Could someone clarify for me what a flare is exactly. I’ve been on this forum for a couple of years and value all your help . Am now on 1.5 mgs reducing very slowly by Quarter tomorriw .. then 6 days then 5 et etc. the reason I started on pred.. was my shoulders and upper arms were agony.. and the day after . 15 mgs I could lift my arms above my head! I still can!!
so as I understand it.. my haunches ? And lower back pain I have now would not be considered a flare! I have also fallen recently as some have read. Which complicates things!
I saw a physiotherapist hoping she would help! She was adamant I should not reduce steroids as they would help with the pain. She has sent a long letter to my gp about her thoughts!
so am a bit confused. She has given me exercises for back / haunch pain.. which I am doing. But I think steroids have never helped with those! Magic as I said for shoulders and arms!
sorry so long!!!!
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A flare is simply a return of the same symptoms that you experienced when your PMR started and which were brought under control by pred. They may return because you overshot the dose of pred you need to manage the symptoms and went too low or they may return because the underlying autoimmune disease activity that causes PMR symptoms has increased in intensity.
Would the autoimmune activity increase with a UTI or kidney infection do you think. I have just finished 5 days of antibiotics and hoping they have done the trick, but having a flare of the hip paid and the need to sit down a lot more and also that fatigue. I upped the pred from 7.5 to 10 but still have to wait for the pred to work in the mornings.
Is it true that you get more urine infections because of the PMR or is it from the pred? What can one do to lessen these infections apart from drinking more water and staying home?
I had increased UTI symptoms due to the PMR - but I think it was possibly increased bladder irritability and the PMR effect on muscles, the bladder is just a big muscle. Some people get more UTIs when on pred because their immune system isn't as able to fight them off. Again, varies.
There are lots of posts on the forum about it but the Related Posts isn't working at present for some reason. If you repost this as a new thread you will get lots of advice. Many swear by taking D-mannose despite the research being a bit equivocal. I certainly find taking a high dose as soon as I notice symptoms will often result in them disappearing instead of worsening,
hello. I’m new to psoriatic arthritis A flare of symptoms depends on the person… some people are in pain all over and exhausted - plus poor appetite. Myself I hand very sore knuckles and my mid back. I messaged my rheumatologist and he said, “you must be in a flare.” Then gave prednisone for 7 days.
The author of this post has PMR and is already being treated by long term Pred. Although flare of PMR is likely to be treated by a short term increase of the drug [as most on here know], the symptoms will not be the same as a flare of psoriatic arthritis.
"Flare" is short for 'flare-up'. It's when the symptoms worsen in a short period of time. Chronic (long-term) rheumatological/autoimmune conditions are often prone to flares. Sometimes the cause is clear: overwork, stress, a change in medication, another illness, etc. Sometimes no cause is apparent.
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Is 1 mg enough 
I'm new here
Almost 8 months still struggling
