Did not stay at 5 long, maybe a week. Tested the waters at 2.5 last 3 days and honesty the 5 to 2.5 transition was mostly painless vs going from 7.5 to 5.
a few weeks ago, i felt a change in my body like I no longer needed prednisone, and so far dropping has been easy. When the rheumy visit did a crp test and it was under 10, was 103 when diagnosed with pmr, seemed to me like time to see what would happen if I steadily dropped the prednisone level.
Even right wrist is feeling good, not painful. My issue now remains mostly my right hand middle finger. I was reading some people have a lot of pain in the pip joint with trigger finger. Even so I have not had any finger trigger in a couple months. And forcing it to trigger does not make it trigger. But the middle fingers are still stiff. Perhaps all is now OA which the hand xrays showed. Also getting up off the ground has gotten easier for me.
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sdowney717
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Well, back to 5 unfortunately. After several days of feeling great, today was bad. I think I am not yet ready to drop Iike that yet. Both hands sore, and unusual sensing some small pains in both shoulders and feeling weak. I am seeing rheumatologist on the 19 this week. Maybe I can alternate lower and higher dose like every other day.
yes I agree. this am took 10 mg prednisone, it helped my hands a lot, all other pains gone.
I am seeing rheumatologist this Wednesday, follow up visit. I am thinking take10 a few more days, then go to 7.5 and maybe go to 5 again. It does feel like5 though is harder on my fingers than 7.5 was. MY body was able to handle 2.5 for couple of days, then it went south. That proves to me I still have some active inflammation to work with. This disease is settled in my hands for now, not so much elsewhere.
Every finger hurt a lot to move and I could not grasp anything.
At 2.5, I was hammering siding on my shed without too much trouble, but the 3rd day I was like an invalid.
Saw Rheumy yesterday. They are concerned with my hands. He added Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine, as the plan is to get me off prednisone since it affects my diabetes badly and i still have too much inflammation. Which I don't mind as neither of those drugs raise blood sugar. I am supposed to try and steadily reduce prednisone after some time.
I suppose trying the cheaper drugs first. He did say there are other drugs they can try.
found this as a cash price
Kevzara (sarilumab) is a member of the antirheumatics drug class and is commonly used for Polymyalgia Rheumatica, and Rheumatoid Arthritis.
The cost for Kevzara subcutaneous solution (150 mg/1.14 mL) is around $4,324 for a supply of 2.28 milliliters, depending on the pharmacy you visit. Quoted prices are for cash-paying customers and are not valid with insurance plans. This price guide is based on using the Drugs.com discount card which is accepted at most U.S. pharmacies.
I am insured so wont qualify, I also dont know what my cost would be with Piedmont insurance. Hydroxychloroquine pharmacy cash price was $225, after insurance my cost is 25$ for 2 bottles or 360 pils
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New Pain. 
update on Prednisone taper below 5 mg and question about timing of daily dose
Hand issues - PMR related or not?
Forgot my prednisone for 6-7 hours and ended up with a whacko body for 5 days.
