Hi everyone, I've now been on 16.5mg of prednisone for 2+wks. Up until today, I pretty much felt it was doing it's job. Now today, I can hardly turn my neck from side ro side! Could this be a flair? I've even been putting "Ben-gay" on the back of my neck all day but to no avail. I'm looking to taper to 15mg. next wk.but I'm not so sure right now. Also, my fingers are Very stiff today. Any advice?
I've had a terrible stiff neck today, too. But I think it's because I have osteoarthritis and yesterday I carried a very heavy backpack and must have injured something. I also sat in a bit of a draft for a while yesterday. Then the weather changed overnight and it's gone all damp and unpleasant today. Do you remember doing anything, and/or is the weather doing anything which could be affecting you? I always look for reasons like that first, before blaming PMR.
Saw my physiotherapist for the first time in about four months today. It was a coincidence as I'd booked the appointment for my long standing rotator cuff problems, but she treated the neck a little bit, too, and I felt much better most of the day, although I'm stiffening up again now, need to get off the computer!
Thx Anhaga! No, no changes. Just a painful neck and stiff (and becoming painful) fingers. I know what you mean about the computer. My hands are really stiffening up as I hold this phone. My appointment w/reuhmy isn't 4 a few weeks and she's on vacation. I really rely on this forum for information!
If it is a couple of weeks since you reduced it is quite likely that you have reduced your dose too much. What was your previous dose? I would not reduce next week if you still have pain. The PMR will win.
No, actually I had to Increase my dose from 12.5 to now 16.5mg. This was due to my own fault in wanting to taper too quickly, some questionable advice from my former doctor, and a change to my present doc! And yes, as much as I want off of prednisone asap, I'm leary of reducing to 15mg next week even though that's what the doctor wants me to do. Again, my doctor's on vacation till end of September and left me with these instructions!😕
If you can’t put it to something else, you might want to increase the prednisone. I had to go from 10 all the way to 40 a while back, but now I’m back to 12 1/2.
Time to go extra slowly.. as doin as you get to 15 , at least for my body.
Good Luck, and please don’t suffer more than you have to!
Not 40... 30! That was bad enough-
Jeeeezz....10mg to 30?? That sounds like a huge bum up! Did you have any. negative side effects? How long did it take to.get back down again? What would your advice be for me to taper to 15.5mg next week instead of 15? As I said, I can't contact my doc for a few weeks yet!
I was at my Rheumatologist this week and I asked her , if I felt a flare up coming during reduction of prednisone, what should I do ?
My rheumatologist advised to go higher on the prednisone to when I was comfortable..
Does look to me , like you are having a mini flare up.
Feel better.
My last post was intended for you Anhaga.
Hope you feel well soon.
I was at my Rheumatologist this week and I asked her , if I felt a flare up coming during reduction of prednisone, what should I do ?
My rheumatologist advised to go higher on the prednisone to when I was comfortable..
Does look to me , like you are having a mini flare up.
Feel better.
Thank you r.d.s....your information is very comforting. I hate to mess with medication w/o conferring with my doctor. In this case, I don't have much of a choice. I think I'll take 1mg (cuz I don't have any smaller dosage pills and they're just too small for me to break!), and then try the 16.5mg again till next week. I'm supposed to reduce to 15mg at that point, but maybe I'll try 15.5 instead. Please let me know if that sounds like a "plan" to you. This stuff makes me Crazy, Nervous!!
Ps....at my next visit, I'm gonna sure ask for a prescription of 1/2mg. tabs!
You should try increasing by 1mg.
Try looking on the positive side of things, we are getting help for this auto immune disease ,and at least we are on the right road to getting better. Like most things in life we have these ups and downs.
It's a setback not a defeat. Always remember that.
I have a 17 year old grand daughter, who, from the age of four was diagnosed with diabetes 1.
I can't allow myself self pity, as there is always someone worse off than I. In this case, a little girl, who is the light of my life. So brave, injecting herself from a very early age.
You will find that 1mg is the smallest quantity ..
Try buying a sharp pill cutter. They do the trick.
Good luck Lynda, stay strong and positive. ❤️
There aren't 1/2mg tablets - you have to get a pill cutter. How do you get 16.5mg? Are there 2.5mg tablets?
But if you have symptoms at 16.5mg then there isn't much point reducing to a lower dose is there?
I had low level light therapy at the physiotherapist's on Tuesday and have been much better today. No increase in pred. She also did some massage, said she could feel restriction of movement and worked to loosen things up. She's a miracle worker..... We also had a nice catch up as I was last there four months ago. In the interim she and her family (husband and twin three year old girls) have moved from a condo into a house, and I'm intending to move from a house into a condo. Different generations!
Sorry for the delay in getting back to you. Yes, I do have both 1mg and 2.5mg tabs. I'm pretty sure they do come in half mg. as well here in the states. Not sure but I'll be checking.
If you do you will be the first. People have looked before.
Why would a manufacturer go to the expense of making 1/2mg tablets when there are 2.5mg and 1mg available - they allow you to work in 1/2mg steps down to 2mg and then you cut a 1mg tablet. Dose sizes that are not used regularly are relatively far more expensive and often are not covered by insurance as a result.