Upped Pred feb. 19 from tapering from 10 to 9...was up to 12 by feb. 27 which worked until March 13, upped again because of pain to 13 and now after yesterday’s excruciating pain, took14, ...better today, but wondering if I should up it to 15 for assurance...also curious about tapering when I return home on March 31...I hate the idea of another 6 months getting back to where I started the trip. Any advice appreciated...this site has helped me so much.
Pat
I am glad you’ve got some relief and rescued your vacation. The inflammation is clearly quite active. You may have to be very patient and taper down slowly. Obviously you still need the Pred. In my experience, hurrying is futile. If 15mgs mops it up, so be it. When you are well rested two well spaced drops of 2.5 may work to get you back to 10.
Hi there Pat. 😱
Rather than upping your Prednisone, have you thought of taking pain killers. ( paracetamol)
I see you wrote that you went 10to 9. I only go down by 0:5mg half. And that seems to work most times, but I always have paracetamol on hand to give that extra push when the pains come. Usually in the morning.
I take my Prednisone at 02:0am. ( advice of PMR/pro). It has worked for me very well. 🙏
What time of the day do you take your Prednisone?
You could be having withdrawal symptoms. Which is similar to our pmr. It lasts for a few days but you can help it, as I said, with pain killers.
Enjoy your holiday and I sincerely hope you will feel better asap.
Yulik
I am reminded of my days with prolapsed discs. I didn’t get complete relief with Brufen and cocodamol, but didn’t seek anything stronger as I concluded that some pain was beneficial, reminding my body that I had a problem, and therefore restricted my activities somewhat. I added into this the ‘alternative’ approach of chiropractic to actually deal with the problem.
Could it be that your initial increases of pred to counteract your increased activity and stress have made you feel better and therefore you have ploughed on with even more activity? Whereas what your body might need is the ‘alternative’ approach of rest and relaxation. Don’t forget the pred does it’s thing, we have to do the rest (pun intended).
If the above scenario bears any truth, then when you get home you may well be able to reduce again fairly quickly, but slow down as you approach your previous ‘norm’ or you’ll overshoot and flare again.
Absolutely right on...you know me so well!
Ah well, I see a ‘like soul’
As hubby says to me ‘don’t come running to me when you hurt your back!’ As if I could run!
But I try to curtail my activities to avoid his ‘I told you so!’
This afternoon I’m playing bowls. To compensate I am having a ‘nothing morning’. Lounging with radio4 and letting myself snooze as I drift. I can feel guilty.....but rephrase that as ‘treatment’ to excuse my idleness. Try it!
Unless Soraya is spot on , you may have to admit that this is probably NOT a flare due to reducing too far or too fast. This is a resurgence of disease activity - for whatever reason. You will have to reduce more slowly because you probably now have a new level of pred required to manage the inflammation. And you need to see your doctor.
I've been in such a flare since October - and still at 15mg since as soon I try more than a few days at 14mg, back come the symptoms.
I’m hoping it’s not for izzyart’s sake.
Shakespeare should have said “Disease flare, activity flare or reduction flare? THAT is the question!
Going through something similar myself. I know how hard it is to figure out what's causing what, what should I do and for how long??? it's The $64,000 Question! It's nice that we have each other to rely on here for experience and support. Best of luck to you. Janet
Yes indeed, nice and comforting.
Tapering while on Actemra
Taper advice please
Advice on Flare .
What is a flare ?
Flare?
