So I was diagnosed with PMR 4.5 years ago. Up and down the steroids a bit having started on 15 mgs Pred. At the start of this year I was on 10mg again! Found it very hard to taper. Put on methotrexate in Feb and still not able to reduce so end ofay I in agreement with the rheumatologist I stopped the methotrexate and carried on with the DSNS 7 week tapering plan. It was working really well for me and I was taking my time in-between drops of doses. I world have said that the PMR had gone very quiet and I was happy with the taper. Yesterday and today I'm quite bad. Aches all over. My legs and behind my arthritic knees are quite bad. Am having to slow down and cancel exetcose classes ( not strenuous) and meeting up with people. I. am poorly.I have OA in my two knees ( Bakers Cyst behind left knee), left hand (recently infected corticosteroid) right thumb and right foot. Wondering if it's a flare now that the weather has gone cold and if the adrenal glands are not working yet. I'm currently on week 5 of the 7 week tapering plan ( 5 days new dose and 2 days new dose).After all of that do those knowledgeable and experienced people think I should up dosage by 5mg for 5/7 days and go back to 8mg where I was quite comfortable? The aches are so debilitating today. Will improve as the day goes on but will still have quite stiff knees. Sorry for this long post and I hope I phrased it properly.
Thanks for taking time to read it. I can see you are busy. All the best 🙏
Written by
lkcreedon
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As you are nearing the end of this current taper would say it's probably a flare - so yes treat it as such... 7 days at least at increased dose.. but you can stay there for 14 days without impacting drop back down.. to 8mg.
You are also correct in thinking adrenals as well.. so maybe stick at 8mg for a month or so to give them a change to catch up... and if not already doing would suggest only 0.5mg reduction at a time.. and any tapering plan can be increased in time by repeating each stage/week ..
Really no rush, you have other health issues as well which make tapering more difficult, and some enlightened rheumies suggest no tapering during coldest part of year.
Thanks Dorset Lady for your advice. I will do just that now this morning. Bit down with it all. You think it's going well then it's not 😔. I will increase by 5mg and take it very slowly. You are great 🤗
Just to say I agree with everything DL has said. I'm all stiff and fed up this morning - as the latest lot of rain has arrived in the Alps, the other end of a big swathe of a rain front stretching from west of Ireland to here!!! It has been uncanny how your weather and ours has duplicated this year, it doesn't usually. I find I'm worse in the couple of days before the rain arrives. Whatever some doctors think - weather does make a big difference.
No apologies needed - that isn't a very long post!
Tnx PMRpro. Yes very uncanny really. My friend is just back from some region down the west coast of Italy and they had a few days of poor weather. Well my Rhumie dies make a difference as well. Mind yourself 🤗
A few DAYS of poor weather - I'd take that!! This year we have had one or two days of nice -ish weather at a time - then 4 or 5 of rain and no sun. We just don't DO no sun ...
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Is this a start of a flare
”Average” Time on Prednisone Before Beginning Initial Taper
Flare or adrenal crisis?
Panic attack or adrenal insufficiency?
I am so annoyed with myself: yo-yoing,i would value your thoughts
