I have overdone it... what now?

[Mamamia21]

I am currently on 8.5mg of steroids and 15mg methotrexate and was doing ok. I have spent the week literally running around London trying to help my 22-year-old son find somewhere to live. (not been successful yet). We walked over 25,000 steps per day. On Thursday my neck pain started to get worse and I woke up this morning with pain down my right arm (have a feeling that it is because I have lain in the same position all night because of my neck).

My question is this. Because I know I have overdone it do I just sit tight at 8.5mg over the next few weeks and see if it settles down or am I back to increasing my dose again?

Your advice would be appreciated.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Might be sensible to increase by a couple of mgs for a couple of days (5 at most), you should then be able to drop back down again okay.

If you need to repeat the house hunting, then be prepared next time, and preempt any mini flare….and good luck.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to DorsetLady]

Agree with PMRpro about DOMS

[Mamamia21 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thanks for getting back to me. See my reply to PMRpro... need to learn to pace myself 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I assume you aren't sleeping in your own bed? That might account for the neck pain too. As DL says maybe try a bit more pred - but after all that exercise it sounds more like potential DOMS (delayed onset muscle soreness) in general and I'm not sure pred helps much there, just rest. You can but try,

[Mamamia21 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for getting back to me! Yes was not sleeping in my own bed so do think this has been the problem. Was doing ok until Thursday 😒. Will take extra pred for a couple of days to see if it helps and then wait it out. I did think this would be the answer... Just another reminder I can't do it all 😂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mamamia21]

I have done the house-hunting bit - but only driving the car and reading online agents lists! Very little walking was involved!

[Mamamia21 in reply to PMRpro]

London seems to have gone mad! Nothing online actually exists as they are gone as soon as they are on the market. We went to see a house share. Along with 50 other people..: 😳 no chance of getting anything unless you have made personal contact with estate agents and are prepared to offer over the asking price… this is for the rental market. Lots of landlords have sold up and there are more people going back into the office so looking for property closer to work… high demand and low supply… the perfect storm!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mamamia21]

So I've heard. Lots to be said for moving out of London!!!

What is he doing?

[Mamamia21 in reply to PMRpro]

Economic consultant 😊

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mamamia21]

Well paid I assume!

[Mamamia21 in reply to PMRpro]

He certainly is not going to have much left over at the start… hopefully will increase and make things easier in time.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mamamia21]

We were working in London when we got married - had to be engaged or married to get the lease! But almost immediately afterwards we went back to Dundee for OH to do a PhD (having said he wanted no more to do with science). He'd had a post as an economic forecaster with BP, I was working at Barts - Loved it to bits but I detested London. the whole of the rest of the family loves London, but then, they have never lived there with not much money!

[Mamamia21 in reply to PMRpro]

You certainly would not find me living in London. Nick's girlfriend lives near London so can understand why he wants to move there. They have had a four-year distance relationship made worse by Covid and it is time for them to be closer... Time will tell if London is for them too 😊.

[Mamamia21 in reply to PMRpro]

We found out today that Nick has found a property to rent in London 😊. His offer was accepted and he moves in on the 29th September. The pain was worth it, although I think I will leave the moving in, to the men 😂.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mamamia21]

Oh good! Hope it is acceptable! Your job will be to keep the kettle on and the biscuit tin to hand

[Mamamia21 in reply to PMRpro]

Absolutely! Chief kettle boiler 😂

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Mamamia21]

When I have moved house the last thing into the car was a basket with kettle, teapot, t-bags/coffee, mugs and spoons - and it was the first thing out at the other end!

[Jigsawlass in reply to Mamamia21]

My son told me that apparently there are only about 150 properties for rent in London at present!. Good luck , hope your son finds something soon

[Mamamia21 in reply to Jigsawlass]

That really doesn't surprise me... Fingers and toes crossed 😊

[Mamamia21 in reply to Jigsawlass]

Just wanted to let you know that Nick has found a property in London... Thank goodness for that... what a relief!

[Jigsawlass]

That is great news !

[Smithie49]

Good luck Mamamia. I too have recently overdone things and my neck was getting very uncomfortable. I've upped my pred from 6/7 to 10mg for the past 2 days and feel loads better. If my neck is OK tomorrow then I plan to go back to 7 then be a bit more careful.

[Mamamia21 in reply to Smithie49]

Thanks, Smithie49, I have upped pred for a couple of days and although my neck isn't where it was it is feeling a little better. It is just going to take some time to get back to where I was and it is a lesson to not overdo it. Thankfully it was worth it as our son found a flat... 😊