Suffering

[Noosat]

I believe I must be having a flare. Right now I am feeling very low. In eighteen months I had managed to reduce to 2.5/3 mg. Still a lot of stiffness and discomfit, but I was coping OK A week ago definite pain stated up in my thigh muscles, gradually getting worse. I have upped my dosage of prednisone to 5 and then to 10mg., however, I cannot walk/hobble without lots of pain. This morning I raised dosage to 15mg. Am I taking the right action? Both sides hurt, however, the left is worse than the right. Is this significant. Could the pain also be from osteoporosis or osteoarthritis?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You really shouldn't raise your dose by that sort of amount without discussing it with your doctor. Yes, it could be a flare and that is often how mine start but mine also usually respond to a small increase. There may be something else going on - although if you have been continuing to reduce despite existing pain/discomfort it may just be that the inflammation has been mounting up and has finally overflowed properly.

[Noosat in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for the prompt reply. I have an appointment with my doctor on the 22nd June. A few days before the visit , I will have blood drawn so he will have the results at hand. I realize I am older than most at 92 years of age. Even though I have always been vey healthy until this ailment, I consider that part, or a lot, of my deterioration has to do with this fact. I make myself move, yesterday cleaned my refrigerator and sat on a stool pulling weeds, after I took Lily dog for a short outing to the park. I wonder do I do more than my body is really capable of doing? I do try to rest quite a bit these days, but it is not easy.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Noosat]

I am just blown away by you. ⭐️

We all ought to sit at your feet and listen to your wisdom.

PMRPro gives sound advice.

[Phoenix51 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Agreed. Inspirational! 🥇

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Noosat]

I think a lot of us find that overdoing it and not overdoing it has a much narrower window when you have PMR, irrespective of age. And like it or not - age will catch up eventually. Another lady in her late 80s has now had to cut back on the gardening - although she did get back to her usual level when PMR went - doing things that were beyond me in my 50s with PMR.

But do bear in mind that a week at 15mg could hide the truth by brings markers down even if they are up now.

[nuigini in reply to Noosat]

Wow, you are a super star!! Hope you get things under control again soon. In the meantime you might want to slow down just a little.

[Jackoh in reply to Noosat]

Can’t believe what you’re doing!! You are a star⭐️ but just try pacing a little more. Best wishes to you. 💐