Dosage advice please

[Lclmlbls]

I think I already partly know the answer to my question but if anyone has suggestions I would be grateful.

I started on 15mg of pred in Feb/March and reduced by 1mg per month. I was on 12mg last week in Tenerife when I stupidly thought I could do many sets of stairs rather than take the lifts. The next day I suffered with pains in my hips and couldn't walk as easily as I had done. They subsided a little over the next few days but I continued with the plan I had made with my doctor to reduce to 11mg on my return from holiday (last Tuesday). I am suffering with pain in my right hip which makes me limp. Should I try and stick it out for a few days or do I have to return to 12mg? If so how long before I can reduce back to 11mg?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

My suspicion would be bursitis - aggravated by doing stairs, especially when there more than you usually do. Oral pred may or may not help and since I would always say not to reduce your dose when you have pain, I would go back, see if it helps and regroup. A couple of weeks one way or t'other isn't the end of the world. If it is bursitis, targeted treatment is preferable

[Lclmlbls in reply to PMRpro]

thanks very much for your advice. Much appreciated. I’m going to Wales on Tuesday for a few days so will do as you suggest and hope it does the trick.

[piglette]

Have you tried painkillers for your hip? If they work the problem may be due to something other than the PMR possibly brought on by your super activity on holiday. I would not try and reduce for a while though.

[Lclmlbls in reply to piglette]

thank you.I haven’t tried yet, but will give the paracetamol a go. It’s so annoying, I felt I was really doing well. Now I’m limping and using stairs as PMRPro put ‘like a toddler’!

[piglette in reply to Lclmlbls]

I really sympathise.

[Nightingales]

you could also try ice packs and Volterol gel.

[Lclmlbls]

Thank you for that. I will give it a go as I need to improve before setting off for our short break in Wales - but now I've developed a cold! - Probably picked up from the plane last week - there's always something!!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lclmlbls]

Hope it is just a cold!

[Lclmlbls in reply to PMRpro]

It was just a cold thankfully, but dragged on a bit.Due to the hip pain I struggled to walk far in Wales and felt I was holding my friends back from taking part in more activities.

I improved a little on my return but have since been referred to a physio for my hip problem. Goodness knows when I will get to see someone for that.  

Stupidly on Saturday I weeded my mother’s lawn for 20 minutes and immediately made the hip problem much worse. The following morning (yesterday) the horrendous pain in my thighs returned to a pre Pred level. I think bending over and reaching etc caused it. How long should I give it before increasing the Pred? I’ve been reducing from 15mg by 1mg every 4-5 weeks - down to 12mg, then 11mg then back to 12mg now to 11 again. 

I really regret doing such a stupid thing. You would think I would have learnt by now wouldn’t you?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lclmlbls]

I think you need the doctor's input - that is still a fairly high dose and isn't touching it is it? But the first treatment in hip bursitis is REST! Avoid the activities that aggravate it and ice it for a start. But you may need a steroid injection if it is bursitis. But it may not be - the GP needs a look.

[Lclmlbls in reply to PMRpro]

Many thanks for your reply and advice. I saw my doctor who diagnosed trochanteric bursitis on Tuesday last week and it was she who referred me for an x-ray (which I've had) and physio assessment. I'm waiting for them to contact me. I don't expect an appointment any time soon. She suggested ice/heat/paracetamol. I didn't at that point have the thigh pain/stiffness, that came on yesterday after the gardening.

[Lclmlbls in reply to PMRpro]

Just a quick update re hip and knee problems. Common sense prevailed with physio appointments so I was able to have a consultation for both today (instead of separate appointments which I had been told would happen!). Very happy with the outcome as the physiotherapist was knowledgable about PMR. She said I wasn’t walking upright and should use an aid (a stick or poles) to to rectify my walking position otherwise this will lead to further problems down the line. She gave me low level exercises and a return appointment at the end of August. My thigh pain has gone brought on by gardening.

Resolved not to do any more stupid things - feeling positive. Thanks for reading and everyone’s input.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lclmlbls]

"Resolved not to do any more stupid things " - until the next time at least ...

[Lclmlbls in reply to PMRpro]

There won't be a next time - and if there is I'll probably keep it to myself!! 🤐🤪

[Lclmlbls]

Me too - I will be testing tomorrow before setting off - if its Covid that will the third time. The nurse at my surgery refused to give me the spring vaccine - said I wasn't eligible.