Can anyone Answer this question

[Harrywogan]

My Friend who also has PMR ask me a question and I couldn't answer it, so I thought I'd ask you lovely people, she wanted to know if all trauma s can cause a flare,and when do you know your Adrenals are working,also asked when she get to 1mg are they working Help Lol I can't answer her .xx

[SnazzyD]

I suspect not ALL trauma because if it did nobody would get better. Life happens all the time and how we respond physically depends on many factors. However, any TYPE of trauma could, same as what triggers it in the first place. For one person it’s an infection and in someone else it’s bereavement. Part of this journey is learning to not live in permanent fear as it is after any life changing illness.

As for adrenal function, you know they are working because to go through your day and don’t give it a second thought. I would add that any Pred you are taking is cortisol your adrenals are not having to make. Therefore, when it stops they need to make up the shortfall. For a year afterwards one has to be on the lookout for symptoms of adrenal crisis in the event of unusual physical or mental stress, even if you are feeling ok on a day to day basis.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Trauma causing flares? - I think it probably depends on individuals, and what the trauma is….my husband died when I was on mid teens of Pred and had a cataract operation when I was on 9mg - different kinds of trauma, had no issues, and neither caused a flare….. although that’s not to say they wouldn’t for somebody else..

When do you know you adrenals are working? - probably more obvious when they aren’t…

Are they working at 1mg? Hopefully, but you don’t know how well, until you’ve been off the Pred for a while and you aren’t having any adrenal insufficiency instances. But it’s can take between 6 to 12 months after you have come off Pred for them to be back to 100% function

Maybe steer you friend towards the adrenals link from FAQs -

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I don't think ALL trauma causes flares - just trauma CAN cause a flare. And various sorts of trauma can cause a flare. It may not happen immediately - it was 6 months after my husband died I had a flare - it might have been something else but who knows.

Are your adrenals working? You probably wouldn't need to ask the question as you would feel reasonably OK! But you are likely to know if they AREN'T working as you feel rubbish.