Hi everyone, I have managed to get down to 5mg again, but suffering a bit.
About 2 months now and don’t get the exhaustion but arms/legs sometimes feel like lead and ache. Hips / back if walking or standing too long can be a killer !
Just wondered if anyone takes pain killers on a regular basis while reducing ?
5mg isn’t too bad long term ?
I don’t take painkillers but I have some from the Docs. Also can you take Ibuprofen while on Pred ?
I can’t believe it’s almost 4 years now with PMR 🥳🥳🥳☹️
Hope everyone had a good summer 😎
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jules1955
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There really is no virtue in getting to 5mg and suffering to stay there if 6mg is better. If you have flared at 5mg a couple of times, that is your body telling you you have arrived - and possibly even overshot!
Anything below 7 or 8mg is accepted by good doctors as good for a more long term stay. If you are slightly too low and there is left-over inflammation each day it will just buid up over time - the bucket will fill and overflow and you will find yourself back where you started. Adding 1 or 2mg now may save you having to go back to the beginning!
Thank you PMRPro, as usual telling it like it is and realistic !
My brain says “ just reduce you will be fine “ sometimes the body
doesn’t agree. Soooo as the dose of 6/7 isn’t too high and shouldn’t cause
too many probs, stick with it for now and at least don’t have to take any painkillers.
I am at 6mg and have been for a year this month. I tried to get to 5.5mg then thought take the bull be the horns and do 5mg using a Dsns plan. No joy.. the rheumy said fine most people he sees struggle at 5mg. I have been ok PMR wise. Had good days and bad when I thought I might need 7mg. But apart fro. A few mistakes taking a double dose am ok....just a fibro flare. I see rheumy November or December so will see what advice is then. If 6mg did not control aches and pains of PMR I would increase.
If you think the pain and stiffness is PMR pain and you are beginning to struggle you may need to increase a little again for a while longer.
But , if you think it may be non PMR pain , for muscle tiredness or weakness , then you could try Paracetamol rather than Ibuprofen.
You could also try using a heat pad or cooling lotion , depending on which feels more helpful especially on your hips and back.
And trying some light stretches and joint rotations a couple of times a day, especially in the morning or if you feel stiff, in case part of the problem is from muscle tightening.
Are you taking Magnesium in a supplement ?
This can help with the pain .
And keep an activity diary for a couple of weeks to see if there is a pattern to your pain. It could also be that you may be doing something that disagrees with you , or you might have started to do too much because you felt more energetic on a lower dose.
I too got down to 5mg last year for a few months then flared. Back up to 9mg. Slow taper to 6mg. We are currently in Rome , havingwalked each day began to feel pain in back and shoulders. Have upped to 7mg and taken paracetamol. It has helped. Was pleased with my stamina though. On average 5 miles a day!! 😊😆😊😆
You are so beautiful!!!! Love that picture! I'm down to 4 mg and I know the ladies on this forum say not to take Ibuprofen but... I did take 100-200 mg Ibuprofen at night and did wake up more refreshed. My aches and pains were pretty light though. It depends how much you are hurting. It is scary though to take Ibuprofen and Pred because both can damage your stomach. Even though I made sure I took it with food, I don't take it anymore on a regular basis. I agree with everything the ladies are saying. Extra supplements work really well too.
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