Been off Prednisone for six weeks after a four year journey. Before PMR and Prednisone I suffered with my back but whilst on steroids I didn’t. I have had a painful and stiff back for the last week and am tempted to try my remaining Pred tablets for a couple of days. Any thoughts on this please ?
Bad Back: Been off Prednisone for six weeks after a... - PMRGCAuk
Bad Back
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I think I’d try ordinary painkillers first -and see if they make any difference.
If not then try the Pred..
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Six weeks is a nice time interval for a small amount of left-over inflammation from a very low disease activity and slightly too low a dose to build up and make its presence felt. It isn't uncommon for patients to get to 1mg or even 1/2mg, think it was all over and stop the pred altogether, only to discover that there was just a LITTLE bit of PMR still going on.
I'd try painkillers and heat first - and if that doesn't work, experiment with the pred. If the painkillers don't work and pred does - maybe you need 1mg for a bit longer.
Thank you for the advice, I have been taking Ibuprofen but only a dose higher than recommended helps.Will experiment with the Prednisone
How much higher? Ibuprofen only works effectively by starting with a flooding dose of 800mg - to occupy all the receptors. Then you can usually use 400mg at a time to top it up. In development it was designed to be used like that but when it was released OTC they were forced to reduce the recommended dose - much to their disgust. Because the OTC recommended dose is useless!
I find that if I start with 800mg I can go well over 12 hours before needing more. The max dose in 24 hours is 3200mg - so I can stay way below that if I go about it right.
Try paracetamol and ibuprofen together. Extra strength. Double it up (flooding dose) in the morning, so 2 of each. Worked very well for me, but I can no longer take ibuprofen.
Hi "Iamfedup" and so am I I havn't posted for a long time As I just didn't seem to get anywhere and had a doctor that never did anything I didn't see a Rhuematologist for 2 years then the first thing he wanted was a scan which I had been asking my doctor for and for proper Physio The scan found a fracture in my spine My PMR started 2 days after my 2nd covid jab .. My muscles and tendons are also shattered ! I have a new doctor now who is trying his best for me But he is picking up the bits and pieces which should have been attended to long ago ! I had a blood test yesterday to see if I have a flare up the signs seem to be there .. In August last year I went with family for a long weekend by Rutland Water and fell and broke my Femur neck, ( all due to weak muscles ) I was in Peterborough Hospital for 2 weeks and had a Hemi-Arthroplasty OP Peterboro were wonderful and have set in motion a real Physio plan . When I came out of Peterboro I went for a month to the Cambridge Care Home Physio came to see me there and I had exercises and my recovery was really good a wonderful place and staff .. I had a lot of things going on due to the first doctor prescribing medications that were more harmful than good for blood pressure enalapril and bisoloprol which gave me a choking cough which was probably how I got the fracture as I was actually really choking .. My consultant in Peterboro told me they are the most worst medications that end in il or lol and two para medics also told me they don't why the NHS keep rolling them out ! This now another chapter as on Christmas day in my sons house who lives near me I had a complete black out I was out for almost 20 mins and my family had to call 999 and no I hadn't had one drop in case you are wondering !!! The first I thought something had happened but in a daze a family member who is a Physio was holding my hand and asking me to sqeeze it , by the time the para medics had arrived I had recovered but they tested everything and I passed and didn't think it was neccessary to go to A&E as I was in good hands but to get a proper blood test ASAP.. But it has shattered my confidence and walking is now difficult so I have decided to return to the Care home for 2 weeks rest bite .. They did such a good job before and my new doctor thinks it is a good idea .. He has done so much he set an appointment with dermatologist as I have skin problems also since the "lol" tablets which has been driving me crazy for over year and nothing that first doc gave me made a scrap of difference , she was just" stabbing in the dark" !!! what was her problem with consulting a specalist ? now after all this time no itching which kept me awake at night ... Now hopefully after my rest bite with lovely caring people and I start my full on Physio with a specalist I can sort out these sleeping Muscles and tendons ...