How Is this possible. .... 30 mg to 3mg in 10 months?

[Paperroses]

I'm worried about my friend's health. I'm going on year 3 and down to 6mg prednisone. She is very quickly reducing right now like 1mg every 2 weeks. No pain ,No flares. I'm not sure she was diagnosed correctly with pmr and worry about her adrenals in the future. She had stiffness in arms and legs before treatment and has never felt any pain once she started on prednisone. Is this pmr or something else or did she just get a very mild case?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

If the underlying disease process that created the inflammation is at a very low level then it is easy to reduce to a low dose - you only get stuck at the very end. 1 or 2 mg pred can often be enough.

However, there are several versions of PMR and it is fairly obvious that one is short-lived and possibly similar to a reactive arthritis which patients develop in response to a (usually) bacterial infection somewhere else in the body. It is said that one in five patients is able to get of pred in under a year - maybe she is one of that group?

[Paperroses in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you, Im just worried for her. I know what Im experiencing and the struggles I see from others here.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Paperroses]

Yes but you must remember the majority of people are on here because they have issues. If they are like your friend they have no need for this forum, and probably wonder what all the fuss is about.

I joined with GCA - after a long and tortuous time pre diagnosis mainly because I’d never heard of it, didn’t know anything about - just to learn really.

Once on Pred my next few years were relatively easy ..all things considered, and compared to others.

Both diseases seem to have their own variants - and peoples bodies cope differently. If you have other underlying illnesses that just makes the whole thing more difficult.

[diana1998]

I know someone who started on 15 mg and reduced to zero in just over a year recently. Mind you she now has aches and pains again but blames them on the booster. Her head is permanently in the sand and she doesn't want any advice. She hated pred and was desperate to be off it. Very short sighted I'm afraid.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to diana1998]

Remembering my own years of PMR without pred - I can't help feeling anyone who really refuses to take it can't have it bad enough!!!!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

Ditto GCA…

bit like the old adage about the flu versus a cold…if you see a £50 note on floor and bend down to pick it up you’ve got a cold, if you can’t be bothered, you’ve got the flu!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I had a reminder yesterday - had to go into town for legal stuff and was standing about for 10-15 mins outside waiting for someone. Then I had to walk around town to go to various places. It was cold (below freezing) and foggy, really quite damp, so no sun to warm things up. All of me was warm enough except my thighs and as time went on it was harder and harder to walk. Once home I sat for ages with a hot water bottle before I didn't feel so stiff. Paracetamol didn't make the slightest difference. Sun's out today thank goodness!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to PMRpro]

As we often say, cold and damp..draining; cold and sunny quite liberating…..Please note said ‘quite’!

Hope you have a better day….😎

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to DorsetLady]

I do feel less like the Tin Man this morning

[AshPen9 in reply to DorsetLady]

That's exactly what my rheumy said when describing the difference between tiredness and fatigue. He's right!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to AshPen9]

Yep!

[Sharitone in reply to DorsetLady]

😀 but I think some people would pick up anything no matter the cost. I was recently driving away from the surgery when I saw an old lady on the pavement, covered in blood. It turned out she had bent down to pick up an elastic band despite having to walk with sticks!

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Sharitone]

😳