I do notice a few more stiffness issues in the morning. But no typical PMR pains. Left middle finger maybe slightly improved. I actually can sleep better now as the fingers dont hurt so much. The pain develops mostly when sleeping, I can not sleep in any position except for on my stomach or my hands feel like they fall asleep. Related to blood flow? If I lay on my back with knees up they dont have a problem. But If I lay on back with knees down they will fall asleep. IMO, it is bizarre, I had no finger or hand issues couple years ago, right before PMR I developed trigger finger but 3 months into prednisone use that stopped, but I am left with stiff middle fingers and cannot make a proper fist.
Middle fingers slightly numb and hurt if I try to force them down, which to me seems like the PIP joint is affected, And neither straigthens out normally. But lately I can force both of them almost straight If I work with them with stretching exercises, which is an improvement.
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sdowney717
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I do feel a sense of relief about my glucose levels now, see I am an insulin dependent type 2 diabetic. It is much easier to keep my glucose in my more normal range for me. I used to spike up hard on the glucose levels couple hours after prednisone, shocking number like could go as high as mid 300's when I first started prednisone at 30 mg and when got to 20 mg, spike up was to mid 200's. That was even with adding 50% more insulin, I was thinking I would need a horse syringe and was running thru bottles quickly. That was very discouraging. But now In AM I can have levels under 100, and during the day maybe mid 100's max. is my expectation. High glucose levels over long time is very destructive to your body.
I did see a hand surgeon orthopedist, who flexed my hands, seeing my range of motion and asking does this hurt etc... but then said he would do nothing for me as I don't show the typical signs of a compressed nerve according to him. But I also noted, the doctor was unawares of my pain issues, even though I had filled out the questionnaire ahead of time describing everything in detail and was referred by my rheumatologist where I had told that doc of the pain and the stiffness and rheumy said it was definitely trigger finger related causes. Hand surgeon basically attributes it to neuropathy due to diabetes and PMR and perhaps arthritis of some kind. the visit was a waste of time and money, wonder how much it will cost me. So really who knows what to do, maybe do nothing. I was originally very interested in doing something as I thought if it is a nerve compression, waiting causes more damage. But the doc was very uninterested in my case.
Doc offered to shoot me full of cortisol, but being diabetic I told him don't want more pressure on my glucose problems so that was the end of that.
Doc did offer this EMG, but I cancelled.
"Electromyography records the electrical activity of muscles when at rest or when contracted to determine muscle health."
I read about it and really just do that and not also do the nerve conduction study seems a waste of time and my money. I know I have pain, so the EMG test is going to tell the doctor I feel pain...and if my muscles are working, I know my muscles are working.
I do hope you get some answers to this. Being woken up by pain is no fun. In the meantime, would there be any point in trying the pillows to raise the arms while sleeping?
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New to PMR and wondering about prednisone dosage 
Tapering down on Prednisone 
GCA diagnosed February 2018 Tapering now from 5 to 4.5 Mg Prednisone and would appreciate input.
