Long time pred user

[groovyguy]

Hi all, its great reading your posts and identify somewhere with most. I was diagnosed around 8 yrs ago with pmr and have had a topsy turvy ride all these yrs. My original aches were Knees ,hips and shoulders however while being on 12 mgs i developed severe neck pain and after two injections and a rise to 25mg i approached my gp with the question Is this neck pain something different and after x rays and scans i was told

i had along with other causes osteophytic encroachment at c5-6 and c 6-7and also upper degenerative changes at the upper cervical joints. I have been given Lyrica and told i need to reduce pred. as its not touching the neck pain. Could you give me your views as i get a lot out of your posts. Groovy Guy

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If that much pred doesn't work for the neck problem - then you don't need that much pred and it is far better to reduce the dose to the level that manages the PMR part of your problems. Long term high dose pred that isn't really required isn't good for anyone - long term low dose pred as used for PMR is a different matter. After 8 years I'd say 12mg was still a fairly high dose - so can you tell what is PMR and what isn't?

[groovyguy in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks pmrpro, IVE BEEN UNDER THE BELIEF AND FEAR IF YOU LIKE THAT EVERYTHING THAT HURTS IS ANOTHER BOUT OF PMR. I ALSO HAVE ASBESTOSIS AND HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PROTECT AGAINST ANY MORE PAIN. YES I RECKON READING POSTS I CAN IDENTIFY PMR FROM THE REST AND WILL START TO SERIOUSLY REDUCE . WILL KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to groovyguy]

To some extent the starting dose - and certainly the dose you are on at present - is your guideline. The pain that is gone is very likely to be PMR. What you have now is something else that isn't relieved by pred so you watch out for reappearing pain. As you drop you may have steroid withdrawal pain - that will start with the reduced dose and then improve over the following week or so. PMR flaring may take a while to appear - but then will get worse over time.

Then work from there.

[groovyguy in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks, for the first time in years i feel a brighter day ahead. I,ll keep posting as to my journey from this point.

[Mike1964 in reply to groovyguy]

Hi Groovy, just wanted to wish you well with the reduction, kind regards, mike.

[groovyguy in reply to Mike1964]

Thanks Mike.Keep pushing forward

[Omanain in reply to groovyguy]

PMRpro will keep you right! I doubt you would get better advice anywhere on managing PMR!

[groovyguy in reply to Omanain]

Thanks Omanain< started the reduction today. I wont hesitate to post when i need help> Go well