Minor injury - should I have adjusted my dosage?

[calibriel]

Hi everyone. I was diagnosed in 2020 and have been tapering my prednisolone slowly: just reached 2mg and all seems well. Yesterday I tripped and fell on the city pavement, and was lucky to escape with only minor injuries, which came mainly from putting out my hand to break my fall. I’m just back from having my very painful thumb x-rayed and examined, and I seem to have escaped without any injury to bone or ligament, although existing osteoarthritis in the joint apparently made the image hard to read. My question is, apart from the obvious pain and feeling a bit out of sorts, I haven’t any other symptoms so I haven’t increased my pred as for an accident. Do you think I should have done? This is the first chance I’ve had to really sit down and think about it. I told all the health professionals who saw me about the PMR and pred, but as we know most don’t have specialist knowledge. Thanks

[Bluey-1]

I tripped up the patio step a couple of weeks ago. Quite shaken with a bruised shoulder, knee and cut on left forehead. I didn’t take extra Prednisolone but I didn’t taper either for the following week until bruising healed. Just had CRP tested (2) on new dose and all is well.

[piglette]

As Bluey-1 says, don’t reduce! I would just stay where you are and take it easy and rest after the shock. If you start to have any PMR pains then reconsider.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I would say be aware - if you feel as if you are flaring, then consider a bit more pred. And definitely DON'T reduce!

[calibriel in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks - and thanks Bluey-1 and piglette too. I’m due to plateau for a couple of months now as I’ve just reached 2 after a fairly lengthy taper, so no intention of reducing in the near future; and I’ll keep a close eye for a possible flare

[SheffieldJane]

There is the shock to consider. I would take a couple of extra mgs for a week or so, if you feel at all wobbly.

[calibriel in reply to SheffieldJane]

Thanks SheffieldJane. Fortunately I’m retired so can take my foot off the pedal any time I choose. I was feeling a bit wobbly, but a quiet afternoon watching the tennis on the tv has done wonders; and it’s the weekend, when I don’t normally do anything much, so plenty of opportunity to rest and recover

[Bcol]

Nothing to really add to the other comments, at least the fall wasn't as bad as it might have been. Just be aware though that the shock might not make itself known for a couple of days so gently does it for the time being.

[Jackoh]

I did fall a few months back and was convinced I had broken my foot. I found it extremely hard to walk and I think there were many torn ligaments. I was on 7.5 at the time. I did go up on my dose to I think 10 mg for a week or so and then I easily dropped down. I was in the middle of a reduction from 7.5 to 7.0 but I abandoned that until after I felt things had settled down. 💐