I have not posted since Christmas but have been following & commenting when I can. Good advice is usually given by my fellow sufferers who have had the condition for a while.
I posted about twitching muscles about 2 months ago and following advice I did buy some magnesium spray but only used it a couple of times. I saw my Rheumatologist in December & full blood tests were done. I am not on calcium supplements but take AA. Both calcium, magnesium and inflammation markers were normal. I suffered with some lower back pain, worst on one side, especially after reducing pred. Consultant did a back Xray which was normal & I had a CT scan yesterday but about 2 weeks until I get the results. However, back pain has settled & muscles only twitch occasionally.
I reduced to 5 mg pred on Boxing day & all good. Rheumatologist have told me that from now on will be difficult and to go slow. He has advised next reduction of 5 and 4 for a month, then 4 for a month, the 4 and 3 and continue the pattern monthly. Has anyone done this pattern of reduction? I am gradually increasing my exercise. Pilates weekly and have recently gone back to a gym and got a programme from a personal trainer. He was fascinated to hear about pmr and understood that I would not be pushed beyond my limit.
I am trying to be positive & with an open mind, working back to normality. I love to exercise and have missed my more energetic gym classes. Back to 8-10000 steps a day and sometimes more. I am encouraged by the support on the forum and comment when I can add some value. I was only diagnosed in May and started pred in June at 15 mg so journey so far has been quick & so hoping it will be uneventful.
Positive thoughts are with you all and thank you for all the advice and support on the forum.
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Mitziecat
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Sounds positive. 're magnesium..i think it was pmrpro who said defiency in muscles doesn't show on blood test. I have started taking mag zinc calcium supplement and my muscles calming. I definately think overuse made mine twitch and and get really sore.
Thank you for your reply. I was taking supplements prior to diagnosis but was found to have too much in my blood so that was the reason it wasn’t prescribed. GP is keeping an eye on it. Trying to be careful not to overdo exerecise as I know it can stress the muscles.
Wow that is brilliant progress! I am using roughly the same mode of reduction but have stuck a few times. I am now on alternative 4mg/5mgs. I have been on prednisolone since Feb 2017 though and thought I was moving quickly. Good luck hope things keep going as smoothly
Hi there I stopped AA as I have had numerous dental problems. I did discuss this with my GP. Who was supportive. I am hoping to have a dental
Implant in April or May and need to ensure that the bone growth in my jaw where I had a tooth out is at its best. I didn’t have a Dex scan but I am 52 on HRT and having read the horror stories will take my chances without
I am thinking about stopping it if I am lucky enough to get below 5 mg. I haven’t had a Dex scan. May look into having it done privately if it cannot be done on the NHS.
Your Dexascan should be available on the NHS. It seems to depend very much on your doctor’s inclination towards the idea and how much you are able to push them.
once again.. I cannot IMAGINE being prescribed AA without a DEXA scan. It's like getting antibiotics for a virus. why would a doctor do it? Anyway. good for you for stopping and best of luck with your tooth and jaw!!!
Just a thought that maybe if your tablets can be cut (uncoated) you consider .5 taper steps, especially as you get really low. Don't forget, from 5 to 4 is still a 20% drop.
My pharmacist actually gave me a freebie from a drug company (name long since worn off) which works a treat, but it took me a while to figure out how to get it to give me two good halves, not a half and a bunch of crumbs. Position tablet carefully, then close cutter firmly but not too vigorously, holding the cutter in the air, not placed on the counter.
If you have the box and/Or the info sheet it should say what they are in uk- e.g. mine say pred 5mg gastro resistant but 1mg just say prednisolone. Usually sheet tells you what colour each dose of coated is. Hope that helps.
Thank you for your reply and advice. Good to know that I have options and will certainly use the one that cause me less problems. The DSNS method comes highly recommended.
Congratulations on your progress. Please keep us informed. Iirc, PMRpro has said that alternaing doses may not be optimal for PMR. I tried alternating between 9 and 8.5 but when it was time to go to 8.5 straight, it was not so good. I found PMRpro's 26 day taper got me from 9 to 8 without problems. Im now on day 14 of her 38 day taper, going from 8 to 7. So far so good but the next week or two will be the real test.
I also appreciate being able to print it out. You can find the tapers by searching thd forum.
Thank you for your encouragement. I will certainly keep you updated with the progress. I am curious to know how I will get on alternating so tempted to see how far I can go. If I don’t try it I will always wonder if it would have worked for me.
DSNS method got me from 10mg to 5mg no problems at all. Then saw a rheumatologist who said 5 and 4 alternate days. Did this for 5 days and had all Pmr symptoms back again plus really depressed and crying. So back on 5 and feel so much better.
Thank you for your reply and also for the thumbs up. I am anxious about ruining my progress to date. A lot to think about in the next 10 days before my reduction.
You have done really well if you were only diagnosed last year. I have had pmr for over 4 years now and I’m on 5 mg pred at the moment. I’ve been up and down with the dose as I have had multiple flare ups. I’m to see rheumy nurse on Friday. I’ll be interested to see if my inflammatory levels gave gone down because I feel a lot better. Touch wood!! Onward and upward.
Thank you. I do wonder if the progress was due to a very quick diagnosis & referral. I may have had minor symptoms for a while but diagnosis made within days of stiffness. I have withdrawal aches for just over a week normally & then ok so will be monitoring this closely on next reduction. Any worries and I stay with 5 until happy. So glad that you feel better and hope your blood tests are good. Let us know. As you say onward and upward
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My PMR Update
Update re:dentist and root canal link to PMR 
PMR Update and tapering 
Update on where I am on the great PMR journey
update PMR or Neck Problem
