back pain again

[Lacelady]

About a year ago I developed lower back pain and with your good advise took ibuprofen and that cleared it up. This time it is different I am not sure if I have a flare or not.

I have been on 2mg for most of the year and happy. I have tried twice to reduce to 1.5mg, the first time I succeeded but caught a chest infection so followed the sick day rules and increased for a sort time then went back to 2mg. This time after following the DSNS method I was on 1.5mg for three weeks when the back pain came back. I tried paracetamol and then ibuprofen but they had no effect so increased to 5mg for a week. It did help so i reduce to 4.5mg. However I still have the pain after two weeks.

Did I not increase my dose enough to wipe out the infection? Or should I go back to my doctor to see if it is something else?

Unfortunately I am now running out of Pred as I only get 1mg tablets.

Thank you for your help and advice over the years I like many others wouldn’t know how to manage without you all .

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I think you need a medical opinion - I'm not sure what you mean by "Did I not increase my dose enough to wipe out the infection? ". PMR is due to inflammation not an infection.

But PMR can flare up in response to other illnesses and maybe that is what happened. Whatever it is, you need to see the GP to get enough pred don't you?

[Lacelady in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for for replying . My mistake ! I meant to say inflammation.

I have ordered some more pred and they have approved it so that is a relief.

Now that I have been on a higher dose for two weeks and I will probably have to stick to it until I can see some improvement that will mean I will have to reduce back again to 2mg very slowly won’t I ?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lacelady]

The fact you still have pain at 4.5/5mg is concerning - it signals the possibility of a proper flare as opposed to accidentally overshooting the dose you need. That alone means a slower taper is needed to identify what you need now. Were you better at 5mg than you are at 4,5?

[Lacelady in reply to PMRpro]

Yes I think so but it was marginal. I am going back to 5mg now but wonder if 6 would be better?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Lacelady]

May well be - only one way to find out!

[Lacelady in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you . I think 6 it is and as you say wait and see.