scared and worried.

[Oboes22]

having been in pred for over 3.5 years am now having another flare. I was using DSNS to taper and almost reduced to 5 but am now in a lot of pain. Mostly in my right arm and left neck area. I’ve taken 10mg this morning and will for the next 7/8 days and then reduce to 6mg. I know this is what everyone recommends but I’m just scared going back down to 6 mg I’ll start having pain again. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Can understand that… and you can stay at 10mg for up to 14 days without an issue -so that may help the pain . If you are still nervous about the drop after then, maybe try stepping down to 8mg for a week, then down to 6mg….and stay there for another month….

[Oboes22 in reply to DorsetLady]

Thank you DL. Perhaps I’ll stay on 10 for a few days longer to get me over Christmas and then do as you suggest go to 8mg and then 6mg. I’m beginning to think 6mg is my lowest and will just have to continue taking it. My mum had SLE and took pred for probably 20 years until she died. I have such a busy life as a musician and I just want to be normal and get on with life but I know that’s impossible and I do realise how blessed I am compared with so many others. Thank you for your advice and to all those others who are so supportive.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Are you sure you haven't wrenched your shoulder/neck area in the last few days? Just wondering because although it is affecting right and left it does sounds as if you might have pulled something, Have you tried heat on the sore areas?

[Oboes22 in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you but I’ve definitely not done anything to my shoulder or arm. I’ve had niggling pain in my right arm on and off for a couple of weeks and I’ve had mild to severe pain in my left neck/ shoulder area for a few weeks too and have taken ibuprofen which has helped. I’ve got down to 5mg previously and have never been able to below that.

[jayemmemm in reply to Oboes22]

Like you I have suffered pain in one shoulder and upper arm. I have increased pred from 5,5 to 10 but not much relief so this morning tried cocodamol. I read somewhere (DL or PMRPro?) that ibuprofen should not be used alongside prednisolone so you might wish to follow that up. No relief so far from cocodamol but it's a bit soon to be positive. Others have suggested bursitis or brachial neuritis which I'll follow up with GP after Christmas.

Best wishes!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to jayemmemm]

Ibuprofen - not good on a regular basis and often it is important to take a PPI or the like.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer in reply to jayemmemm]

Not regularly..

[Oboes22 in reply to jayemmemm]

Thank you jayemmemm, I don't take ibuprofen regularly just as and when and I duo take Omeprazol. after taking 10mg yesterday I was fine this morning, but after getting breakfast and pottering the pain appeared again. I don't like co-codamol as it make me constipated..... I think I will have a review with my GP after Christmas too. Happy Christmas and a peaceful new year. Kind regards.