Dealing with a flare

[WillOllier]

Had got down to 3mg Pred in mid December 2021 but had a flare and had to go back to 10 (8 would not do the trick) . 10mg relieved most of my pain/stiffness miraculously as usual, just some mild pain across my upper back. I planned to stay on 10mg for a week/10 days and then reduce back to 5mg and start the slow taper again. I've now been on 10 for 12 days with still some mild back pain. It does respond to paracetamol. Should I cut to 5mg now and continue to use paracetamol occasionally for the mild back ache or stick with 10mg for as long as it takes to be totally pain free? Many thanks as always.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I would - because if paracetamol does the job it probably isn't due to PMR.

[WillOllier in reply to PMRpro]

Great thank you, I will give 5 a try tomorrow and ongoing and see how I go.

[SheffieldJane]

I would see my GP just incase you have something else going on. This doesn’t sound typically PMR and confusingly Pred can help other pains. Our muscles can be very unforgiving during this treatment. I am just getting over severe rib pain from a sneezing fit a few days ago.

[WillOllier in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks for that yes I’m going to stay in touch with GP if this back ache continues. In Summer I had it along with acid reflux and got into a state resulting in a private appointment for an endoscopy. All was clear thank goodness but the upper back pain still persists although very mild.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to WillOllier]

Does Gaviscon help?

[WillOllier in reply to PMRpro]

I’m not having the acid reflux now . Looking back to Summer and chatting to GP think that might have been exacerbated by me getting stressed about the back ache !! I’ve been on Mirtazapine since august and since then all that acid reflux has calmed down . As noted before I play a lot of tennis and sometimes overdo it. I think maybe muscles are less tolerant due to PMR And that’s maybe why I get the mild back ache from time to time. Back in on 5mg pred now for 2 days and fingers crossed all is well!