yes i to have cateracts i hope it will go for you very soon i have had it for two and a half years now and really fed up with it some days ,my walking is very bad and this upsets me very much as it stops me doing so many things in life
Just an update on things. I'm now down to 5mg/day prednisolone from the initial 10mg and reducing by 0.5mg every 2 months. Fingers crossed I'll get off the prednisolone by early 2013. I've been reducing the dose steadily by 1mg every 2 months but I'm reducing the rate of reduction to 0.5mg a time now the dose is quite low and making sure I don't have PMR symptoms returning. My doctors, one a GP (MD in US speak) and my diabetes doctor both say much the same thing, that is not to rush dose reductions if at all possible. But then again, I have had absolutely no side effects from the prednisolone. For me the PMR was a darn sight worse than the treatment. I was told PMR can be progressive and lead to anemia. Also that conditions like PMR that appear to be autoimmune related are more common in Type 1 diabetics - like me. Oh well. Plodding on. Wonder what I'll be in for next, then. lol!
I was diagnosed in october 2011 and have been on 15 mg of prednisone daily ever since. Just recently the feeling in my hands started to return. I expect to be on prednisone for a lot longer from what I have read, but I do wonder if my dosage should be lower
God, I hate this disease. I got back from an 11 day safari in Africa and after a 22 hour flight back, my hip flexors locked up for about 5 weeks, along with severe carpel tunnel in both hands and arms, knee hurting, severe upper arms (both), and terrible insomnia. I was on Vicodin, Ambien, you name it and nothing would help. I finally begged to see a neurologist who sent me on to a rheumatologist. I was diagnosed back September 2011. Started out on 20 mgs and was down to 5mg prednisone. Flared up and am now on 7 mg for a month, down to 6 for a month, and then 5mg. My HUGE problem is I have severe insomnia. I have tried Ambien, Ambien ER, Trazodone, and now
Lunestra. I am now going to give medical marijuana a try tonight. I cannot go on without the sleep. This disease is killing me. Everyday is terrible, I hate who I am, I am moody, thought about suicide (never in my 60 years has this entered my mind), gained 22 lbs and losing my hair. I want my old self back who would work out everyday for an hour. My carpel tunnel is back with a vengence. Is there any hope for a normal life again?
yes believe me when I say I know how you feel but it will get better and it doesn't last for the rest of our lives...hang in there and just emerge yourself in the now and use the pool for exercise it has saved me..you will survive this please don't do anything to hurt yourself..I know how you feel it is a very depressing disease but it will go away...I am in my 2nd year but I am getting better and I enjoy the times I feel ok and just rest and read etc on the bad days and keep reminding myself that I will get better.
Thank you for the kind words. I just have to keep my head up but sometimes I just can't
I am 37 and I had chronic fatigue syndrome since I got a viral infection in my lings early 2009. On a trial of 50 mg, the chronic fatigue disappeared and I felt like a human again, not a slug, barely able to get around! I got down to 10 mg and the symptoms and CPR went high so he called me at home to increase my dose to 20 mg. These few months of being on high doses of Prednisone and being told maybe it's just in my head (by the doc who prescribed the prednisone) has been totally exhausting so I wonder what is worse? The muscle exhaustion or the insomnia and run down feeling of having a continuous cold! Right at the moment I have both as I start the higher dose tomorrow
My doctor is treating me for polymalgia rheumatica despite that I have had no response to 30 mg of prednisone over 4-5 mos. Has anyone known of cases unresponsive to prednisone? Just added methotrexate to the prednisone. Still have consistent SED rate over 200 and CRP over 200.
Is anyone aware of diagnosis of polymyalgia rheumatica that is non-responsive to prednisone? 20-30 mg for 4 months. Dr just added methotrexate. I have consistent SED over 100 and CRP over 200. Also anemic.
I started to relapse at 15 mg (although my CPR only slightly increased to 20 increased) so I am back at 20 mg for another month, but I can't stay there. I wonder if a Rhuematologist could shed some light?
My husband has been taking prednisone for polymyalgia rheumatica for 7 months now. His polymyalgia symptoms have been alleviated but he has developed a serious eye disease, central serous chorioretinopathy, as a result. At first this was diagnosed as macular degeneration but has now been diagnosed as csr. Are there any substitutes for prednisone for polymyalgia rheumatica as he does not want to lose his vision????
I saw Dr. Andrew Dickens in Scottsdale, AZ who thought it was caused by long-term tooth problems; that a long course of antibiotics 3 days of Clindamycin + 3 months' Minocin might halt the problem
06/13/2012
I developed PMR at 70 in March, 2011. I was treated with 10 mg of Prednisone starting in June, 2011 and the stiffness improved remarkably after 48 hours. My ESR decreased each month and I am now on 1 mg. I had two setbacks. I did not realize what it meant when I read that Prednisone weakened the immune system. On a cruise I developed ear, eye and bronchial infections. I had to increase the Prednisone and take an antibiotic. Also I developed pollen allergies. I do not know yet (waiting on the ESR result) if I have to go back to 2 mg.
IMO you are smart to start with the 10 mg. 20 mg is the usual in the USA and that was prescribed to me. I weigh 115 lbs so I asked to start with 10 mg. This worked and I have been able taper down to 1 mg within 12 months.
I still have some stiffness especially when I have an infection or an allergic reaction. I avoid crowds and wear a mask when I notice the pollen getting to me. I suspect I will have to do these things until I no longer have the Prednisone side effects. I do not know how long this will be. Also, it appears that I can pass the ESR test and still have PMR symptoms.
I have hypothyroidism (low thyroid) and I take medication for this. I pass the blood test for low thyroid but still have many symptoms of the disease. I think this is the best that can be done for both these conditions. Unfortunately I have not met an MD that wants to hear about the symptoms other than my primary care physicians who says that other patients pass the ESR test but still have symptoms.
Getting tested is different than being treated but MDs don't seem to recognize this.
I can put up with the stiffness better than with the weakened immune system.
No MD has told me of any cure.
I developed PMR at 70 in March, 2011. I was treated with 10 mg of Prednisone starting in June, 2011 and the stiffness improved remarkably after 48 hours. My ESR decreased each month and I am now on 1 mg. I had two setbacks. I did not realize what it meant when I read that Prednisone weakened the immune system. On a cruise I developed ear, eye and bronchial infections. I had to increase the Prednisone and take an antibiotic. Also I developed pollen allergies. I do not know yet (waiting on the ESR result) if I have to go back to 2 mg.
IMO you are smart to start with the 10 mg. 20 mg is the usual in the USA and that was prescribed to me. I weigh 115 lbs so I asked to start with 10 mg. This worked and I have been able taper down to 1 mg within 12 months.
I still have some stiffness especially when I have an infection or an allergic reaction. I avoid crowds and wear a mask when I notice the pollen getting to me. I suspect I will have to do these things until I no longer have the Prednisone side effects. I do not know how long this will be. Also, it appears that I can pass the ESR test and still have PMR symptoms.
I have hypothyroidism (low thyroid) and I take medication for this. I pass the blood test for low thyroid but still have many symptoms of the disease. I think this is the best that can be done for both these conditions. Unfortunately I have not met an MD that wants to hear about the symptoms other than my primary care physicians who says that other patients pass the ESR test but still have symptoms.
Getting tested is different than being treated but MDs don't seem to recognize this.
I can put up with the stiffness better than with the weakened immune system.
No MD has told me of any cure.
My MD is convinced that Prednisone is the cure. At 20 mg (I started at 50 mg) I felt awesome but not as activated and immune suppressed like at 50 mg. I am going to 17.5 mg because my CRP is normal for the the first time in 2.5 years! Apparently it can go away with 1 to 2 years of Prednisone treatement.
But at age 70, you have to be careful with all medications, everything is metabolized slow and most drugs much more powerful. For me, however, only 10 mg PRednisone for me is a relapse of PMR but I am only 38. I also benefit at my age as my bones are probably healthy and I am doing lots of exercise and taking 1000 mg calcium and 1000 IU vit D. In fact, I was already taking the vitamins before treatment started so I probably had a great store to start with.
I think that being half the mean age of diagnosis makes makes it harder to treat but I am sure we are on the right tract now. It is a big experiment. I've been undiagnosed and on disability for 2 years now, and now I feel great and rehabing slowly (not as fast as a normal person.)
My rehab over the last 6 weeks has been about equilivent to a healthy persons 2-3 week rehab because I developed chronic pain syndrome, but apparently exercise is the key, one minute progression everyday. I started to take Tylenol Arthritis and it is actually taking care of some of the pain (before it did nothing). I am so grateful to finally have a treatment plan and glad that PMR does go away eventually.
But at age 70, you have to be careful with all medications, everything is metabolized slow and most drugs much more powerful. For me, however, only 10 mg PRednisone for me is a relapse of PMR but I am only 38. I also benefit at my age as my bones are probably healthy and I am doing lots of exercise and taking 1000 mg calcium and 1000 IU vit D. In fact, I was already taking the vitamins before treatment started so I probably had a great store to start with.
I think that being half the mean age of diagnosis makes makes it harder to treat but I am sure we are on the right tract now. It is a big experiment. I've been undiagnosed and on disability for 2 years now, and now I feel great and rehabing slowly (not as fast as a normal person.)
My rehab over the last 6 weeks has been about equilivent to a healthy persons 2-3 week rehab because I developed chronic pain syndrome, but apparently exercise is the key, one minute progression everyday. I started to take Tylenol Arthritis and it is actually taking care of some of the pain (before it did nothing). I am so grateful to finally have a treatment plan and glad that PMR does go away eventually.
I am a 77 yr old woman. I got PMR in 2007, took 20 mg Pred for 2 yrs and it took me 18 months to wean off. I now have it back!!!! I am going to try maintenance at 10 mg and see if that works , if the pain comes back, I will up the dosage a little. I experienced 60 lb weight gain, moon face, osteopina and other minor symptoms. I f the pain of PMR was not so verysevere, I would NEVER go back to Pred!!! But , it is a miracle drug , for this disease.