Termeric

[Petertaffy]

Hi all, I've had Pmr for about 18 months now and I read all these Q&A with interest, I was on 30mg and now down to 10mg but I don't seem to have a lot of these aches and pains like most of you do, could it be me taking termeric tablets everyday? I have had only 2 flair ups since I've had Pmr. Thank you for reading.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Turmeric may help -but would say more likely the correct dose of Pred -apart from the 2 flares (when it wasn’t😉).

Sounds as if things are okay, so whatever is working keep at it.

a fairly recent post -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[SheffieldJane]

PMR can be like this when properly managed with a careful taper. The lower doses can give difficulty, consider half tablets and the DSNS programme of tapering ( outlined in FAQs) for the last lap. Remember you are seeking the lowest possible dose of Pred that gives relief. I found that I had to rest at 7 mgs for an entire year. There is your Adrenal recovery to consider after about 7 mgs, it needs time to recover. There is an element of luck in your PMR experience as well. Maybe you are a lucky one.

[Koalajane]

if it is working for you then good but turmeric did nothing at all for me.

[Charlie1boy]

We are all different, and if it works for you fine - stick with it.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Everyone is different and many don't have aches and pains once they are on pred at the right dose or above. Some are just never entirely pain free at any dose of pred so that starting effect is important to know so when aches and pains appear later it is easier to assess what is causing them. The turmeric may be helping - but a sensible dose of pred is going to do it too. Half of patients get to 5mg in 18 months but the main cause of flares is reducing too quickly or too much. You seem to have been on a pretty sensible taper - and that really helps.

[Monkey321]

Hi, I'm still awaiting a diagnosis on if I have PMR or an inflammatory arthritis but I started taking turmeric supplements almost 2 months ago 1x at teatime. (I'm in NZ). I can't say for sure or scientifically it's helped as I'm on prednisone also (tho tapering off 1mg every 3 days) but I'd say it is helping.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Monkey321]

After 3 months on pred you should have no problem with adrenal function returning but after 3 months on fairly high doses it won't necessarily be a slam dunk so I suggest you slow down at 5mg and do more like 1mg every week or even longer. Rheumies tend to be a bit gung-ho in my experience!

[Monkey321 in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks for your advice, good point. I'm getting bloods done today and have appt with rheumatologist on August 7th. Still waiting for HLA-B27 test results so none the wiser as to a "diagnosis" eg PMR, inflammatory arthritis, or a combination. Today I drop 1 mg so will be on 16 mg, aches and pains more noticeable as I taper down but will perservere.

[piglette]

I think one problem is a lot of people have doctors who push them to reduce too fast.

[Orange_2022]

I take turmeric and omega 3 daily (except when I forget!) - no idea if they're helping but I don't think they do any harm in the doses provided. My flares have all been associated with me overdoing things when thinking I was feeling better and sometimes tapering a little too fast as well.

I was on 6mg but am now back on 6.5mg. I realise I have to accept this as a positive - a while ago I seemed to be stuck on 7mg - it seems hard to get below that! Good luck.