For months I have struggled with tendonitis and pains and weakness in my arms which I thought was the PMR but after a lot searching think the likely cause is Prednisolone. cortisone-info.com/en/side-...
Does anyone else have this problem and has it eased or gone away as Pred is reduced or is this here to stay. I am down to 1 mg now and apart from weakness in my arms and tendinitis symptoms I feel fine.
I certainly developed tendon problems which became apparent under 10mg after starting on 60mg. The tendons affected were mainly the forearms and Achilles but also, neck and pelvis. I also had rapid muscle loss within the first few months of Pred. I had also had a history of Achilles damage from Fluroquinalone antibiotics about 15 years previously. Previously fit at 54 and active, once high dose Pred commenced I was unable to do much exercise at all other than do a slow walk with my dogs for 2-3km. Any strenuous activity was out of the question. At one point lifting a kettle wasn’t easy I was so weak. I don’t know if what exercise I did on top of Pred was still too much or not. I do worry for those who keep up high impact exercise to keep in condition in case their Pred is masking the micro damage being done within until later when the dose is much lower. Who knows?I had got to the point of hobbling so went to a podiatrist and a physio who specialised in pelvic problems after a year of referrals that were useless. They both identified weakness in my hips and anything near them so I worked on that with prescribed exercises. Orthotics in my shoes helped the Achilles by also evening out a gait issue I’d always had. I think it is about 2-2.5 years since things started to deteriorate and 8 months off Pred and I’m much better, but I can’t do sustained repetitive activity that works the tendons any more. No idea if that’ll improve.
My similar problem is the PMR because it happened with PMR but a long time before pred appeared and it will reappear with weather changes or if I overuse my arms. It may well be that 12 years of pred don't help but I don't think that is the primary cause.
Like Snazzy I have a very picky achilles tendon - for the same reason, quinolone antibiotic combined with methyl prednisolone, but that can also happen with the antibiotic alone, mh husband took 2 tablets and his achilles protested so he was rapidly switched to his usual abx and it stopped hurting.
Hi, I too have muscle and shoulder pain in both arms, I’m waiting to see physio for this problem to see if it’s tendons or something else, the pain is excruciating in the mornings, I can’t even lift a kettle to make a cup of tea, I do take pain killers for this but it has no effect.
Hope you start to get improvement soon.
Xx
Does it improve at a tad more pred? A mg or 2 more pred has fewer adverse effects than most painkillers. The other thing to try is maybe some pred later in the day to extend the antiinflammatory offect to over 24 hours.
Hi, Thank you, I might try that, I’m so desperate to get off pred though, I have been trying for so long now, it seems my body is not ready to give them up yet, I’ve also noticed my vision isn’t as good since I’ve cut down (4mg) at moment.
Xx
We all want to be off pred - but you can't get off pred as long as the autoimmune disorder that causes the inflammation is still active. If that is the case - all stopping pred will achieve is the inflammation will build up again until you are back where you started. PMT isn't a short-term illness - it is a chronic disorder than take years - anything from a year up to burn out. Most autoimmune disorders don't ever burn out and you need medication for life - at least there is a chance with PMR.
I did try increasing dose on a bad day but the Pred doesn’t improve it. I have taken paracetamol which gives some slight relief. It isn’t as bad as it was and seems to occur less often, I’m hoping eventually it will go. I really enjoy swimming and was hoping I could start again .
That sounds like my symptoms, it started at around 10 or 9 mg which is also when I had carpel tunnel symptoms, tingling and numbness in my fingers. As I have reduced it isn’t as bad as it was but some days my arms and hands are weak and it hurts to pick up the kettle and other days it is fine. I have had MRI scans, X-rays , physio etc I’m currently on 1 mg and hoping if I get to 0mg it will eventually go and with physio and exercise it will improve.
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