Aching fingers

[sewingscissors]

Hello to all my kind and helpful friends, my GP has put me back up to 10mgs Prednisolone as I wasn’t getting on too well with 8.5. After 3 days I am feeling worse, more achy, especially my hands which is new and very tired. I thought the 10mgs would make me feel better. I have only had telephone apps since my diagnosis, which I don’t find very satisfactory. Any suggestions? Liz

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It really begs the question whether it is "just" the PMR or even "just" PMR. It may be that this is a flare of disease activity rather than you just having gone slightly too low on dose.

Have you had hand pain before? I get wrist aches as a signal I'm flaring but everyone is a bit different.

[sewingscissors in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your prompt reply. I don’t normally have aching hands and wrists, so this is something new and rather a nuisance, as I sew and knit a lot! I will have to wait and see what happens. Liz

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sewingscissors]

Have you been doing more or possibly something a bit different recently - knitting or crochet rather than sewing or example?

[Blonde61]

Hi SewingscissorsI recently have developed pains in my hands and fingers and not sure why. I don't want to increase my dosage of pred so trying to work through it.

[manjan]

It does sound as if you may be having a flare, in which case you may have to up the pred until it settles down. I have had to do this more than a few times, but always manage to come down (slowly) again. This is a disease that pleases itself and we have to go along with it to some extent.

[sewingscissors in reply to manjan]

Thank you Manjan. That is helpful. I am finding it quite hard accepting that PMR is a disease that pleases itself. But I will try harder! I am going to ask my GP to refer me to a Rheumatologist, as I havnt ever had one and her knowledge is understandably a bit limited. All the best.Liz

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sewingscissors]

No guarantees a rheumy will be any better!

[sewingscissors in reply to PMRpro]

Oh well ! We will see. Thank goodness I have got all you lovely people 😊

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

Advice from the knowledgable on this site can be very helpful

[Ladyoak]

Hello Sewingscissors, I started on 30 mg and soon got to 10 mg, I tried to taper in the winter and was in pain when I got to 5 mg. A lot of people here suggested not to taper in the colder months. I went pack up to 7mg and feel fine. I shall wait until the summer and then see how I get on with a very small taper, perhaps to 6.5 then 6. mg. Hope you get it sorted it's so frustrating.

[sewingscissors in reply to Ladyoak]

Thank you Ladyoak. That sounds very good advice. I feel very reassured with all the great advice I am getting on this wonderful forum. Maybe I don’t need a. Rheumatologist! All the best Liz

[Ladyoak in reply to sewingscissors]

No problem, I think we just need to take it slowly. I couldn't believe it when they said it would be a year or more and I am still here but getting better with it. I am fit and well and just doing it very slowly now. Keep in touch, it's great to know how people are doing. Now I can swim and do all my sport again, I feel much better but still taking it steady. xx

[sewingscissors in reply to Ladyoak]

Hi Ladyoak. Today I am feeling really rough, so achy and tired, I suppose it’s a flare, combined with a spell of AF, which I get from time to time. Everything is such an effort, but I need to keep going as my husband has his own health issues. I sometimes feel I should “snap out of it” which is probably due to my childhood, but I can’t, I try to get on with things and then am even more “wiped out”, which doesn’t help anyone! Sorry to moan, any advice anybody? Perhaps tomorrow will be better day. Thanks for listening. Keep safe. Liz x

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sewingscissors]

Know exactly where you are coming from - I also have intermittent a/f and OH has been pretty ill and is very frail so it's all down to me, But I just say no when it gets too much - except the half hour up to 6pm which is when I have to make his meal - and all too often I have an a/f episode then!!! Standing and preparing food is no fun!

[Joanbill13 in reply to PMRpro]

Sorry to hear you have problems ☹️