Morning stiffness

[Mjhollywood1]

Hi everyone. I am on 2.5 mil predsone going into 2 years. The pain now between the shoulders (only had lower half before) only when I sleep in the before dawn hours !! Making not wanting to move been blowing off the gym every morning. It takes a good 2 hrs to get moving everyday. Still worked (running)10 hours a day. Should I up the dose would that help me in the early hours ?? And does anyone else have between shoulder blade stiffness. Thx. Mj

[Soraya_PMR]

When do you take your pred? 8am? You may find taking it earlier helps avoid the morning stiffness.

I take gastro resistant pred and take mine between 10pm and midnight, I know it takes about 4 hours to get into my system. I did try with plain pred at this time, and it was in my system too early, and I suppose missed the time slot. I went back to GR and got back on track. You will need to experiment with timings.

[Mjhollywood1 in reply to Soraya_PMR]

Does it keep you up at night ?? Predsone has a speeding affect in me. Thx I going to look into it !!

[PMRCanada in reply to Mjhollywood1]

I take mine at 2am with a yogurt tube or half banana. I take a split dose to provide relief throughout the entire day/evening (6mg at 2am and 3mg at 2pm). As mentioned it’s an ongoing experiment.

Regarding pain, I’ve had upper body pain for the last week and only made it to the pool once. Had a Bowen Therapy session yesterday that worked wonders. The hot tub also helps (when it’s warm enough outside to use it). Some folks find that Tylenol helps with aches, pain, soreness that may be caused by issues other than PMR/pred withdrawal. My latest sore sternum and pectoral muscles are likely due to being sick and vomiting one evening, or at least contributing to my aches.

You are very active....did you overdue some activity that may have caused your current sore back?

My inflammation (thus sore areas) seems to be travelling from my knees (Dec/17) up to my head (Jan/19). I’ve read that PMR, as the nature of the condition, can ebb and flow, flare over the course of its existence in your body, so this too might be an explanation.

Taking more pred will usually alleviate aches and pains organic, auto immune, etc, so if other remedies don’t alleviate the pain, you may want to try an extra mg or 2 and see what happens.

Sorry for the length of my reply. Hope you get some relief.

[Mjhollywood1 in reply to PMRCanada]

Thx I guess I am going up another mil to 3

Hate to do it. It took me months to get to 2mil . But I can’t work but bring able to walk around

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Mjhollywood1]

Try just one day at an earlier time? Before you go back up to 3mg? If you don’t get any more early morning relief you can always take the extra 1mg. It’s so dispiriting to lose ground!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mjhollywood1]

It is still well below the amount your body requires to function - the total amount won't change overall.

[Mjhollywood1 in reply to PMRpro]

I don’t understand Could you please explain ? thx Mj

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mjhollywood1]

Once you take a dose below about 7mg your body has to make up any dose to about that level which is the amount the body needs to function. Either you are taking it as pred or you take it as (say) 3mg plus the body making another 4mg equivalent as cortisol. Or 4mg pred plus 3mg of cortisol. It isn't quite a s simple as that but the amount of corticosteroid in your body remains constant.

[Soraya_PMR in reply to Mjhollywood1]

No it doesn’t keep me up. If I take it at 11pm, it’s in my body (stomach) but not in my system, that will happen around 3am-ish. According to my Fitbit, between 3am and 4am is when I get my deepest sleep. Obviously I have good nights and not so good nights (don’t we all 🙄)

My tips for a good night’s sleep, cut the caffeine; go to bed and get up at the same time; avoid close screens during the evening (computers); have a walk in the fresh air every day; don’t get overtired, so take a nap during morning or early afternoon, but not late afternoon or evening; don’t go to bed hungry. I listen to a comedy programme on R4 as I go to bed, takes me about 3 nights to finish a 30 minute programme!

When I was on 20mg I had more difficulty sleeping, but no real problems from 12-ish. I wouldn’t have thought 2.5mg after all this time would keep you too awake? I’m now on 6mg split 5mg/1mg, the 1mg in the morning seems to smooth my evenings, otherwise I get tired/stiff in the evenings.

Pain between shoulder blades/general upper back ache, yes. Usually evenings and I call it my ‘tired back’ although sometimes it’s associated with indigestion and a gaviscon helps.

[Marilyn1959]

Shoulder blade stiffness is a sure sign for me when tapering that my body isn't ready for lower dose of pred. Since my Rheumy wants me to taper quicker he has arranged for a pain 'blocker' scan led injection in between shoulder blades. Have yet to have it so can't tell you if it helps or not.

[YuliK in reply to Marilyn1959]

What medication is she injecting ? ( pain blocker)

[Pollyanna16]

Yes between the shoulder blades, I call it my bra strap area has always been my signal that the PMR is rearing it’s ugly head. Due to overdoing things, a virus etc etc & early morning is when I feel it most.

[9lives in reply to Pollyanna16]

Hi Pollyanna 16

I too get the ache between the shoulder blades area and also itching. The doctor say it is notalgia, I’d never heard of it but I get it when I’ve done lots of ironing or over done it.

Doctors says hairdresser are susceptible to it. !! Xx

Just wondering if this is why you discribe.

Hope it’s of interest to you x

Good luck 😉

[Pollyanna16]

Not heard of notalgia. Thankfully don’t experience the itching either, poor you. Had a horrible ache between shoulder blades most of last night after a busy day yesterday & feeding friends last night 😢. Bummer. So not a good nights sleep. Take care.