Been doing great lately, reduced again from 10 to 7.5mg prednisone. My crp is under 10 from 103

[sdowney717]

I had seen the rheumatologist and had dropped from 12.5 to 10, after the visit. Now for last 2 days I am down to 7.5mg prednisone, my own decision, I am certain he wont mind.... It still feels a little ragged in the AM, but I recover well and feel good all the rest of the day after a few hours. Still no knee pain after giving up Metoprolol. Right hand also has not been swollen up the last couple of days when I awake. I honestly starting to think Metoprolol and I were not doing well together at all and was making my PMR worse or could have even been the trigger that pushed me over the edge into experiencing bad PMR pain back in February. With the big drop in CRP that also encourages me to know my inflammation incident has subsided. Other great thing is I am now taking too much insulin and today had a very low gucose experience due to the lower prednisone levels in my system. Which honestly is good news as I can cut back on insulin use. I hope to be able to keep reducing prednisone over the next 2 months. I am starting to feel like I do not need it anymore. I have been massaging my knuckles in my palm and the trigger finger numbness and pain is also much better. Hope that lasts. This disease can change a lot pretty quickly.

[Sharitone]

Good to hear of someone getting better!

[sdowney717 in reply to Sharitone]

Yes, this AM felt really good too, had energy. Feeling more like my old self once more.

Along with some finger-hand massages, I am using Voltaren on the right-hand middle finger and it really does help.

[Hosers2]

Hi. It’s nice to see someone progressing. Like you, my CRP was 110 when diagnosed. It took me seven months to reduce Prednisone from 15mg down to 7.5 daily. By that point, I was experiencing Macular Degeneration, and my ophthalmologist suspected the Pred to be the cause. So over the next month I switched from Prednisone to 200 mg HCL (Hydroxychloroquine). After almost two years, I have finally weaned myself completely away from HCL. I do now have to get a shot in my eye every 8 weeks (Macular Degeneration).

You are one of the few people on here who had wrists and fingers symptoms. (As did I). I’m 74, so a bit older than you.

Just out of curiosity, are you taking, now or in the past, any cholesterol medications?

[sdowney717 in reply to Hosers2]

I like the Hydroxychloroquine idea, better than prednisone. Today when I woke up was achy all over and all day felt achy unlike yesterday. Maybe experiencing some pred withdrawal?

No cholesterol issues for me I have cholesterol around 100

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sdowney717]

"I like the Hydroxychloroquine idea, better than prednisone."

Possibly, possibly not. It is only better if it works. And most people who have tried it found no improvement.

[sdowney717]

Well today aches and minor pains, tired, blah feeling. But no knee pain, no shoulder or hip pain, no wrist pain. I was reading once you are at 7.5 prednisone, your body feels the lack of your own cortisol production from adrenal glands. So I will just persevere thru this trial and see what happens. How long befor my adrenal glands pick up the slack?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to sdowney717]

How long befor my adrenal glands pick up the slack?

How long is a piece of string type question -it varies - have a look at this for info -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[sdowney717]

Feel well today. I really started feeling better yesterday. It almost feels like someone throws a switch and you just know you're going to have a good day, you can feel it in your bones...The achiness is gone again for now. My right hand though this am as badly swollen up. Smeared on Voltaren and in a couple hours swelling was down and here in afternoon is back to normal looking.

Pics, you can see how swollen also see swollen palm and thumb area. Back of hand swollen, smooth no knuckles.

Oh well I dont know how to post pics by uploading, they go to a separate form window and can not add another, then no save option

[sdowney717]

test, direct paste from google photos, can anyone see these?

can only show one pic

d

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to sdowney717]

Yes can see… and you can only attach one to each reply…

[sdowney717]

I think there is some issue with the right hand and middle finger. I also find the finger goes to sleep when I lay down on my back. Can not lay down and watch TV, have to sit up. Have to sleep on stomach and dangle right hand off the bed, which might also cause it to swell overnight. Even sitting in an office chair typing right now, middle finger is pins and needles at the moment. But If I stand up and use the hand, doing a shed building project, then it goes away. Maybe related to blood flow.

Last night woke up to burning pains in the middle finger and finger next to it, felt like it was on fire due not sleeping on stomach.

[sdowney717]

another am pic of hand swollen palm

palm

[sdowney717]

Made dr appointment with Riverside hand orthopedics today for Sept 2. Emailed my Rheumy and asked for both Hands for xrays. Really need to know if this bone damage to the joint. Been learning more about various types of arthritis. youtube.com/watch?v=JinUcKM...(Not working as expected?)