Down to half a mg of Prednisolone daily, but what is this?

[Allum]

I am down to half a mg of Prednisolone daily, with hopes of being steroid free by the new year, but have been having shooting pains in fingers for the last couple if weeks. In the last few days has escalated to painful wrists and was hoping it was only arthritis! Started taking paracetamol, which helped my get to sleep, but little else. Last couple if days have taken regular full doses of Ibuprofen and felt a little better last night (possibly high on the drug?) Awoke in the night to pains in hands, wrists and now ankles!! Help! This sounds like a flare? What's the best advise please? Shall I go back to one daily, or more? It's taken over two years to get here! 😭

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Hi,

Had it not been ankles as well, would have suggested carpel tunnel syndrome- very often associated with PMR, and there are quite a few on here who suffer from that. But with a quick look online have found there is also tarsal tunnel syndrome. So maybe that, and if ibuprofen helps both, you perhaps have your answer.

2 years may seem a long time to you, but not necessarily for PMR - so it could well be a flare.. do you have issues in hips, shoulders etc?

Normal advice is to add 5mg to current dose for around 7 days and then drop back down to just above the dose where the issue started. You could try that- you’ll soon know if it works. If it doesn’t you haven’t lost anything you can drop back down…and look for another cause. The problem with just creeping up 1mg or half a time…. if it is a flare it’s likely to take longer to get things back under control.

[Allum in reply to DorsetLady]

Will try increase, as suggested. Thanks

[SnazzyD]

Try this, Carpal tunnel syndrome and see if it rings any bells for you.

mayoclinic.org/diseases-con...

versusarthritis.org/about-a...

[Allum in reply to SnazzyD]

Thanks for info!

[SheffieldJane]

I thought Carpel tunnel syndrome, then wondered about Peripheral Neuropathy. Rest and possibly physical therapy thereafter may help with this.Have you ever had X-Rays for osteoarthritis? I think a good doctor may be able to narrow this down. A bit of a blow at this stage.

You haven’t been sorting your cupboards or tidying your garden have you? We forget sometimes - the lack of resilience in our muscles.

[Allum in reply to SheffieldJane]

Ah! Think you've spotted my mistake! I have indeed been cleaning out my kitchen cupboards!!

Well done 👍 thank you! Thought I was going downhill, but just not being mindful.

[SheffieldJane in reply to Allum]

I wish someone would do mine. X

[Allum in reply to SheffieldJane]

🤣

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to Allum]

Cupboards have a lot the answer for 😳

[Allum in reply to DorsetLady]

Absolutely! Did loads and took me three days! 🤦🤷Xx

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Does sound very cupboard-ish ...

If it improves now the cupboards are done - all well and good. If it doesn't, I suspect you have to consider that 1/2mg isn't quite enough. To be down to 1mg after 2 years is pretty good.

[Allum in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you so much. This is such a good lifeline! It's so good to feel the support on this forum, now that the health service is so overwhelmed!!

[Mfaepink1973]

Not sure about the ankles but your wrist pain sounds like classic carpal tunnel syndrome. I had it for years and had cortisone injections three times then eventually had the operation. Perhaps higher doses of prednisolone have hidden the symptoms until now. I’d recommend having the op sooner rather than put it off as I did as the surgeon explained the op just stops further muscle weakness in your wrist and base of thumb but doesn’t undo any damage already done. Good luck

[Allum in reply to Mfaepink1973]

🤞thank you