Increasing Pred dosage and swollen fingers - PMRGCAuk

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Increasing Pred dosage and swollen fingers

Doraflora profile image
11 Replies

The last couple of days I’ve increased my Pred dosage from 4 mg up to 10 as I was experiencing pain in my shoulders and didn’t know if it was PMR or not, so thought I’d up the dosage for a few days to see how things went.

However, 2 days in and yesterday one of my fingers swelled up and this morning another one is going the same way.

Has anyone else had any experience of this or am I just a fluke? (My husband always says I’m unique 🤣!)

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Doraflora profile image
Doraflora
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11 Replies
PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

Swollen or "sausage" fingers can be a symptom of certain forms of inflammatory arthritis - which MAY present looking just like PMR in some patients. It is probably something to check out with your doctor.

Doraflora profile image
Doraflora in reply toPMRpro

I checked with my GP today about the swollen fingers and he said to slowly taper down again from the increased 10, reducing by 1mg a week! I’ve only been on the 10mg for 5 days (from my previous 4mg).

He said he was telling me this regime as he was “following the guidelines” but I could do what I want! I don’t know whether to continue with thr 10mg for another couple of days or reduce immediately.

My fingers haven’t gone down and I don’t want them to increase any more!

My pain has significantly reduced by the increase in the Pred, but I don’t want to continue with swollen fingers.

Any advice please?

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toDoraflora

If it hasn't helped there is no reason for you not to just go back to the old dose.

Where in the name of goodness to they get their "guidelines" from - You can take any dose of pred for a week and stop - no need to taper. TEN WEEKS to get off 10mg pred????

Doraflora profile image
Doraflora in reply toPMRpro

I thought that when he said it. He’s a new doctor at the surgery and sounds like he’s doing things “from the book”.

5mg tomorrow it will be then and hopefully the water retention will dissipate.

Oh, and I asked for an allergy test to find the cause of my itching skin, but he said a higher dosage of Pred can mask things, so I’ve got to wait 2 weeks from being back on my original dose before they can do a blood test. Hmmm....

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toDoraflora

It will damp it down if it is an allergy - any rash to be seen? Take pictures of everything you can - may come in handy,

Doraflora profile image
Doraflora in reply toPMRpro

Odd red areas which causes the itching. I’ve already sent in pics to them last week but the nursing practitioner put it down to dry skin🙄

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador in reply toDoraflora

They can tell that from a picture? That's clever!

Doraflora profile image
Doraflora in reply toPMRpro

Yep, my son calls situations like that bulls*** bingo🤣

DorsetLady profile image
DorsetLadyPMRGCAuk volunteer

Replied in previous thread, but as PMRpro says best to get it checked….

Pixix profile image
Pixix

Yes, but mine turned out to be inflammatory arthritis, I went to the doctor as soon as the swelling started. Good luck!

Doraflora profile image
Doraflora in reply toPixix

Thanks, Pixix. I’ll contact the surgery tomorrow

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