OA, PMR and tapering

[visionatsea]

Diagnosed with PMR 12/18 and OA (imaging) and inflammatory (sample of inflammation) knee arthritis 6/19. Playing with grandkids in ocean resulted in inflammation above knee. Had tapered to 4mg/day, Dr recommended taking 20mg/day for 2 days, 10mg/day for 7 days, 7mg/day for 7 days, 5 mg/day for 7 days and then continuing tapering with 4mg/day for 1 mth. Is this too fast a taper? Should I return to the 10, 9, 8 etc mg/day approach? Thoughts?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

You don’t say you had a flare of PMR as such- just an increase of inflammation regarding knee.

You should be able to go down to 5mg easily enough - but you might want to stay there for a few weeks before you continue tapering.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It's fine as a short term use of pred to manage the knee inflammation - it's the same as they would use for someone else not on pred but they would then go to zero.