PMR Update and tapering

[jensen0518]

A big thanks to everybody

Brief background was diagnosed in December 2018 with PMR moving forward to now I am now taking 3 mg of prednisone I have been tapering down 1 mg every month and that was doing great until this weekend when I was supposed to taper down to 2 mg. On Saturday took 2 mg and later that day my left thumb started to hurt so Sunday I took 3 mg and Monday I have taken 3 mg. In past the first signs I had of flare up was my fingers started hurting. My plan is to stay on 3 mg this week hoping my thumb feels better if all goes well I will try and taper only a 1/2 mg. I do try to go to gym daily and am also training for a 10 mile race in May so I will do runs of 4 or 5 miles.

Does my my plan sound ok or should I stay on 3 mg to after my race? Is it possible that I might just have arthritis?

Thank you

Jim

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

TBH as such low levels there is no rush to reduce, and I would give the 3mg a couple of weeks. But 0,5mg per month or every 2 months sounds a better plan.

You are reducing to find the LOWEST dose that controls pain, not relentlessly to zero.

[jensen0518 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you will stay on 3 mg for a couple of weeks

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Stay on 3mg for a while and be very pleased you have got to such a low dose before hitting a hurdle. You are not reducing relentlessly to zero - you are looking for the lowest dose that manages the symptoms as well as the original starting dose did. It sounds as if for you, at present, 3mg is that dose. It doesn't mean you won't get lower. Just not yet. At this level you have almost no potential adverse effects and there is no risk in staying there for a month or two.

And from here it should be 1/2mg at a time.

[jensen0518 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you I am going to stay at 3 mg till at least the end of the month

[Robin0449]

Hello Jen,

I was on Prednisone for two years. Started at 20 mg and tapered slowly until I was down to none. The tapering went well, however within two weeks I had a flare and my symptoms were as bad as when I was first diagnosed with PMR. My Dr put me back on 10 mg for two weeks, with instructions to cut down to 5 mg in two weeks. That didn’t work so I am currently on 8 mg until my next appointment in two weeks. Dr said some people need to remain on Pred forever. Hoping I am not one of them. God luck with your journey and don’t be afraid to speak up at the first sign of a flare. Catching it early is best.

[jensen0518]

Thank you so much as of now 3 mg is working for me hate to go any lower