Pmr

[Denbo51]

I started on 15mg and reduced every 4 weeks by 1 my im down to 4mg but flared up in neck shoulder mainly left side. I can hardly lift my left arm. I tryed 5mg but still painful so this morning gone backto 6mg. And good advice much appreciated 👍

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

See thispost for general advice about flares - healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

But if its only one sided could be something else?? Maybe try ordinary painkillers for a few days, before you increase Pred any more. Osteoarthritis or bursitis? or have you done anything that might have caused it?

Maybe when you do get it sorted, try reducing by 0.5mg once you get below 6-7mg...it becomes trickier as you get lower. Two reasons, the percentage reduction is higher (ideally shouldn't be more than 10% of existing dose) and adrenals need to re-awaken..

Plus you are not reducing relentlessly to zero you are trying to find the lowest dose that controls symptoms. Not sure how long you've been on Pred, but if it's since you joined in Oct 2020,then you maybe have gone below the dose your illness actually needs.

Post about adrenals - just for info -healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[Denbo51 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thankyou so much I think your right .I think I'll stay on 6 for a few days more and take it from there. I think 5mg is my limit.

[Nightingales]

The same thing is happening to me even on 15 mg. my G.P. has examined me and thinks it’s osteoarthritis at the top of the spine. I do have other spine problems. He says the spine drs won’t see me unless I have tingling or loss of use in my arms or hands but it is so painful. Maybe you could ask your dr for some xrays or MRI to rule out another cause.

[Hidden]

I only have my own experience to go on. I would say dropping 1 mg each time is too much. If 5 is ok then taper not reduce by this I mean 3 days on 5 then 1 day of 4 then back to 5 for three days next week 5 days of 5 two days of 4 and so on this means you take 7 weeks to reduce 1 mg. It will take 35 weeks to hit zero from 5. I used this method and went from15 to zero in 10 months I have now been off steroids for 11 weeks I have just had my blood test results today and everything is normal. Good luck.