Doctor Visit

[make-over]

Have increased my Pred early this week from 4mg to 7mg as was getting pain and stiffness in shoulder blades and upper arms. 7mg did not work so saw my GP yesterday who increased my Pred to 10mg for one month. Today is the first day of 10mg. When should the increased Pred start to work? Would appreciate any comments. Thank you.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If it is enough it should start to work in the same sort of time span it did originally. Many top experts suggest adding 5mg to where a flare happens to get control of it and that is where you are now.

[billdmith64]

Hi Make-over, you don't mention when and at what level your treatment started. I too have what I would describe as pain in the shoulders, not shoulder blades, and the upper arms. I should say that my pmr diagnosis was in Nov. 2014, but it definitely started 6 months earlier and the pains began after taking pred. for approx. 18 months. At least two physiotherapists put the pain, and muscle weakness down to 'poor posture', but I'm far from convinced. Would be interested to know more. Bill

[make-over in reply to billdmith64]

Hi Bill. I was diagnosed in January 2016 with pains in neck, head, arms and legs. Was prescribed 40mg of Pred - all symptoms disappeared completely. Managed to reduce to 2mg by January 2017. Am now suffering pain in my shoulder blades, upper arms and am also having night sweats again. Increased my Pred to 7mg, but still in pain. Saw GP last week and he has now increased my Pred to 10mg for one month. Think I reduced my Pred too quickly. Am hoping 10mg will make me more comfortable. Hope this is of some help.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to billdmith64]

I had a couple of physios tell me my back pain was due to poor posture. Then I found one who knew what they were talking about and their way round was that the poor posture is due to the back problem - your adopt the posture that causes you lest pain and discomfort. My back problems are due to myofascial pain syndrome - and treating it on that basis results in a major improvement.

[karools16]

My lower back pain has been getting progressively worse the past few months. My GP gave me liquid morphine, a few weeks ago, but now

that it's finished, I am back to the extra strong dose of Co-Codamol.

Today, I started a 7 week Pulmonary Rehab, class, for people with COPD. i AM HOPING i MIGHT get some relief from the backache, too. I havn't been back to the GP, because there are other issues to discuss, and when I told him, once, I thought it was my kidneys, and that I would like to see the nephrologist again, he dismissed it, and said it was structural, referring to my curvature of the spine. I read, in this forum, about people with rotator cuff/tendonitis, and wonder whether a visit to my osteo. would be beneficial? I am on 3mg Pred, tapering to 2mg, on the DSNS method.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to karools16]

I'd certainly discuss it with them - that might be worth a whirl.