Adele
Dear Shar: I read your posts, and hope you're doing better now. I tapered the pred very slowly - 1/2 mg every 2 weeks, and that seemed to work well. I am now down to 3 mg. and morning shoulder pain and hip pain eases during the day, but I am so fatigued I must lie down during the day. I've developed red spots on my arms and chest from the pred. They start out bright blood red, then darken. I am 86, so perhaps these wouldn't happen to a younger person, but they are definitely from the pred, and are written up in the medical journal. In spite of my age, I was before PMR, very active, walking 18 holes of golf 7 days a week. Now, I can't play, as it's hard to bend. There were days, I couldn't pick up something that dropped to the floor. But I am doing much better, and surviving well on the 3 mg. So don't get discouraged, I think it's important to taper the pred very slowly. I went down from 20 at only 1/2 mg. every 2 weeks. I also take tylenol arthritis pain each night. Best wishes for a swift recovery! Adele