Visit to my GP today to check on tingling numbness in hands feet and face -- apparently it's a side effect of PMR and/or prednisone, and nothing more serious. But I mentioned also a soft swelling above my collarbone -- he's ordered an urgent scan of my neck, which made me a little worried. Fast forward, and I've been Dr Googling, and I think it could be supraclavical fat pads, another side effect of taking prednisone -- does anyone else have experience of this?
I thought that starting off on 10mg last September I might escape some of the side effects, and am still so grateful for the pain relief I have, I wonder how those on higher doses cope....
i certainly have no idea what you have there but good Doc checking it out immediately.
I can share my experience. I too had that puffiness exactly where you do. Turns out to be exactly what you think, fatty pads. UGH! unfortunately Prednisones has given many
“fat pads” 
but i started at 60 mg. best wishes to you.
I have ‘fat pads’ everywhere, I even chew the inside of one cheek because it has affected me inside and out ! I’m now on 4mg of pred and counting down 1/2mg a week. good luck on your journey
I certainly had puffy bits above the collarbone - but I suppose it is laudable that a GP actually reacts to a potential problem! Though if I remember rightly, I also had similar puffy bits there and some PMR pain long before pred.
You cope at higher doses because there isn’t a lot of choice - although almost all the common side effects of pred can be managed when you know how. I always think having a flare now and again isn’t always a bad thing as it reminds you of the alternative to no pred!!!
*I always think having a flare now and again isn’t always a bad thing as it reminds you of the alternative to no pred!!!
I felt a bit like that, Eileen, when I saw on the news all the snow in Austria … made me less bothered about the unending cloud we have here. I hope you are not badly affected in N. Italy.
Hasn’t really got over the second lot of Alps! Though I have been able to see it snowing a few miles away there hasn’t been much even there - but about 30 miles away there has been nearly 3m since the middle of last week. That’s in the valley - more at altitude. But we have sun, occasional cloud and a few flurries of snow. Roads dry and clear - perfect winter weather in a lot of ways.
Thanks for all your replies, I’ve decided to see my rheumatologist, rather than having unnecessary scans. Most of the GPs at the practice I go to are unfamiliar, or have limited knowledge of PMR.