Happy New Year to all on this site.

[Lionking50]

Have had pmr. Now for 20 months, managed to reduced from 25mgs. To 7.5mgs. I am recovering now from a left hip replacement after weeks of groin pain. Amazing what a difference it has made. Best wishes to everyone, hope every bodies pmr. Symptoms improve.

Regards Lion king

[30048]

just a question...did they up your prednisone during and after the surgery?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 30048]

I don't know about Lionking but I know 2 ladies who had hip replacements while still on pred and their oral dose was not raised. They may have had some in the drip during the procedure, that I don't know. Both were able to reduce their dose steadily after the op and both were off pred altogether in about a year - it was almost as if the hip had been feeding the PMR.

It was always pretty much automatic to raise the dose in the past but more recent thinking recommends close monitoring of the patient. And of course making sure you are given your normal pred dose correctly - because that isn't always to be assumed unfortunately: unless it has been written in your orders you won't get it and they usually won't let you keep your own medication to manage yourself.

It is usually what the surgeon wants: some won't operate when you are still on pred. others just want you to be stable on your current dose, even if that means raising it slightly to feel better when mobilising post-op. In the same way, some would want intra-op pred, others don't.

[30048 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I had Carpal Tunnell surgery and was not given any additional prednisone and was told that the dosage I was on....seven milligrams was not enough to accommodate the stress of the surgery and that was the reason I had a flair of GCA.. So I was just wondering if that was always the case.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to 30048]

7mg is a bit borderline probably - but I think it is likely that while the flare may have been due to the surgery in general you would probably have had to have a much higher dose of pred for much longer to have prevented it. It is difficult to say of course. You may have had the flare even without the surgery - but it is a bit difficult to do a controlled study isn't it!

I hope your flare died down fairly quickly though.

[30048 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you.

[Lionking50 in reply to 30048]

No problem carried on taking my usual dose of 7.5 msg. Pred. Whilst in hospital, been a week since hip-hop feeling very good now. I hope to reduce pred. Again soon

Regards

Lion King