Natural remedies for reducing inflammation

[strawclutching]

Hello folks, Just wondered if anyone has tried Resveratrol and curcumin as anti-inflammatories when tapering off Prednisolone? I've found a few studies online that show good outcomes with few side effects.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You can try them - I have friends who say they could tell the differenece when they weren't using curcumim/turmeric in their cooking. Same with ginger. Reservatol - good studies are pretty inconclusive which also means there is no guide to doses that might be effective. It all depends who does the study - but it is unlikely anyone does strict clinical studies with such supplements.

Both can increase bleeding risk - so you may find bruising worsens and if you are on any anticoagulant theraoy they are not a good idea.

[strawclutching in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro. I'm not on any anticoagulants (yet). My Prednisolone is just at the first stage of tapering, so it'll be a while before and if I try these alternatives. Can't wait to get to get the dosage down though. So many side effects. My ankles are already swollen after 4 weeks, which is a sign certain nutrients are short and kidneys may not be functioning properly.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to strawclutching]

Try cutting salt in your diet - if I eat normally salted food I have the same problem. Three days on holiday and eating restaurant food is enough! Cutting carbs also has an antiinflammatory effect as well as reducing the risk of weight gain and developing diabetes on pred. And cutting carbs also helps with fluid retention.

[strawclutching in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro. I don't eat much salt at all, but will try to add less to my home made stews, etc. I already have insulin dependent diabetes so the Pred has made the carb/insulin juggling act much worse. Adjusting all my meds is a full time job at the minute.

[piglette]

Red wine definitely works! I would not take Resveratrol as a substitute though.

[strawclutching in reply to piglette]

Must admit, I do miss my red wine.

[strawclutching]

That's interesting. I read that alcohol increases inflammation markers, but I suppose everyone is different. How did they diagnose you if your bloods were normal?

[piglette in reply to strawclutching]

I was being facetious! I am not giving up red wine even if it is supposed to cause inflammation!

[strawclutching in reply to piglette]

We have to keep some pleasures!

[Thelmarina in reply to piglette]

Chin chin! 🍷🍷🍷😉

[Amkoffee]

Curcumin made me nauseous. Just because it's "natural" doesn't mean it doesn't have any side effects. For example, If you eat a hot pepper it will burn your mouth.

[strawclutching in reply to Amkoffee]

Was the circumin in the form of tablets or culinary powder? I can see I'll have to be cautious if and when I try it. Were you using it along with any medications, such as Prednisolone?

[Amkoffee in reply to strawclutching]

I was using tablet form. I can't remember for sure but I do believe I was using prednisone when I tried taking curcumin. I don't think I took them at the same time though. I am on a number of other medications so I suppose it could have been an interaction problem. But it is a common side effect.

BTW I just noticed your screen name. I love it.

[strawclutching in reply to Amkoffee]

Ah, strawclutching sounds a bit desperate, but everything's desperate at the moment.

[HeronNS]

I've started taking a little baking soda daily. You start with 1/8 teaspoon and work up to 1/4 teaspoon. I drink it in the glass of water I always have when I get up in the morning. I started because I have a lot of action going on with osteoarthritis at the moment, not because of PMR which is the merest simmer. Don't know if it is helping but certainly not harming. Apparently this has some action on the spleen, by calming a tendency to over-react and cause auto-immune inflammation.

[strawclutching in reply to HeronNS]

I didn't know the spleen was involved in autoimmune diseases, but as it's part of the immune system, that would make sense.

[HeronNS in reply to strawclutching]

Neither did I until learning about the baking soda remedy.

healthline.com/health-news/...

[strawclutching in reply to HeronNS]

Thanks for the link. I'm learning lots.

[Thelmarina]

One of my friends said drinking two teaspoons of good quality honey mixed with two teaspoons apple cider vinegar, was good for joints.

[Megams in reply to Thelmarina]

~Only problem with daily apple cider vinegar is that its tends to be too acidic. Need to keep our diet more on side of being alkaline with a balance - my gut is way better for it too.

[EnduranceEngine]

I've been following the Paleo Autoimmune Protocol (AIP). I find it's helping. It's pretty restrictive but you do get used to it quickly. I cut out the most inflammatory foods like seed oils, nightshades, and grains. I eat meat, fish veggies and fruits. No wine or chocolate (sorry) and no caffeine (again sorry). I tappered off pred in 64 days and I'm now off it for 72 days. I still have mild symptoms but totally manageable. I can do anything I need to around the house and garden. I can lift weights and run again. Cut down trees and split wood for the stove. I'm not 100% yet but I am not limited in any way. It may not be for everyone, but I think it's helping me. I'm just careful to make sure I'm very active and don't go to restaurants.

[strawclutching in reply to EnduranceEngine]

That's brilliant. You must be so disciplined. I've given up alcohol, caffeine (well, most) and I'm trying to limit my chocolate - that's a source of caffeine I know. My diet has always followed 'rules' being an insulin dependent most of my life, so I'm finding adding more rules very difficult.

[EnduranceEngine]

Well you really need to be in the mindset for sure. I miss quite a few things but not enough to risk the pain coming back. I'm lucky in that my wife bakes me grain free AIP goodies with cassava flour, banana flour or tiger nut flour (it's a root not a nut).

For your diabetes have you tried high fat low carb? That also is pretty good for controlling inflammation and it helps control glucose and insulin resistance. But again, more rules.

[strawclutching in reply to EnduranceEngine]

I haven't tried low carb, apart from when I was first diagnosed diabetic 40 years ago and the diabetes guidelines to diet were completely different to now. At the age of 26 they practically starved me even when I was pregnant. I presume by high fat you mean oily fish, etc, as I also have to be careful with cholesterol. I can only tolerate a 5mgs statin. Anything above and the room spins, I vomit, etc. so not good. It's certainly an alternative to consider if I can get calories that way rather than from carbs. How lucky you are to have a well educated baker for a wife! I must explore these flour alternatives and start baking again. Thanks for the valuable tips.

[Siral]

I’m also type 1 diabetic, so am used to watching what I eat. I’ve been eating low carb (not keto but still In nutritional ketosis) for 10 years but, unfortunately, it didn’t prevent my PMR. I’m also investigating foods to eliminate or add into my diet to tackle this new challenge. I’m 9 weeks in and currently on 10mg prednisolone.

[strawclutching in reply to Siral]

Hi Siral, can I ask what your starting dose of Prednisolone was and how quickly they tapered you down to 10mgs? My rheumatologist now wants me to drop 10mgs every two weeks because of the side effects I'm experiencing. I started on 40mgs but I also had GCA at the same time - I was unlucky. Did you find your blood glucose going haywire after starting treatment? This is an ongoing thing for me with no two days the same.

[Siral in reply to strawclutching]

I started on 15mg. After 3 weeks went to 12.5mg, another 3 weeks to 10mg, which I’ve now been on for 3 weeks. Will get results of my latest blood test in the next day or so.

Re the diabetes, I’m on a pump so set up a new ‘steroid’ basal profile with my educator, which made things a lot easier to handle. I also have CGM (continuous glucose monitoring) which means my pump alerts me when by BG level is getting too high or too low and I can act on it. This also makes it much easier to keep levels in range. As you say, diabetes is a full time commitment and no day is the same cos so many different things effect BG levels. 🥴

I had symptoms of CGA (sore jaws, painful head & side of face etc) 10 days before I was diagnosed with PMR but thought it was a neck problem so went to the physio. She massaged, and needled a few spots across my shoulders and gave me neck exercises, which I did. It went away but once I was diagnosed with PMR (and did some googling) I mentioned it my doc who was concerned so I had an MRA to check the head arteries - luckily the was all clear. How is yours?

[strawclutching in reply to Siral]

Are you in charge of the pump? I wear one of those Libre sensors on my arm and have been taking regular readings from that, but they're not as accurate as finger blood test strips. Some differ up to 10! I'm trying to limit my carbs to control the diabetes while on steroids, but I'm starving. Been eating nuts because I'm worried about cholesterol from meat and eggs. Also my GP told me to stop my evening acid blocker as I tapered the Pred, but I had a resurgence of acid reflux and several days later am still sore inside.

I had an ultrasound of my head and underarm arteries but it was done 4 weeks after I'd started the Pred so the blood flow was normal. Since I started reducing the Pred from 40mgs to 30mgs (was this too much at once?) on Saturday, I've noticed one side of my jaw pain has returned, which is a bit worrying. I have a telephone appointment with one of the GPs tonight so will discuss all this, but don't have much faith after the last advice I was given. My rheumatologist is not contactable. There's a helpline where you leave a message but no-one gets back to you. I'm so glad for this forum.

[Siral in reply to strawclutching]

That sounds rather disappointing- not being able to have contact when you want/need it. Is a GP supervising your pred doses? I’m very new to all this so am relying on my GP totally at this stage.

With my diabetes I’m almost the opposite. I’ve been let down by endos & educators who aren’t up on the latest ideas so I now heavily rely on support groups(like this one) and the DietDoctor website. It’s great talking with people who are living the disease rather than those who know the theory but don’t really understand the day to day stresses etc.

Usually I upload my pump info to my educator plus have a blood test every few months and I see my endo face-to-face annually. After being diagnosed with PMR I went & saw the educator and we did a new pump basal profile.

I’m yet to experience rheumatologists but will probably need to see one eventually.

I’m in South Australia, where are you?

[strawclutching in reply to Siral]

I'm in North east England, UK. I have a sister in Victoria, Australia, who stole the best genes from both our parents and left me with the scraps. My GP has been given the responsibility of handling my medication, but I never see (or these days speak to on the phone) the same one twice and their knowledge is only basic. They sent me on my way twice when I presented with classic GCA symptoms, saying it was a virus that would run its course. On the plus side, I did manage to speak to someone in rheumatology this morning - must have been before they switched on the automated answer service, and I'm getting a call back later today from a nurse.

Are you able to get out for exercise and fresh air? The only outings I've had in the last month are for hospital appointments. We're in strict lockdown here, so it's probably safer that way as we have lots of Covid rule breakers.

[Siral in reply to strawclutching]

Good to hear you’ve finally had some contact. Yes, we’re pretty lucky here re COVID so I’m walking most days and go to a weekly Pilates class. Victoria has been a lot more restricted than us in SA tho we’ve had a second wave this week that has put more restrictions on. Nothing like what you guys are having to endure tho.

I have a lucky sister too - no health problems and me with a double whammy of diabetes & PMR.

[strawclutching in reply to Siral]

That's good you're able to actually able to get out and see people. I must make more of an effort. I've a parcel waiting to go back and a letter to post so today may be the start. Do stay in touch and let me know how things progress with treatment. Good luck.

[Siral in reply to strawclutching]

It’s just been announced that we’re going to be under total lockdown for 6 days from midnight tonight, in an attempt to knock this 2nd wave, which hit on Monday, on the head. So no more walks for now - I’m home bound so hope it works.

I’ll let you know how I get on with my PMR. Good luck with your progress too.

[strawclutching in reply to Siral]

That's tough. Stay safe Siral.

[EnduranceEngine]

I should point out that I am not low carb, so those flours will be carby. But, no gluten. (I eat about 80 to 100 grams of carbs a day, sometimes around 40. This is not low carb, but definitely lower than the average person who eats around 300.

My wife is low carb/keto and she does very well on it. I've done it as well and it's not a difficult diet if you like meat (prime rib with roasted brussel sprouts for dinner, bacon avocado and eggs for breakfast). As for dietary cholesterol, that's not something you need to worry about anymore. There been some bad messaging on it. The American Heart Association even reversed it's long held statement on reducing dietary cholesterol. They no longer refer to it as a "nutrient of concern". washingtonpost.com/news/won...

Of course this is dietary cholesterol; there may be genetic reasons for you, and why your doctor is prescribing statins. They are hard on you, and there are side effects, but no one wants a heart attack either! My father is on them as well as metformin.

Keto and low carb won't prevent PMR of course but it can alleviate inflammation which could lessen the symptoms. That's been my strategy. I ate well and exercised, but I still got it. No idea why, but all I can do is try to deal with it as best I can.

[strawclutching]

I'm currently taking in around 150gms of carbs a day, so a bit more than you. Because of the cholesterol and statins concerns (the doctors I see still regard cholesterol intake as something to be warned against), I make chicken breast stews bulked up with 3 times the lentils -which of course contain carbs - to minimise fats. I also eat around 8 portions of veg and fruit. I like a small potato on my dinner, and I don't use those awful gravy granules which may taste nice but contain a whole laboratory of chemicals and transfats. I suppose it's just a case of trying things and learning along the way.

[Siral in reply to strawclutching]

Seeing your diabetic history, we’re pretty similar. I was diagnosed at 30 years and am now 66. For some good low carb info & recipes, check out ‘Ditch the Carbs’ website. It’s run by a New Zealand woman (former chemist), mother of 3, easy, quick & tasty recipes . For some up to date info on cholesterol google”DietDoctor podcast #27”

[strawclutching in reply to Siral]

I'll check that out, thanks Siral.