Flare of symptoms

[bakingD]

Hi all

PMR since may 2018-got to 5 mg Pred but struggled with painful shoulders both have been injected with steroids which helped a fair amount but still have very tender painful shoulders-paracetamol only helps a bit- otherwise am pretty fit -have upped Pred to 7 mg this am how many days should I take increased dose for??

Thank you kind people

[SheffieldJane]

It depends whether you are taking the increased dose to get you over a temporary hump ( then a week to 10 days and return straight down to 5 mgs) or whether you think 5 mgs was actually too low and didn’t cover the pain from the start. In that case I would stay with 7 mgs and taper when you are ready by 0.5 mgs a week.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Probably for some time - the 5mg very probably wasn't quite enough and you need to get rid of all the tenderness in the shoulders.

You aren't heading relentlessly to zero, you are looking for the lowest dose that does the job and that is probably at least 6mg and possibly more. I'd also taper from 7mg rather slower than 1/2mg per week - you need at least a couple of weeks at a new dose to be sure it is still enough or you will end up in the same boat again - shoulder bursitis is an integral part of PMR for some people.

[bakingD in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks am feeling more comfortable tonight xx

[piglette]

Take the 7mg and see if that is OK, if not you may need to up it a bit, if it is OK, it means you can start to reduce again.

[bakingD in reply to piglette]

Thanks there’s a limit to when pain is bearable!!am feeling better from the 7 mg

[piglette in reply to bakingD]

That sounds good news. Hang on for a few days, see if you are still OK and then reduce again.