Where should I go from here? Reduced by doc from 6 Pred to 2 and now suffering

[CupcakeGalore]

Having been told by 3 doctors to try to get off Prednisolone so I could be assessed by specialist at hospital (as no doctor felt able to confirm I really had PMR although on steroids for 2 years!) I reduced from 6 to 2 Pred in 8 weeks. Result: much itching when reducing down from 4 to 3 and now, at 2 Pred, pain in right arm is particularly bad and back pain far more obvious than ever. PMR confirmed in writing from hospital (I think!). Naproxen trialled but of course no help. Please read my bio.

My question is, how much would you suggest raising Prednisolone? In one go or little by little? My kidney function has obviously been affected over the 2 years but looked to be improving after I reduced from 8 to 6. For that reason and not wanting to encourage diabetes (a family issue that I have miraculously avoided throughout the years!) I do not really want to increase too much.

Thank you for reading all this. All comments gratefully received !

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You need to go to a dose that controls all the symptoms - impossible to say exactly. But often after a doctor forces a patient to reduce the dose for a diagnosis like that it is harder to get things under control. What was the last dose you were good at? Go straight there - creeping up rarely works because you are always playing catch-up.

[CupcakeGalore in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you. I was thinking that myself. I will try 8. I think I was fairly happy on that. Most grateful.