I’ve been on an extremely low taper, having now been on 4.5mg since 1st August.
I gradually developed a little pain in my shoulders but it was something I could live with - until - about a week ago I developed pain across my shoulder blades. It has got worse, to the point I was bent over cleaning the loo (someone has to do it!) this morning and the pain was that bad it made me feel nauseous & I had to lie down.
I had taken a couple of paracetamols earlier and the pain has now subsided considerably.
We have had a very stressful weekend - so has stress caused the flare, and is it actually a flare or something else. That’s why I’m reluctant to whack up my steroid dose.
I’m going to try & speak to my GP tomorrow & see if I can have blood tests done.
I was even thinking about seeing a Bowen therapist.
Sorry for the ramble, but in the 2.5 years since I was diagnosed with PMR I feel I’ve got off very lightly - until now.
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Doraflora
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My suspicion is that you are not QUITE ready for 4.5mg and you are hovering at your borderline. which has just caught up with you because you have had a stressful weekend.
It is up to you - but remember, a stitch in time saves nine!
If it were me, I'd be inclined to take 10mg for a few days (just a bit of a spring clean of the built up inflammation you can feel) and then go back to 5mg and see how that fits. Two or 3 days is probably plenty.
I use Marcel’s Green Soap toilet freshner. Smells nice and environmentally friendly. Cuts down the necessity for scrubbing. Got it on line. I also seem to be the designated loo cleaner.
I can only speak from my experience, but for me and many others there isn't a way to ride out a flare, the only thing I can do is nip it in the bud and increase the steroids for a few days. If you are taking even a little bit less Pred than your body needs you get what PMRPro calls the 'dripping tap' effect, where the inflammation builds up like a puddle that then overflows. Stress and overdoing it are two common ways of bringing on a flare, but sometimes it seems it can be just random, eg the weather, getting a cold or infection etc etc. I tried to explain this to a doctor recently, that the steroid dose I am currrently on is just about enough to control things, but it doesn't take much to bring on a flare, eg something that would be normal for other people like going on holiday or doing slightly too much exercise.
thanks, tangocharlie. I’ve doubled my Pred this morning but I’m now wondering if my little granddaughter strained my neck in her extra strong hug on Monday.
I doubled my dose this morning, PMRpro and have had no improvement so far & feel whacked again.
However: I’m now analysing things more and can only think of the extra keen hug my little granddaughter gave me on Monday evening. Perhaps she strained my neck in her eagerness. [how can a 4 year old child be so strong]
I’ll see how it goes for 2/3 days & then contact my GP if no improvement
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