at leat intil bloodwork results, although inflammation markers haven shown increases for years? And as I said I believe being on pred for over 7 yrs has most likely contributed to a lot of health issues because of side affects , but I would definitely be curious to see if an increase of 5 mgs for week or so would ease painful hands,

[MyStar86 in reply to arvine]

I think it depends how painful your hands are because the side effects of having a higher dose longterm are huge I was only on steroids short term for my bowel inflammation and following that I was left with osteoporosis and the pain from fractures is something I will never forget and would put me off ever having steroids again so I think it depends if you believe the benefits outweigh the risks of longterm higher dose steroids. At least you have appointments coming up so you can talk to them properly.

[arvine in reply to MyStar86]

Thanks again, yes as matter of fact just had virtual visit with rheumy, and he forsnt advise increasing for any amount of time, side affects after 7 years more serious, just advises to keep tapering and get off prednisone, which of course will still take a long time on the dead slow method I have been using,