Prednisone

[Uglow]

Hi all Iv cut down from 12.5 to 11.1 now 10mg

My consultant wanted me to go to 12.5 to 10 in one go but I kinda followed advice on here.

I cut down over one month.

Iv bern on 10mg 1.5 weeks but I am

Getting a bit of hip pain again but not sure if it’s my back problem causing hip. Should i go up for a few days on keep going. Rhumi said stay on 10 for one month the down every month by I mg

I think I’ll come down 0.5. When I’m due to reduce and see! It’s so hard to tell if it’s referred pain from back or lower pred dose.

All advice is great.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

If Rheumy has recommended a month at 10mg then give it a bit longer to see if it settles - it may be steroid withdrawal, but would have expected it to go within a week if it was that.

As you’re not sure if it’s referred pain, might be worth trying ordinary painkillers.

Obviously if no relief, then you may have to go up to 11mg, but you don’t want to start on a yo-yo scenario early days - if you do it’s difficult to get out of.

[Uglow in reply to DorsetLady]

Than you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I would give it a bit longer and see if the hip pain stays the same - it should if it is from something else - or gets worse which would suggest the 10mg is not enough to manage the PMR inflammation and reducing further might not be a good idea. You will have to see how you get on.

[Uglow in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you

[Uglow in reply to PMRpro]

Iv have taken oxycodone paracetamol co codomol all over last few days with absolutely no improvement. I’m lost

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Uglow]

Then the most likely cause of the pain is PMR - and you need a bit more pred. It only works if you take enough.

[Uglow in reply to PMRpro]

Back to 12.5? For how long

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Uglow]

Until the symptoms are under control and then you reduce more slowly

[HeronNS]

I think the wait and see advice is good, especially as you indicate you have some pre-existing back problems. I've got a similar problem - is my painful neck/shoulder from OA or PMR? Have concluded that PMR is now under control because a single dose of acetaminophen and a good night's sleep, and neck and shoulder nearly normal again - no change in pred dose. It can be confusing , especially if the pain is referred from nerves in another place, like my shoulder hurting because of severe osteoarthritis (OA) in my neck.

Btw I had such bad hip pain when still undagnosed for PMR I thought I should be lining up for a hip replacement. One part of my body that x-rays show has no OA, however. Pain went away with highest doses of pred, returned as I tapered, and eventually a physiotherapist determined it was pain caused by extremely tight muscles in my back - she said they were like bricks! Therapy sorted that pain and to this day, nearly six years later, has not returned. One thing I did while I had the pain was to use heat, which helped - probably because it was relaxing muscles, although at that time I didn't also know to target the appropriate area of the back.

[cranberryt]

Generally pain within the forst few days of adjusting your dose is steroid withdrawal. Pain that shows up or remains after. few days means you are not getting enough.

[Karenjaninaz]

I am only able to reduce 1/4 mgm at low doses but I am able to shorten the interval some.

[Exflex]

Is the 11.1 a typo. Just wondering how you manage to get 1/10 of a 1mg tablet.

[Uglow]

Cutting and guessing