For the last few weeks (about 8) I’ve had discomfort in my shoulders - which felt it was like a rotator cuff issue. However, lately I’ve also had a stiffish neck (put it down to my pillow). And ... there’s more, I’ve also had lower bad discomfort on my right side, which definitely feels muscular, as we’ve been sitting on a lower sofa since we moved house and I’ve put it down to that.
I’m currently on 4mg of Pred, having just started tapering very, very slowly to 3.5, but with all these aches & pains I’m undecided whether to up it back up to 5mg, just in case it’s not muscular pain but the dreaded PMR reaching those particular parts.
I can say that the original pain I got when first diagnosed nearly 2 years ago went almost immediately once I started the Pred & has not returned since.
I’m loathe to increase the Pred, but it will only be a slight increase.
Advice from you wonderful people would be much appreciated
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Doraflora
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All very typical signs of the pred dose being very slightly too low.
Remember though - you are at a pretty low dose now, when you started that was probaly well more than you needed so worked quickly. Just going back to 5mg from 4mg may not be enough to get a dramatic result - maybe a few days at 10mg first would be the answer?
Hmm, I know what you’re saying makes absolute sense, PMRpro, but it’s a psychological thing I guess: I’ve not been on 10mg since my first few months of diagnosis. But I guess this blooming ailment is a case of 2 steps forward, 6 back.
I don't think you are much too low - but there is nothing psychological about the flare that could result!!
Never think of it as a backward step - you aren't heading relentlessly to zero, you are undertaking a process called titration to identify the correct dose for YOU and NOW. Just ike in chemistry, you do it by slightly overshooting and then redoing the final stretch extra slow to get the right answer. You have identified where too far is, And it could well be 4.5mg you need - but the few days using 10mg is just to clean up first. You aren't going back to that.
Why do you always talk so much sense, PMRpro. I wish you were my mum🤣
You’re so right. I’ll probably try the 10 tomorrow for a couple of days or so and see how the discomfort goes. I guess my reluctance is that if I’m on 10 and it proves not to be PMR in those parts of my body then I’ve got work to do tapering back down again. But I won’t know unless I try!
No - only try the 10mg for a week at most - it is meant to work well but you really are unlikely to need that much since you must have been OK at lest for 5 months at least. Once the discomfort you have now is gone, back to 5mg straight away and then you don't need to taper again, saves loads of time and it is a mistake a lot of doctors make, thinking they have to go all the way back to the start. If the 10mg hasn't worked inside a week it probably won't and it is probably something other than PMR that needs a different approach.
It's nice to know someone thinks I talk sense - my daughters don't!!!!
Well, 2 days into the increased Pred dosage, and I’ve noticed one of my fingers has swollen quite a bit. Have you heard of this before - or experienced it yourself?
…and cheaper…if it needs to be put back together. Happened to hubby when he was playing football! He was more worried about my reaction when army doctor told him it need to be cut off. But he made a nice clean cut, was repaired and I’m now wearing it - some 40 years later!
Tbh, I’ll only contact my GP if things got worse with the swelling, as I’m starting to feel embarrassed about how many times I’m contacting the surgery lately. If it’s not been my “hives” complaint it’s been my BP, or my weight loss, or my raised ferritin level, etc, etc. I’ll end up,getting struck off their list!🤣
Very true indeed! Until my PMR diagnosis 2 years ago I never took any medication at all, or hardly contacted the doctor, so guess it is payback time now.
Mmmm - but that is for a whole year - not so much when you consider that is to pay for the running of the entire practice with all the services. OK if it a patient they never see - but a lot are there frequently.
On the lower sofa issue: I've had all sorts of thigh pain since having to sit around more, and have often tracked it down to the hardness/softness/height of chairs/mattress/ shoes. So it may be worth adjusting that sofa as well as the meds!
I had hip and thigh pain a couple of months ago whilst using an unusually low chair. Once our reupholstered suite arrived it disappeared. Let's hope that your new suite brings similar relief!
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