Kind of scared

[Lanakay]

I had my rheumatologist appointment this morning and he increased my prednisone back up to 10 from 7.5mg because I was experiencing pain again in my biceps and thighs. He ordered more blood work. He also said there are other disorders that initially respond well to prednisone so what I have may not be PMR. I guess I’ll have to wait for the results of the blood work. I started out with 20mg a day in September when I was first diagnosed.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi Lanakay,

Welcome.

Your Rheumy may well be correct in that it could be another illness, but my money would be on PMR and too quick a reduction, which has resulted in a flare.

Hopefully the rise to 10mg will settle things down, and if it does, and when you next discuss with him, suggest a taper in smaller steps -1mg a time is quite enough when you get to single figures. As recommended in most PMR guidelines.

Good luck, and please let us know the outcome.

[Hidden]

I had same experience when pred didn't control symptoms after too fast taper. Inflammation markers keep rising as pred dropped (obvs). The rheumatologist tested for lupus, RA AND probably other things I didn't know about. I had chest xrays. There were about 7 vials of blood. All came back "negative" and it just helped him discount other autoimmune and firm up dx of PMR. It is scary waiting for the results I agree. Hopefully you will enjoy same outcome. Then you can tape more slowly..i was put back up to 15mg from 8mg after 7months and 12 months later back to 10/9.

[Hidden]

Ahhhh, yes! It's the uncertainty that gets to you! I too have had two Rheumy's, casually mention, that maybe it's not GCA/PMR! It's unnerving. I've realised I'm a stickler for "labels." I like everything in an appropriate, sized box... affixed with a accurate, descriptive label.

Boy... if that ain't LIFE!

Best of luck... I'll keep you in my thoughts.

[SheffieldJane]

We’re all thinking of you at this limbo time. Can’t see your old posts so don’t know how far you are along on your journey. Even 10 mgs is a low dose for the early days. No decrease should be more than 10%. More and it is a recipe for pain, as is a too low dose. Like DL I think it might be that. Don’t be scared, it’s a bump in the road.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

At least he is thinking - but as DL says, too fast a reduction and missing the right dose is just as likely.

And all these tests he is doing now SHOULD have been done right at the start. PMR is a diagnosis of exclusion - you exclude all the other options and then you can plump for the PMR we discuss here. PMR is only the name for the set of symptoms - and there are quite a few potential causes.