I tapered from 15mg to 13mg and have been at 13 for 18 days. 5 days ago I started getting pain again in my shoulders. It hasn't gotten any worse but yesterday I got some pain in my left hip. I am not sure what I should do at this point. Anyone have any answers, please?
Go back to 15mg. This is long enough for left over inflammation to have built up enough to cause symptoms. You aren't ready for 13mg yet. You MIGHT manage on 14mg - so try that next time.
Thanks Eileen, I was just hoping I could stay at 13 but, I will try 14. Thanks.
You need what you need. Or there is no point at all...
It doesn't mean you won't get lower - just not yet.
Mr Bella, I have tapered from 30 mg to 5 mg couple minor flare, but basically PMR pain free. I never reduce by more than 10% and follow the DSNS protocol or modified version. I think you should relax increase your dosage till reaching PMR pain free. Then reduce quickly to your controlled pain level. Then taper slowly when PMR stabilized taking nice and easy, rush you will take more Prednisone in the long run and suffer more pain. good luck and stay positive. 🙂
Thanks, I know you are right, it is just disappointing.
Thank you, I will do it. It's a battle but I am determined to win.
We're all in the same boat and are with you on this roller coaster. Up the dosage as Eileen says and take your time when you're ready to taper again. It's worth it in the long run! Tell us how you get on.
Mr. Bella, Im sorry for your experience, and renewed pain.. UGH!! I am similiarly discouraged. It took me 18 months to get from 30 to 11 1/2mgs.I felt so successful! Out of nowhere ... pain. had to g o all the way back to 30. still not pain free but much, much better . Back down to 22 by 10%s.... very slow decreases from here forward.
Thank you and we just have to keep up the good fight and not get in a hurry. I thank all of you for your advice and encouragement.
Thank you and I hope we all get through this sooner than later. It is really a tough fight.
Mr Bella, stay positive, it is not a cake walk, but you can do it!🙂
Thank you, I sure appreciate the encouragement.
Hello Eileen , I'm interested in your reply to Mr.Bella as I started to reduce from 15mg too 13mg Pednisone on Monday, currently on alternate days. I'm experiencing stiffness and some pain but have read somewhere that its not uncommon to get this for a time after are reduction and to persevere. Have you heard of this? However if correct, this wouldn't apply to Mr Bella who is still experiencing symptoms as he's done 18days at a reduced dose .
There is something called steroid withdrawal which is experienced usually when you try to reduce from a higher to a lower dose in too big a step. It is your body protesting at the change, it misses its buddy pred. It usually starts immediately you change the dose and then improves over the following week or two as your body gets more used to the new dose. It is very similar in symptoms to a flare so it is difficult to decide which except that a flare takes a few days or more to appear and then steadily gets worse.
The way to avoid it is to reduce in smaller steps - and it is really rather unfair to your body to switch from 15 to 13 dose from day to day, it has no idea where it is, No reduction should be more than 10% of the current dose - at this stage, not more than 1,5mg. I would reduce by 1mg at a time and I would use this approach:
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/reducing-pred-dead-slow-and-nearly-stop-method-531439
I'm biased of course - but it does work and patients find they have fewer problems.
EilleenH, good to see you are still giving out the good information. I am still doing okay, have another procedure next Monday, hope i can ski after that. This has been a great winter so far, one or two storm a week. How your weather in the Dolomites? I been following. Brexit drama. And of our course our government shut down, It gets my mind off not skiing. Thinking positive 😊
Hope you get back to skiing very soon x
You don't get rid of me easily ;)
The view is very wintery today as it snowed lightly overnight and now the sun is shining with barely a cloud in the sky. It's been a bit mixed the last week for fair-weather skiers - but we are safe here unlike in Austria where the avalanche risk has been very high.
Thanks Celia, I hope so!🙂
EileenH, unfortunately avalanches are always a risk when you have a good snow year. There was an avalanche at another NM ski area yesterday, two people caught in it one died in hospital. And they had set off charges to mitigate avalanches. Stay well! 🙂