Confused

[daisylazy]

After nine years I seem to have similar pains as at the start, shoulders arms back thighs, knees, and wrists Would this be usual after so long . Tried nsaid's for a week slight relief, then tried increasing pred to10mg on 5mg on account of stunted adrenals and that didn't seem to work Done bloods ESR and CRP raised. My question is can I go up to 15mg and drop down again to 5mg or slightly higher all in one go or do I have to taper. Any help will be gratefully received from this wonderful forum. Thank You.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Have you been on pred the entire time? PMR can recur - relapse, flare, whatever word you want to use - at any time so no, nine years isn't unreasonable.

I don't quite understand what you mean by "tried increasing pred to10mg on 5mg on account of stunted adrenals" - not sure where the adrenals come in there. Are you on the 5mg pred because your adrenal function hasn't returned rather than being on 5mg pred for the PMR?

If this is a return of PMR after some time, you may need to go to 15mg as you did at the start and treat it as a whole new episode. Possibly even higher. But you need to talk to your doctors.

[daisylazy in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks Pro and Dorset Lady.Didn't make it clear Have been on 5 mg all along for stunted adrenals so this seems to be a totally new scenario. Will get an app with GP.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to daisylazy]

Then I suspect it will need to be treated as a recurrence of PMR after being in remission for some times - obviously you need more than 5mg to manage the symptoms if that is indeed what is happening.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

Unfortunately it can be - just ask PMRpro.. now she is a Longtimer. .. although if 10mg hasn’t helped…would wonder if it’s something else either as well or instead. How long at 10mg were you, long enough to help?

So long as you aren’t on 15mg for longer than 14 days, you can drop back down… but maybe to 10mg for a week, and then to 5mg.

But if it were me, I might be considering another diagnosis - especially as NSAIDs helped a bit. Think you need medical input.