The best Christmas gift | Arthritis Information

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Dear all,

After 3 ½ years with pmr, I am now free of pred since last week. When I started, I was told by the doctor that it would take ½-1 year - how little they knew then. During those past years, I have understood that younger and younger people get pmr and sometimes you know better than the doctors - you know how your body reacts to medicine. I have been lucky to have a milder variety with less pain than most of you. My final advice is - take it easy with tapering - it doesnt pay to go down too fast as you may have a backlash. I took it easy and tapered gradually each time I went down. It is better to do like that and be pain free and not have to go back up as it is usually very negative.

Good luck, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Ragnar
Thanks Ragnar and congratulations on getting off the pred and not having the pmr come back. I was just talking with my wife about a new tappering plan as I just had to up my pred because I tappered too fast. I have had pmr since April and I too felt that I was going to be the exception and get off the pred in just a few months. If was down to 12mg from 60mg at the start. Now over the last 2 weeks I am back up to 25 and can't seem to get back to the pain level I was at before the pmr came back. I am a bit bummed but hoping I can lick this stuff one of these days. I am going to go back and read the tapper plan you put on here a few months ago. Is that what worked for you? And do you still recommed it?

Thanks Craig

Merry Christmas and have a great PMR free new yearThanks Craig,

 
Yes, I still think that tapering should be done slowly and the new dose should be taken gradually. If you start on 80 mg, I would imagine that it would be best to taper 5 mg every 3 weeks or so. I started on 20 mg, so I don´t have the experience going higher. I had to start tapering 2,5 mg every 3-4 weeks and that´s why I think you could taper 5 mg in the beginning and then go even slower. I understand, though, that you should get down from the high doses as fast as possible - but I´m no doctor.
 
Good luck
 
Ragnar
 Radnar,
 
 congratulations on getting off the prednisone.  I needed to hear a success story. That is great for you. I think I also needed someone remind me to taper slowly.  I'm losing my patience and having a lot of pain.  My poor arms are the worst.  I should not have lowered that last dose before going back to my rheumy.  I wonder how much is weather related.  I live in R.I. and it's cold and snowy. 
  Good luck to you too Craig.  We'll get there too! 

Cathy
Yay Ragnar, well done.

Do you think that you did anything in particular , as well as lowering the pred slowly , to beat the PMR?

How old are you and how long did you have PMR?

Did you keep looking for answers or just relax into your body?

Did you keep working?

sorry , so many questions.    Zali
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