Alternating between 3 and 4 mg pred now

[sdowney717]

I was at 5 for a few weeks, now doing another drop. Not noticing any unusual additional pains. Doing 3 and 4 for a week and things are good.

Still have the trigger finger issue of both middle fingers and they have a neuropathy, oddly numb and sometimes painful I have to put up with. I was wondering when the hand surgeon October 4th appointment, if he will do the tendon operation. and If that will relieve that neuropathy feeling or if the prednisone has caused the neuropathy, see I am an insulin dependent diabetic. My endo was really upset I was on pred, and said they must have something else I can take, which they do, but my PCP refused to consider anything except pred. The rheumatologist though is totally different and also wants me off pred and was willing to use other meds. I am kind of thinking going under 5, the pred raising my blood sugars is much less of a problem now.

The meth and the hydroxy, I have not noticed any negative side effects. Feeling very energetic, so can keep on with the home projects like finishing up my outdoor 12 by 16 foot 2 story shed building

If not for the continuing fingers issue, I feel like my old self before the PMR began back in december 2022,

I had trigger finger before pmr, but had no finger neuropathy!

[PMRpro Ambassador]

"my PCP refused to consider anything except pred"

I doubt a PCP is in a position to prescribe anything else which would be a biologic which you could have for PMR i n the USA. And for PCPs, there is pred and nothing else.

[Gaz227]

Between 3 and 4 Mg of pred has been my sticking point for years , hope you can get past it . I have tried every taper I have heard of , also now on MTX still no good . I’m convinced I have an adrenal issue now due to being on pred for so long , but it’s hard enough to get an appointment with the Rheumy let alone one with an Endo to investigate the problem .

[sdowney717 in reply to Gaz227]

MTX is not immediate, takes a few weeks to work, you take it ounce a week, for me 12.5mg.

I also take the hydroxychloroquine daily 400mg. Rheumatologist said they are synergistic working together .

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to sdowney717]

In RA maybe, doubtful effect in PMR ...

[sdowney717]

still alternating with 3 and 4 of prednisone. Doing ok with PMR minimal to no pain, but my neuropathy pain and trigger fingers are my main issues now. It takes too long to see these specialist doctors. Seeing that hand surgeon Oct 4, 4 months after I was referred to him.

Took 6 months to see the rheumatologist. Meanwhile was taking much higher dose of prednisone which raises glucose levels and makes diabetes hard to control, leading to things like neuropathy.