Two years in and now Meloxicam for pain

[Zebedee44]

I haven't visited this site for a while and my journey with PMR as a companion has been fairly unremarkable for the past two years. I moved to Kent where my GP has been very supportive and allowed me to stay at 7.5/8 mg for almost a year, but a recent flare has left me struggling and he has prescribed meloxicam (and omeprazole) to reduce the pain. Should I expect it to be effective, I always thought NSAIDs were not.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I really am not sure I would take meloxicam together with pred as it is an NSAID and they don't mix well with steroids even with the PPI (I think meloxicam claims to be be "less gastro-irritant", that isn't the same as not).

Why on earth won't he let you go back to the right dose of pred if this is a flare? Have you tried the meloxicam? Does it help? If it is a PMR flare I'd be doubtful - if it is something else, what is it? My own personal view is that a couple of mg more of pred, especially at this sort of dose, will have fewer adverse effects than adding in 2 new drugs and their potential side effects.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

They gave me Meloxicam for my knee pain Post Chemo as they felt it was the least risky with the Pred & MXT! 😱

I could barely get down stairs particularly if they weren’t carpeted!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

That's different though. It's a bit pointless using it for a PMR flare if that is needing pred isn't it?

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

Oh yes, l just meant it was the one they considered was the better option if an Anti Inflammatory was needed.

For PMR it’s Pred all the way!

[Zebedee44]

Thank you PMRPro I think you are right, especially as I have had pains in my abdomen and ribcage since starting the meloxicam. I just wondered if anyone on the forum had found it beneficial.

I don't like having to increase the steroid dose but it's probabaly going to be more helpful

[SheffieldJane]

It’s good to see your name again Zebedee44! Even though the news is not so good. What brought on the flare symptoms? Were you trying to taper down from 7mgs? I found it so hard and it took me a year. After lots of stopping and starting I finally managed to get down to 5.5 mgs in 0.5 decrements. Feeling a bit seedy but my Adrenal glands are still suppressed. Have you had a Synacthen Test? I feel that this situation is adding to my achiness and fatigue.

[Zebedee44 in reply to SheffieldJane]

I have kept one eye on the postings while I have been settling to my new life as a carer/ companion to my demanding elderly mother ( most probably the cause of the flare with all the stress and physical demands of looking after her needs while she believes me to be fit and well and has no understanding of my condition!!). I have had six months without access to social media, my choice, when news from all around was so stressful.

I haven't ever succeeded in getting below 7.5mg and the GP is ok with that at the moment especially as he recognises that I am in a state of constant anxiety, which we all know is a great contributor to PMR. Plus I find the winter cold gets into my jaw and face and I hunch my shoulders when I'm cold. With three dogs and a pony to care for I am out in all weathers so I guess I should expect that.

It's good to be back in touch with the forum, I've missed my PMR family

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zebedee44]

Have you had to move home too? I know what you are facing - almost. My MIL moved to live with us when we returned to the UK from Germany so that side is similar - but she was my MIL and that did make it easier to be detached from the entitlement! All the best!

[Zebedee44 in reply to PMRpro]

i have joined a shared home restoration project in a beautiful part of East Kent with my mother and sister/ brother in law. I needed to escape from a nasty situation with a neighbour in Wales so this offered me a new start, but my mother was diagnosed with cancer last summer and everything has been about her since then.

I think I have been pretty lucky in my PMR journey so. Far, and I certainly believe the active lifestyle has helped, it's just the stress that brings back the pain.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Zebedee44]

Goodness! You have a lot on your plate. I cared for my mum who had frontal lobe dementia for 7 years. This was definitely one of the precipitating factors for my PMR. It sounds like you could do with some assistance. Hard though it is and your mum will be very resistant, it really is no good you going under. Can’t you get a horse crazy young girl to assist you with mucking out and grooming your pony and perhaps walking your dogs?

You need something in the mix that is just for you.

This is the only social media I do and even it can feel a bit agitating. 🌼

[Telian]

Good to see you back Zebedee - you’re still plodding on as are lots of us - I fully commiserate re your caring duties - I have those and we actually don’t count in the eyes of our charge most of the time! You’ve also got your animals - you certainly have your work cut out there!

Take care x

[Zebedee44]

Thank you. I honestly believe the animals have helped me keep active and fit, and they do relieve my stresses albeit taking a lot of my energy. I can pace myself in managing their demands but I just can't seem to pace myself for the unexpected and often extraordinary demands of my elderly parent.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Zebedee44]

Tell me about it!!! You do learn the coping strategies but it does take time xxx

[Rugger in reply to Zebedee44]

Lovely to hear from you again, Chrissie, welcome back to the fold! Jane has made really good suggestions about getting help with your mother and the animals. This might reduce your stress levels and give you more quality time both with and without your mother. "At our age" most of us have had elderly relatives to consider and the demands put stress on us that the PMR can feed on.

I can't comment on Meloxican, but when I flared (again!) a month ago, an increase in pred from 4mg to 10 mg did the trick and took every bit of pain away for the first time in over 2 years. I'm now down to 7mg and will stay there for 2 more months on the advice of my Rheumatologist.

Keep popping in to read the posts now that you're back!

[Zebedee44]

Good to hear from you too. How long did you take the 10mg dose for Sue, before you started to taper again? I have been upping my daily dose to 10mg for just 3 days before returning to 7.5mg, perhaps that's not enough.

I still take 1/3 rd of the dose at bedtime and the rest in the morning, that seems to work for me.