Carol
Polymyalgia has certainly been a curse. The Prednisone to "control" the symptoms is even worse it seems. I am currently tapering the medicine, and each time I decrease the dose (am currently only decreasing it 1 mg. every two weeks) there is something else to deal with. Last week, I decreased the dose and within 5 days, had the most excruciating pains in my neck, shoulders, chest and upper back!!! I also have heart problems, and could not tell if the pain was cardiac related or not---took Nitro to try to get rid of the pain, and it worked--was seen in the ER and all the cardiac workup was normal--so doc decided it was the PMR. Still had the terrible pains, so went to my PCP who did absolutely nothing except tell me to increase the Prednisone AGAIN--I chose not to do that!! I went to my chiropractor who gave me one heck of an adjustment to my neck and upper back, and within 24 hours, I am 75 % better! This is not to say that it will work for everyone, but I was so desperate for relief, that I decided I wasn't going to go back up on the dose of the dreaded Prednisone if I could help it. I intend to taper it again next week as planned and just get down to my target dose of 7.5 and remain there is at all possible. I am sick of this disease ruling my life--wish me luck!!