PMR reduction

[daffodilqueen]

Lovely to read all the info on PMR, I started 13 months ago on 15mgs Prednisolone. After some dissention with my GP about me not reducing quickly enough I spoke to another GP who advised to take it slowly. I have gradually reduced to 6mgs and tried to go down to 5mgs resulting in severe symptoms akin to when I first developed PMR. Have now increased back up to 6mgs and symptoms markedly improved. I also suffered severe foot pain and thought I had damaged my bones but remarkably the foot pain has now almost gone. Has anyone else experienced foot pain with PMR. I am now reluctant to reduce further advice would be welcome please.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I had severe foot pain with PMR - as if my shoes were lined with a mixture of pebbles, sharp stones and broken glass. And I was cramming my feet into shoes 2 sizes too small. Others have recognised the description!!

You are never reducing relentlessly to zero. You are looking for the lowest effective dose that gives the same symptom relief as the starting dose did. It doesn't mean you won't get lower than now, just not yet. Now I would try just 1/2mg at a time and preferably using one of the slow tapers we talk about a lot.

This is one:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

and there are links to some more in a Pinned Post.

[daffodilqueen in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much for your very informative reply.

[Koalajane]

I struggled at 5mg and have now got to 4.25mg (yes I even went to reducing by .25mg) I take it slowly

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

Taking Dead Slow to another level!!!

[Koalajane in reply to PMRpro]

Indeed but it is working

[daffodilqueen in reply to Koalajane]

Thank you for your comments

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Koalajane]

That was always the idea - it may be slow but if it avoids the use of a steroid sparer and its potential adverse effects it doesn't matter.

[Heron82]

Good morning, so sorry to hear about your feet and I sense your frustration. I think we all feel like that sometimes after living with this condition for longer than we'd like, or for that matter been led to believe.

Yes I too have foot pain, some days when I get out of bed I need to support myself to walk downstairs. I flex and stretch my feet and this helps to relieve the awful stiffness, but some days the pain persists and walking can be uncomfortable. About to give all of my lovely shoes to charity as I can no longer wear anything other than a sensible walking shoe.

My PMR resurged when trying to reduce form 7 to 5 mg, that was 2 years ago.

This forum is very supportive and helpful and there is so much good advice available from those in the know.

I wish you well with your journey and hope things improve for you soon.

[daffodilqueen in reply to Heron82]

Thank you