reduced steroid

[Shaza123]

hi not posted for a while, I’ve got awful pain in my arms/ shoulders and my hands are so painful. I have tried to get Intouch with my Rheumatologist but no response as yet. I’m rubbing anti inflammatory cream on my hands and taking paracetamol but no relief. Do you think it’s my PMR or my RA I’m so depressed with it.

[SnazzyD]

Oh dear what a misery. What dose of Pred are you on? Your last post 5 months ago wasn’t a happy one so what has happened between then and now?

[Shaza123 in reply to SnazzyD]

Well I’ve now got down to half a milligram and been on this for nearly three months after taking advice from my Rheumatologist. I’ve been in so much pain the past few weeks with my hands and arms/ shoulders. I’m just not sure if my arms are due to PMR and I think my hand pains are the RA it’s so difficult. I really don’t want to up my dose of pred as I’ve worked so hard to decease it,but I know I can’t go on like this I’ve gone backwards big time.

I was wondering if they could prescribe anything other than pred to help. I’m still on methotrexate 20mg injections once a week. Thanks for th e reply’s much appreciated h

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Shaza123]

You might need a short course of pred to deal with a flare of RA - even with MTX it happens. If it is the PMR it might be slightly more but for longer. But the point is to be as symptom-free as possible. If it is the PMR and you aren't on enough pred, it will get worse, not better.

[SnazzyD in reply to Shaza123]

PMRPro has said it really. You may be one of those people where Methotrexate doesn’t cover all of your PMR at the moment and you need a boost of Pred.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to SnazzyD]

Or even the RA - all autoimmune disorders flare at some point and more often than not it is dealt with by a course of pred. It is actually why even rheumies struggle with how we need to use pred as a longterm medication rather than occasional use for flares and stopagain.

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

As other things haven’t helped have you tried an extra mg or two to see if that makes a difference, or even the flare protocol… but might be helpful if we had a bit more info as suggested by SnazzyD.

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Had you reduced the dose of pred and then your hands got sore? If so it could well be PMR although RA could be to blame too. But without knowing a lot more it is impossible to make a guess.

[Shaza123 in reply to PMRpro]

Hi ,I’ve been on half a milagram for 4 months so I don’t think it’s that that . I’ve been and had my bloods taken today to see how there doing. The doctor thinks increasing my gabapentin may help. I’ve had the rheumatologist nurse ring today and they’re going to ring tomorrow morning so fingers crossed I may get some help.

Thank you for all your advice much appreciated

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Shaza123]

The disease activity can also increase - not just the dose decrease. If the dose is only minimally too low to deal with all the inflammation each day, it can take months before it builds up enough to actually feel it.