Need advice

[ali5son]

Hi

Just concerned as now experiencing slight discomfort in hips and shoulder neck nothing I need to take pain relief for. Usually late at night or early in morning. Have been taking pred around 4am if I wake . Is it just meds wearing off as now on 9mg doing dsm But once pred kick in I'm fine should I be asking GP for bloods to be done as could be flare or just been paranoid. Is this just normal as when on hight dose of pred no aches or pain. Diagnosed June. Thanks in advance

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

As you were only diagnosed in June this year, you have got to 9mg very quickly compared to many.

I would suggest that you have now reached the tipping point where the dose you are on is maybe not quite enough. If you were okay at 10mg, go back to that, and see if your newly resurfaced pains go away.

If they go, then stay at that dose for at least 2 weeks, I would do 4 weeks personally before I thought of reducing again. If they don't go, then you at need to go a little higher, but hopefully not if you acted quickly enough.

I always had my bloods tested on a monthly basis until I got to single figures (then less regularly), and I know we always say symptoms are the key, but some people like to monitor their bloods. Then you can compare if things go awry, or see a pattern - it's up to you really.

Presume by dsm you mean dead slow method, and that's good, but you can still go below YOUR level, it's just you can catch it quicker. Might also be worth trying 0.5mg tapers once you get to singles figures - many doctors think 0.5mg is neither here nor there, but it is once you get lower!

Good luck.

[ali5son in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou Dorset Lady

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think DL has said it all - and I'll just add to the point that however slowly you reduce you won't get below the dose you need to manage the daily dose of inflammation. To be below 10mg this soon is excellent and I'd suggest staying at 10mg for a few weeks before trying again. It doesn't mean you won't get lower. Just not yet.

[ali5son]

Thankyou PMR pro