Is it possible for your sedimentation rate and CRP to be EXACTLY the same number, to the decimal point, after a month and a half? I'm thinking the lab goofed up because it seems like this wouldn't happen. I've been on prednisone for a month and eating a very anti inflammation diet.
CRP and ESR question : Is it possible for your... - PMRGCAuk
CRP and ESR question
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Coincidences DO happen. But so do mistakes.
What are the figures?
I never know what to think of these numbers. Last June they were in the normal range so my PCP dismissed the notion of PMR. In February when I was finally diagnosed, my CRP was 11.5 and my ESR was 37. I refused steroids at that point and went on the autoimmune protocol diet. In April, my ESR had dropped to 23, but my CRP had climbed to 20.5 and I was feeling much worse. A month ago, I went on steroids, 5 mg for a week and then 10 for 3 weeks. Tests taken on Thursday last week showed exactly the same numbers at first. I questioned the results and they just reposted. Now my ESR is at 21 (down slightly) but my CRP is to the decimal point the same, 20.5. I had been hoping these results might help me decide whether to stay at 15, which I posted an earlier question about, or drop back to 10 after 3 days if the pain in my back wasn't vastly improved but my numbers were lower. Now I'm just more confused.
I'd say stay at 15mg at least - because the 10mg is apparently not enough to take the inflammation down, just keep it about the same. That isn't what you need, and a higher dose is what you need to get it down. I'd be inclined to think you might even need a bit more to get a speedier result, The fact the CRP is stuck is more significant than the ESR - it is more likely to show what the PMR is doing. But until you see the doctor - stay at 15mg,
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Hi
Shouldn’t be - the Pred should have reduced both. Especially if the readings are pre and post steroids.
It is possible I suppose if both are post steroids, but unlikely that both ESR and CRP would the exactly same.
Perhaps a new round of tests would clarify!
I called the lab and they assure me everything is okay. They did repost the results and ESR went down from 23 to 21. CRP stayed exactly the same, at 20.5. I just increased my prednisone from 10 to 15 three days ago and per a previous post, was going to drop back down to 10 after 3 days if my back pain didn't get much better. But now, as PMRPro suggests, I'm going to stick with the 15 for a month until I'm retested.