after been on pred for 13 months staring at 20 and now down to 6mg and lowering by a quater at a a time. i have stopped taking alundronic acid, as it was giving me problems. i started taling vit d 3, will this be sufficient for my bones. all through my pred does i have been ok , apart from a little pain in the 2 bones i sit on which are still a little sore. but i can live with this pain. i just wonder if it will get progresivly worse when i get lower in my pred dose
can i just say this forum has been very helpfull so far polly
Pauline, you need to ask your GP for a Vit D blood test. If you are found to be deficient you will need a high dose supplement of Vit D3 to bring levels up to normal, generally over 3 months or so. I don't know what dose of Vit D you are taking at present but if your levels are low it may not be sufficient. Also, have you had a DEXA scan to check your bone density. This is another test you should have had before being put on Alendronic Acid - if your bone density was normal you didn't need it. Many of us because aware of the possible risks of this drug and decided not to take it.
If you still have pain on sitting then do be careful with further reductions in the steroids at this stage - it might be wise to take a little longer between reductions especially as you have only been on the steroids for 13 months. Flares in the disease can be very common in the first 12-18 months, so, yes, at this stage your pain could get worse as you lower the dose. Slowly, slowly is key to getting better - remember that the steroids are not curing PMR, but are just controlling the inflammation until PMR decides to go into remission.
You should have been given calcium and vit D tablets at the beginning - you need calcium too. You should also have had a dexascan to see how your bone density was.
The "pain in the bum" might be a little extra, not simply PMR, and there are other things to look at if it does get worse. Wait and see!
THANKS MRS O, I WILL TELL MY G P ON MY NEXT VISIT.NO I HAVE NO DEX SCAN. THE VIT D3 I AM TAKING IS FROM HOLLAND BARRETS 25UG. I WILL KEEP IN TOUCH I AM ON HOLIDAY IN 1 WEEK SO HOPING THE HOT SUN WILL HELP
THANKS EILEEN BOTH YOU AND MRS O SEEM TO KNOW WHATS WHAT, THE PAIN IN THE BUM I HAVE HAD FROM FIRST DIAGNOSIS OF PMR. BUT IT DISSAPEARD AT 20 MG.
AND CAME BACK AROUND THE 12 MG RANGE BUTNOT GOT ANY WORSE ON FUTHER REDUCTION.
HTANKS FOR THE INFOE. IAM 72 YEARS, AND APART FROM THE PMR I AM IN GOOD HEALTH.