Going away this weekend and in pain. What shall I do?

[MiloCollie]

Started PMR journey on 15mg pred last May 2021. 15mg was great. Down to 7mg but last few weeks am struggling. I had a bad cough/cold most of January and put my aches and pains down to that. I have a (strange - not pulled muscle) lower back and pelvic girdle type pain. It feels a bit like stiffness and a plank is nailed across my lower back I know pelvic girdle pain is common in pregnancy and I DO carry all my weight at the front but haven't put weight on recently. I have LOST about 7 pounds in the last month. I did put weight on in Dec from a holiday and of course Christmas so was that the start of it?? Was it a fast weight gain and strain on all the areas that have to hold me up when I move?

Sometimes the pain is also in my ribs and chest and my upper arms are sore in a muscular way which was the original symptom of PMR that took my to my doctor. But the arms are nowhere as bad as May 2021. However my hip stiffness when standing up and walking like Frankenstein's monster is back.

Last week I tried strong co-codamol one morning which didn't really help. The next day I took Ibuprofen which also didn't help. I then thought I'd push my pred up to get some relief then drop back (maybe I should have done this when my cough/cold was around, which I didn't). I took 10mg daily for 4 days and didn't feel any benefit so I dropped back to 7mg last week. I also tried some exercises for lower back pain - no improvement after 4 days of that either.

I'm going away this coming weekend where I will be doing a lot of walking. AS I feel at the moment I won't manage it well and am sick of being in pain. I'm only 52 and my 70 year old best friend has more go in her!

Last August I had to increase my pred as I was having a lot of issues with stress, pain and fatigue and I was going to an event and it worked wonders. I'm thinking of taking 12.5 or even 15mg of pred between now and next Monday because maybe the blast of 10mg wasn't enough?? You often see on here to increase to where you last felt good which was 7.5 mg but that was on holiday in the sunshine and not following a rotten cough. That's why I tried 10mg , thinking I would be easily covered but no help. What do you think you fabulous experts?

Many thanks

[piglette]

Upping the dose by 5mg is often a good idea to hit the PMR on the head before reducing down again. The fact other painkillers do not work does point towards it being PMR pain and not enough steroids.

[MiloCollie in reply to piglette]

I think it's ME that needs hitting on the head!! So that would be 12mg? Yes that sounds good. Thanks piglette. x

[piglette in reply to MiloCollie]

I suppose by hitting you on the head you would not know what was going on with the PMR!!

[MiloCollie in reply to piglette]

😂 that’s one way to deal with it!

[piglette in reply to MiloCollie]

??

Boing!

[Hidden in reply to MiloCollie]

Why don't you stay on 15mg for a month.....mop up all the inflammation. The first day I took mine the pain went away within an hour. Sadly, GCA happened, so had to increase to 40mg. Been a little up and down in the past two and a bit yrs. Currently taking 8mg but will stay on that for a month and every mg after that for a month. Really would love to be off Pred in three yrs. Your're very young to have PMR, but there are few fifty year olds on the forum that have it too.

Good Luck

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Because after a month you have to restart a slow taper.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Actually the recommendation is to add 5mg to the dose you last felt alright - so in your case that would be 12.5mg….. so12mg near enough…

However I would be careful on your days away, just because you’ve upped your dose, don’t assume you’re going to be on top of everything…you’ll be trying to dampen down built up inflammation and increasing your activity levels at the same time.

Just explain to others (preferably before you go) that your illness is flaring so you may not be able to do everything they are doing - but you want them and you to enjoy yourselves, so if you have to sit and rest at times so be it!

Don’t need to make a big deal of it, but they will be aware, and you won’t feel you have to push yourself.

When I had GCA I told both my children that, and they accepted it….

No issues, no embarrassment on either side.

[MiloCollie in reply to DorsetLady]

Excellent point DL and thanks for that reminder. It's just me and hubby and he DOES understand. I won't push myself physically but hopefully have less pain so I'll be more fun to be with sitting in a country pub! I'll do 12.5mg, thanks.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to MiloCollie]

Spot on with the country pub!

I always managed to find a coffee bar or restaurant when on holiday in Spain with son & family ……or in NZ with daughter!

[MiloCollie in reply to DorsetLady]

Haha. Oh I already know of 3 nearby! Thanks for making me feel better. Fingers crossed!!

[Suedeshayes in reply to DorsetLady]

Hi DL. How long would you stay at the higher dose, and then you just drop back to dose that worked without tapering? Sue. x

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Suedeshayes]

Anything between 5-10 days …but no longer than 14 days otherwise your body might object a little. I would see how you feel after a week…but you need to make sure you got things under control - and then drop down to just ABOVE the dose that caused you to flare. Stay there for long enough to know all okay before you restart taper.

[Suedeshayes in reply to DorsetLady]

Great, thanks, that’s exactly what I needed to know. Sue xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think you are in denial - your 7mg isn't quite enough and you are letting the inflammation build up, And there is enough accumulated to need more than 4 days to sort out.

DL's said it all ...

[MiloCollie in reply to PMRpro]

Straight to the point PMRpro and I wouldn’t expect anything less😂 I’m giving myself a big kick up the bum as we speak.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MiloCollie]

Not TOO hard ...

[Sharitone in reply to MiloCollie]

I wonder whether Piglette will find a picture for that!

[Nextoneplease]

Hi MiloCollie 😊

I can’t add to the great advice given, but just wanted to wish you a lovely weekend away. Keep warm, it apparently getting colder ❄️but sunny, so should be great xx

[MiloCollie]

Oh Thankyou. Can’t wait.

[MiloCollie]

Oooooooo I think it’s going to work!! I took a 5mg tablet an hour ago and can feel the inflammation dispersing across my lower back already. So that’s 12mg I’ve had in total today. Here’s to 12.5 tomorrow morning and a big step on the learning ladder about MY PMR! Thanks all.

[Nextoneplease in reply to MiloCollie]

Oh, that’s great 😊Wishing you well xx

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to MiloCollie]

Good….

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to MiloCollie]

It's that learning process that is most important

[Hankb]

Hi MiliCollie. I see you've had sound advice from the experts I just want to wish you well. Enjoy your weekend break and take the advice of the group and don't over do it. Best wishes

[MiloCollie in reply to Hankb]

Thanks. I will 😀