Hi Phil, I'm really sorry you are having so much pain. It's interesting, in some of my dreams I am walking normal and doing stairs just fine and in others I have trouble with the stairs. I prefer the 1st type, if only it were true. I understand your frustration because that's where I'm at now with the new dr. I'm on 10mgs of prednisone daily and he said the side affects would be minimnal. Well, I've been on it since the end of Jan. and my mid-section is expanding, I am getting sharp pains in my extremities, my toes are cramping/curling again. I take 3mgs of folic acid daily. I have 2 drs who feel I am going into IBM, this new one says no. So, if I go to a 4th what will he say! I have another appt on 4-9 so we'll see if he had any luck in finding my slides from 7 years ago. Also, he requested more medical info from the rheumy. The new guy is from Northwestern and I know they have a great reputation. Had an MRI of my neck because I have jumpy relfexes in my arms. But, the MRI did not show any compression issues like the dr. thought. I would prefer to have another deep muscle biopsy but I know it can take 2-3 of them to find what they are looking for if a person has IBM. So, the next appt should be interesting. Jim's post was quite disheartening with what could happen. I can't imagine people having to deal with so much pain 24/7. I don't feel that bad until I stand up and have to start trying to walk. Got that EZ-step cane and it does make a world of difference for steps/curbs. Have to really think what foot to use first. But, isn't that what our lives are now - constantly thinking of what and how we are going to do something. I pray for better days for all of us. Hang in there.
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