Possible PMR Diagnoses: Phoenix,Az

[isaacbernice]

My journey started 4months ago, all of a sudden felt achy and had shoulder pains problems getting up from a chair. Would wake up in middle of nite with odd pains all over. No fatigue, weight loss, or loss of appetite. Stiffness across lower back and can not sleep on right side at all. have a lot of discomfort if I do... also changes in weather cause more discomfort along with going to a higher attitude. My concern is this PRM? I was started on Prednisone 20mg 5days ago and I don't feel any response yet. Is this common all my lab were in normal range a Rheumy started me on the Prednisone. My GP had started me on a Medrol dose pack also three months ago with no response either. Has any one else had these experiences with PMR and Prednisone?

[piglette]

It does sound as though it may not be PMR if steroids do not seem to be working at all. In my case I had a miracle happen soon after I started taking them. Has your GP considered other things such as fibromyalgia etc...?

[isaacbernice in reply to piglette]

Thank you for your reply. I saw a rheumy as of last week and he is the doctor who thinks its PMR and prescribed the prednisone 20mg. I have as of today put in a message to him with the lack of response that I have had thus far on the prednisone 20 mg. Perhaps I'm in denial due to not wanting to be on prednisone!

Thank for you for your insight.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to isaacbernice]

It can need up to 25mg, it can take up to 2 weeks. See my other reply

[piglette in reply to isaacbernice]

I think even if you were in denial pred should have some effect. As PMRPro says you may need a little longer.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I'm not familiar with the "medrol dose pack" - how high is the starting dose and how long do they last? Some peope need more and longer - are you a big person?

[isaacbernice in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your reply ,Medrol dose pack is a steroid blister pack that is given as a loading dose of 7 tablets 4mg each 28mg day 1 and than each day for 7 days the initial dose is dropped by 1 tablet each day for 7 days! Some Patiensts also get a robust effect from this regimen! I'm 5"3 and 143lb small boned>

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to isaacbernice]

That might work - but might not. Medrol didn't work well for me - I'd had great results with never more than 15mg prednisolone and then subsequently prednisone. Medrol didn't "feel" right from day 1 and I ended up going up to 20mg Medrol and even taking it at night it wasn't until lunchtime I had any relief. I also had quite bad adverse effects - that I have never experiences with either form of pred.

But I do think your doctor may need to do a bit more digging because you are defiitely not having the "typical" response that has been taken as one of the criteria for a PMR diagnosis.

[spearce]

It took me 8 days to respond to pred (15) and my Rheumi said this can happen if you have had PMR for some time without being diagnosed.

[Thelmarina]

It took me a week on 25mg to get relief, quickly dropped to 20mg. Now on 9.5mg three years later and stiffening up - but then I’m 73....I’d try it for ten days or so at 25mg before giving up. Good luck!

[Charlie1boy]

I was started at 20mg. Didnt help a lot, so, after six days I was put up to 30mg.

That did work, and after three weeks at 30mg, I began to taper.

We are all different; what works quickly for some can take a longer time for others.

Good luck

Paddy

[katiemills]

I felt very little relief after 5 days of 15 mg , increased to 25 mg and a week later increased to 30 mg . Also I didn’t loose weight or my appetite- but I certainly had ( still have ) the fatigue .

[Whitner]

Wondering if you’ve gotten any relief to date isaacbernice. It was a few days on 20 mg of prednisone before I felt great relief.

[cranberryt]

Most people experience at least 70% relief of symptoms within 7 days, but for me I had some relief in a few hours with 85% within 24 hours. If you don’t have high blood results and don’t have a response within a week, I would probably want the dr. to look for other possibilities. You certainly don’t want to be on long term steroids if you don’t need to be.