Injury then a flare.

[Sadie1024]

I got down to 5mg prednisone then got a knee injury. Approximately 1 week after the knee injury I started having neck and shoulder pain. I am not sure what to do now. Should I go up to 10mg for 3 or 4 days and then go back to five? Need advice from you all, thank you.

[SnazzyD]

How did you get the knee injury?

[Sadie1024 in reply to SnazzyD]

My pet goat got a little wild and used my knee for head butting practice.

[SnazzyD in reply to Sadie1024]

I was wondering if in the event you fell which could cause some tweaked neck/shoulder muscles and or a flare.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Was it a fall that injured the knee?

A study has shown that in some patients a fall can trigger a flare.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

They used a similar approach to what we suggests: add about 5mg to the dose at which you flare for a week and drop back to the original dose.

[Sadie1024 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you

[SheffieldJane]

Are you under the doctor for your knee injury? It plays havoc with the way you move and posture, giving rise to referred pain. I would be inclined to go up 5 mgs for about 7 days and then try to return straight back to your original 5 mgs. I hope this hasn’t spoiled your taper. If this doesn’t work, you may have to increase and then taper again. If your doctor is clued up on PMR, see what they say.

[Sadie1024 in reply to SheffieldJane]

Yes, I am seeing my doctor for my knee. My Rhuemy knows about the knee and bloodwork shows a little increase in inflammation. I just trust the people on this forum for advice.

[Hildalew]

If a one-off event happens to cause me extra physical or mental stress I confess I usually take a extra .5 or 1mg of Pred in my next dose - and I do the same if I am anticipating a really difficult meeting. BUT, could it be that you are moving differently because of the injury and your neck and shoulder muscles are now telling you that they are uncomfortable? Have you tried an 'ordinary' pain-relief pill? If the pain is PMR it will have no effect - if it isn't, it might just relieve the pain and there would be no need to take drastic action with your Pred.

[Sadie1024 in reply to Hildalew]

Thank you for your response. I tried pain medication and got no relief. Bloodwork shows inflammation is up.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sadie1024]

Then you are flaring up at the dose you are on - it isn't enough. It may only be a tiny bit too low but the leftover inflammation builds up slowly ...

[Sadie1024 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much.

[Sadie1024]

I went up to 10mg for 5 days, did no good, went to 15mg still can't sleep to much pain. I don't know what to do.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Sadie1024]

Speak to your doctor asap and get the blood markers checked again. It isn't right and it doesn't sound like just a bit of a flare

[Sadie1024 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank so much. I will call him Monday.