sternum fracture up date | Arthritis Information

Up date on my sternum ..... it is healing and I am mobile again. Whew!! I was really worried that it would never get better, but it has. Ya!!

I still need Tramadol but have stopped the Endone.

I had a DEXA this week and my spine is showing improvement and my hip just a small improvement since my last one 4 years ago. Ya again!!!

Even thou I still have Osteoporosis, its encouraging to know that the Alcasta / Reclast appears to be helping.

Lyn,
So glad to hear that you are healing. I was wondering how much prednisone you are on and how long you've had PMR. I'm into my 2nd year now, down to 9 mg. of prednisone from a whopping 60 mg. in the beginning. I've also been taking 100 mg of tramadol a.m. and p.m. AND an antidepressant. All in all, I'm in better shape than I was last summer before I was diagnosed. If I don't take the tramadol, I ache in my shoulders, arms, hips and thighs all the time, kind of like I have the flu.

Have you found that the plaquenil has helped you reduce the prednisone further? Methotrexate left me too nauseated to go to work at my teaching job. I have gone to 1/2 time at work since I've gotten this dread disease. I don't think I could work full-time. Are you working?

Gentle hugs,

JannieHi Jannie, the short version: I was working, Admin in our Business when I got ' sick' in July 2005. I have only ' worked' when I want and thats been very rare. I definately could not have and now, hold down any type of work. ( brain fog too)x

Flu, pain in left shoulder, then right shoulder, then left midriff, weight loss, anaemic, hot sweating flushes, nauseated....High ESR & CRP..high white cell count, numerous blood tests for everything, Xrays ,CT scans, had a bone marrow biopsy ..negative!

Finally March 2006 was prescribed 10mg Pred to see if I had PMR. No relief until the 3rd week then every day so much better! Ya!! BUT who had ever heard of this PMR??

I was seeing a Physician and then a Rheumy who said he would have started me at a higher dose of Pred. Then with Esophageal ulcers I tried to take all the Osteo meds, Fosamax, Actonal, Evista etc. I tolerated Strontium Ranelate but got bowel incontinance, another No to that!

I tried many times to reduce the Pred over the next 2 years and I was stuck at 5mg Pred when the Plaquenil was added after Osteoporosis fracture in 2008. I got to 4mg okay but flared badly when I went lower , even thou I did the very slow alternating reduction.

My 1st Reclast infusion was in Dec 2008. MTX added shortly after. Must get off Pred before another fracture. Did the slow reduction again during the next 6 months or so, went thro HELL.. stopped PRED 26th Jan 2010. Had the 2nd Reclast in Dec 2009. The Tramadol,

Mogadon sleeping tabs , Endep low dose, a mild antidepressant helped to keep going to stop but in the end.......

By mid Feb 2010 I was almost an invalid again.. all the PMR symptoms back! So back on Pred at 5mg... Alive again.! they are saying now I may have to be on some level of Pred for a very long time.. Then the sternum fracture April 2010 and the rest you know.

Sorry if that was the short version ? xxx