Should I increase Prednisolone

[firesetter]

Hi all,

Been on my short pmr journey since beginning of September, I have been taking 15mg Prednisolone for 2 and a half weeks , initially symptoms eased dramatically but for the past week have been regressing back to not far off pre steroid levels, especially the dreaded 3-4am slot and then very little relief until after lunch. Should I increase my dose as 15 does not seem to have enough effect ? ,have not got a doctors appointment until the 4th of November, but am going to try for a phone appointment today.

I am up for the fight but its hard going at the moment !!!

Have a good day

[SheffieldJane]

I hope you get your appointment today. In your first post you correctly come up with all the solutions to your present predicament.

You probably do need a higher dose.

It would be worth taking your tablets early in the morning, to see if this improves things.

You must acknowledge your illness and pace your activities and take plenty of rest. In order to do this you must accept a change in lifestyle for the duration. I acknowledge that this will be hard and frustrating for you.

If I remember correctly, a lot of experienced people responded to your first post and gave you good advice. Have another look.

Sometimes our biggest obstacle is the inability to accept that this has happened to us. Sometimes we gain the insights as to why we were brought to a halt in this way. I for one have found this valuable. Wishing you all the best.

I am concerned that you feel as if you have gone back to symptoms from your pre- Prednisalone days. It may be that you need further investigation to ensure that there isn’t something else going on.

[firesetter in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thank You

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you been resting/pacing as much as possible? I assume you are fairly well built with lots of muscle? 15mg may well not be enough - but since it did work to some extent at the start it is a bit concerning that the pain is getting worse not better. Have you any additional things appearing besides the early morning stiffness and pain? How early are you taking the pred?

Really - you can't do better than to go back to your previous post and all the responses then, they have covered everything really. I assume too it was your GP who started you on 15mg - and that you could see THEM urgently/as an emergency? If they are unaware of latest guidelines over dose show them this:

rheumatology.org/Portals/0/...

Recommendation 3

[firesetter in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for the reply, I take pred at breakfast 7-30 , its hip pain ,leg muscle and top of left arm/shoulder that gives me most grief.

I agree with you about pacing / rest ,I am my own worst enemy for this and will work through pain and stiffness just through shear bloodymindedness ,I have to change the way I go about things I know but being relatively young, and trying to live life as "normal" and am finding it really hard to accept in these early stages.

Need to have a serious word with myself !!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to firesetter]

You do! I was only 51 when PMR started - I know what you mean. But kicking against the traces just upsets the apple cart and makes it worse.

And DO try taking the pred sooner in the morning - no wonder it takes so long to work.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to firesetter]

You do need to have a serious word with yourself - but we all know that’s not always easy!

You can’t “go on as normal” - you need to adjust your lifestyle - even small changes will help!

You might be up for the fight, but at the moment PMR holds all the killer punches! So a bit of easing off the pedal - and pottering along in the slow (or at least slower) lane for a while - it works wonders. 😊

[piglette in reply to firesetter]

PMR is life changing and we need to accept this although it is difficult when you have been used to an active life. If you feel pain coming on STOP what you are doing and rest. In fact rest, rest, rest and pamper yourself.