symptons return after reduction of prednisone

[arvine]

well i have read that many people have some symptons that return after reducing dosage of pred, just reduced from 12.5 to 10 mg 11 days ago, after reducing from 40 mg last oct, and i do notice, shoulders stiff and pain on moving, buttocks, hamstrings hurting but does subside as day goes on, the thing is, i have had to help family out more recently with, finances, and actual physical activity, cleaning etc, as they have been having some issues with their health also, so i am wondering, have symptons ret,d because of reduction, or because of stress, physical and emotional, mental etc, i haven,t contacted my rheumy in this regard yet, just thought maybe body adjusting to lower dosage of 10 mg, i don,t want to incr to last dosage just yet, as i,m not in dire pain as day goes on, trying to ride it out, family issues, not going away soon, but think i,ll try and step back somewhat if i can, and not scheduled to see rheumy until july, after doing bloodwork then,so any advice out there

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

First question, if you've been under so much pressure/stress why reduce?

Someone with your experience should have known deep down it wasn't a good idea. Plus 12.5mg to 10mg, although a "recognised" reduction is too much for many people.

As you're not in pain all day, it may just be your body adjusting to the new dose, but don't let it get any worse without taking action.

[Margaret1951 in reply to DorsetLady]

I have had the first 3 days of pain free !!! I have started again on your reduction Dorset lady, so fingers crossed !!!!

Went my doctor last night and he said I know my body better than him lol

Also he said I bruised my muscles in my side !! All the coughing with my asthma in this heat ! I think it's old age lol

[SheffieldJane]

I think you've answered your own post really arvine. Trying to reduce in the midst of stressy situations is doomed to failure. Stepping back is good, not reducing until the symptoms settle is also good. Patience and calm.🎈

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I agree with the others - but now you should really be thinking about doing smaller steps when reducing anyway. 10% of 12.5 is 1.25 - you have just tried to do double that. Have the symptoms improved at all in the 11 days? Or are they getting more?

[arvine in reply to PMRpro]

well seem a little more, tried to call rheumy, not back in office til june 29

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to arvine]

If it were me I would go back to 12.5, let things settle and then try just 1mg. Then you have compared and can present the evidence

[arvine in reply to PMRpro]

yes, was thinking of doing that, i may, and i will need to get new script when rheumy back for 1 mg pred, i only have 5mg now,

[suziq123]

I spent time trying to ride it out as well then remembered what my MD reads to me, if you have pain return to the dose where symptoms were under control. Riding it out will not help it go away!!!

In my mind, it doesn't matter why they are back, they are creeping back in. I dropped quickly from 20 at the beginning but once I got to 12-14 range I went at 1mg drops until 7 then I started the DSNS method and it is the only way I have dropped not approaching 5.

It is all very personal, however, quality of life to me was far more important than reducing pred quickly once I came to the realization that this is a marathon, not a sprint.

Possibly going up by only 1mg will bring the symptoms under control. I personally found that any pred reducing pain vs symptoms happened around day 4 of the new dose then went away.

Good luck with it