Sore knees and calves

[Shandon1]

Down to 2mg prednisalone but getting very sore knees reaching down to calves. Should I increase my dose of pred?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Dubliner,

Have you done anything different that could have brought this on? However insignificant it might be.

The problem is, as you get lower (I am just reducing from 2.5 to 2mg so in much the same situation as you) the normal aches and pains of life begin to emerge. At higher doses, they were masked, so you weren't aware of them.

It could be just that, and if so you could try an OTC painkiller (if the pain goes it's probably something else, if it doesn't it's probably PMR) -but it could also be that your previous dose - whether that's only a difference of 1mg or 0.5mg was enough to control the PMR related pain, and the new one doesn't.

If you haven't been on 2mg for very long, you could continue at that and see if things level out. If not, then go back up to the last dose you were comfortable and stay there.

I know PMRpro won't mind me quoting her circumstances, in fact I expect she'll reply anyway! She's tried a few times to get below 4mg I think, and her problems start, so, at the moment she's content to stay where she is. As she says there's no point in being on a dose that's not controlling things, you might just as well not be on Pred.

And in the great scheme of things, does the difference of 1mg or so really matter? I know we all want to be Pred free, but it will come in its own time.

Hope you soon improve.

[Shandon1 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you. Very good advice. I am going to up my dose of pred to 3mg and maybe more and see how it goes.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

This is great DL - you're getting very good at knowing what I'm going to say!

Yes, 5mg is really good, 4mg is good but I'm more tired and at 3.5mg I just want to sleep and my thumbs start to hurt - which is where a flare always starts! So I'm sticking with 5mg for now. Maybe next spring when it's warm I might try again.

There is a retired doctor on one of the forums who has PMR - and now is asking the same question DL just mentioned: what is 1mg here or there if it means you feel well? She used to try to force her PMR patients to reduce but now sees it all from a totally different perspective. Anything under 5mg is a low dose and the side-effects risk is minimal. If you feel better at 3mg - stay there until spring!

[Shandon1 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I will find the dose that works for me.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Yes, sorry 'bout that! Washed my crystal ball as a new year treat!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

What you apologising for - saves me typing

[Shandon1]

Is numbness in both feet ever connected to PMR?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Shandon1]

Simple answer - don't know! Sorry. Could it be related to bad circulation? Are you diabetic? You may find when you increase your dose it goes. If not, might be an idea to speak to GP.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Shandon1]

Not directly that I know of although I do know people with PMR who complain about it - but it is usually put down to something else.

As DL says, something to run by your GP as it is associated with diabetes and poor circulation - both of which are things to watch out for, one due to pred and one due to PMR.