Day 11 and counting

[Ainenicaodha]

Day 11 I am back working from home, have loads of energy and focus and no pain. GP has me on 15mg for another week and then tapering to 12.5mg if everything continues well. Able to walk a fair way now (about 2km) although I had lost quite a lot of muscle so I am building it up slowly. Also doing stretches to improve my flexibility and beginning some strength work with my Personal Trainer. This forum is so good - it is great to read about all your experiences and know that I am neither alone nor unique - although at 58 I am one of the youngsters!! LOL!

[SnazzyD]

I was diagnosed with GCA at 54 and there are a fair few of us about. It is great you have experienced the miracle of Pred! 4-6 weeks on this symptom calming dose would be good, to make sure the inflammation is under control. The idea now is to reduce slowly enough not to outstrip any reduction in disease activity or the pain comes back. The Pred is protecting you from the inflammation and the cure will come when your body stops attacking itself which is in its own sweet time, usually over 2 years. Pred at moderate doses often (not always) gives people that feeling of loads of energy so the trick is to be able to make sure your body gets enough rest because a lot of resources go toward the autoimmune activity. Safe to say, if you stopped the Pred, you’d be on the sofa like a limp rag. Exercise is important but again, here comes an annoying caution. You have not been on Pred for long and the muscle and Connective tissue effects won’t have kicked in properly yet. It is important that your trainer knows that they are not dealing with a normal out of condition body and avoid over working the tendons and ligaments. See how you go but the slightest hint of pain after exercising, often a couple of days after, cut right back because both PMR and Pred can increase susceptibility to injury.

I don’t want to rain on your triumphal parade, but neither do I want you to be discouraged if you have to deal with over doing it.

[Ainenicaodha in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for that! I was reasonably fit before this so I am trying to maintain a certain level of fitness, but I hear the cautionary advice!

[Thelmarina in reply to SnazzyD]

Excellent advice and a useful reminder that without Pred we’d be lying limp on our coaches!

[paulst955]

Tapering to fast will BRING BACK THE PAIN be careful going up and down with the pred is not good. 18 days then reducing is a very short time.

[Arflane97G]

Am on 2 mg of Pred, do yoga via zoom 4 x times a week but conscious how weak my left side in particular is - was consider a personal trainer. Would you say it is worth it? I know you have to get the right person!

[Ainenicaodha in reply to Arflane97G]

Absolutely worth it because we can tailor everything. I was a gymnast and competitive trampolinist in my youth and also spent years coaching so I have a good understanding of how the body works. I found that the PMR had really tightened everything, particularly round the pelvis and I am finding a combination of strength and flexibility work really beneficial. No high impact aerobic or running for me but I am considering sea swimming as I live on the coast - admittedly the north east coast of Northern Ireland so not the warmest!!!