Prednisone or prolia?

[Caloo650]

I've been on prednisone for two and a half years, at 5mg ATM. I have just had my 4th 6 monthly injection of prolia or osteoporosis. I finally got round to reading the side effects for prolia and find they are similar to what I experience tapering off Prednisone ie stiffness in joints and muscles so now, suffering these side effects I'm not sure the cause or whether to start tapering again.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You would be amazed at the number of medications which have joint and muscle pain and stiffness as side effects!

I suppose you have to consider whether they WORSEN with either the Prolia jab or the change in pred dose and how long it lasts.

[Caloo650 in reply to PMRpro]

I feel now it was prolia as I was good on 5mg before so now I'll try a taper to 4.75 and see how I go, slowly of course!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Caloo650]

With these sorts of questions it is often very useful to keep a detailed diary of symptoms, events and foods. You can often identify relationships in retrospect.

[Caloo650 in reply to PMRpro]

I have started doing that for rheumie's benefit as well. Thanks it's a good idea

[Mrsd12f]

Hi! I’ve I’ve had 3 Prolia injections now, and the aches and pains certainly increased for a couple of weeks after the jabs - so severely, on one occasion, that I did increase the pred, temporarily. It will be interesting to see how the next one, due in February, goes; I don’t intend to try to taper for a couple of weeks, following the injection.

I mentioned it to the rheumatology nurse who told me to take paracetamol and we all know how useless that is for PMR.

Hardly a scientific study, I know, but I’m convinced that in my case, the Prolia sparked a minor flare.

[Caloo650 in reply to Mrsd12f]

Thank you for your reply. It's good to know that the aches are not necessarily PMR.