I am down to 3mg of Pred this week having followed DL's 5 week slow taper since last September with just a few bumps on the way.
I have now had a slight pain on both sides of my neck since Sunday, it may be phsycological as that was the start of week 5 when I reduced to 3mg for the next 7 days, but i think it is real.
How long do I let this go before deciding it is the start of a flare? and if it is, and I am recommended to increase my Pred, by how much?
I have previusly read go up by 5mg, does that still apply at such a low dose? as that means nearly double what I am currently taking.
I did not notice the pain last week??
Thanks in advance
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Golf-1
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A few bumps along the road is always a tad worrying.
Would say you are a bit too low, and even with a slow taper that's not always noticeable until you get fully to lower dose.
Two options really - go back to 2nd or 3rd week of taper and repeat, or bite the bullet and treat as flare..and yes adding 5mg is recommended no matter what dose you are on. It's only for a week or so, and then you drop back down to just above dose that caused issue - so I'd suggest back to 3.5mg in your case.
Maybe consider the 7 week taper in future - gives a bit more leeway. Or stick with 5 week plan, but repeat each week.
The adding 5mg is just to be sure you are clearing out accumulated inflammation to get a clear run at things again. It is only for a short time and then you drop straight back to where you were last good, it really isn't that daunting and there is no longwinded tapering.
If you have been having bumps during a taper, that suggests you are on the borderline of the dose you need anyway so when you get that little bit lower it isn't too surprising if it is too low.
Is there any chance you have strained your neck? It sounds like sternocleidomastoid muscle problems - were they part of your PMR originally?
SnazzyD has a brilliant video - which I can never find!!!
After 2 1/2 years of almost no activity due to this PMR, I allowed myself to think that reaching 3 1/2 - 3.0mg of Pred meant I was on top of it and could catch up with some of my jobs in the garden. I feel I need to get some exercise, tree felling was obviously a step too far - it is now back to bike riding and a bit of walking for the next 6 months
Sure you are, but careful with chain saws -can do a lot of damage -and not just sore shoulders.
Had to rush late hubby -an experienced woodman to local hospital one Saturday afternoon when a bough went rogue and wrenched said chainsaw out of his hands and into his knee! Luckily to kneecap prevented it from being lot worse…
Having been around them most of my working life, and even in retirement, I am very respectful of power tools of any kind and realise that however careful you are, sometimes things can go wrong. Fortunately for me, nothing too serious so far!!!
Here are some videos about neck pain. It’s worth keeping tabs on one’s neck condition and posture especially with muscles that aren’t at their best, deconditioning and the Pred effect. Not sure if these are the videos PMRPro means as I have a few.
Anatomy video that shows why we get the pain where we do
This one is more about exercises for the sternokleidomastoid muscle. His video on cervicogenic dizziness covers the other neck muscles that can also go wrong.
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