what a difference 0.25mgs can make!

[Gossiplady]

I have been tapering very well over the last few months with HU help. Thank you. Down to 0.5mgs but starting to feel a bit rough in my right arm, so went back to 0.75mgs and supposedly ok. Meanwhile for a few months I felt my back starting to return. Had a fractured spine in 3 places ten years ago. I just assumed that the pain was returning as I am on low Pred. So of course Cocodamol back in use and dratted constipation returned and go to bed. O.K. This has been going on for weeks. So just as an experiment, I decided to go back to 1mg, and hey presto! No back problems , no Cocodamol etc. Wonderful! Will continue on 1mg for a few weeks I think. When people complain about this dreadful Pred, I feel, thank God we have it!

[piglette]

Steroids are a miracle drug, sadly with some side effects.

[Gossiplady in reply to piglette]

Hi piglette! Yes i agree, but the pain I have had with PMR is far far worse than my fractured spine. At least then I could stagger around to look after myself, but with PMR when it was taking me half an hour to try and get out of bed, dragging myself downstairs with only my hands and feet pain free, boyo, was that something! I remember my daughter giving me Samaritans phone number, which I never felt I would need with a spine problem. Sausages to the side effects,, I said I would prefer to have five childbirths rather than PMR pain. But we keep smiling, don’t we? And this forum is pure paradise!

[piglette in reply to Gossiplady]

Totally agree. I would lie in bed and did not dare move because of the pain. It really was excruciating. Doctors think a bit of pain in the shoulders and/or hips!!

[SheffieldJane]

You are doing well. When I have pain in one limb I always think it is some secondary condition or injury. Might be worth fighting your way into the GP.

[Gossiplady in reply to SheffieldJane]

Bless you my dear.

[Bcol]

Sorry to hear about your back, and brilliant that upping the dose very slightly has given you your quality of life back. Totally agree with you about Pred, it certainly gave me my life back. Sadly, it does nothing for my back derived pain when it decides to get grumpy.

[Gossiplady in reply to Bcol]

Yes, Bicol, grumpy backs are quite something.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

And if 1mg does it and you need nothing else - infinitely preferable!!!! Especially at your age where painkillers are rather dodgy ...

[Gossiplady in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I am a happy bunny.