Re: Good Visit with Rheumy

Obviously, if the disease is arrested you are not losing more muscle tissue but you have already lost some and you are probably much more inactive which atrophies your muscles.

Only way to bring them back is to use them....physical therapy and other physical activity. I lost 35 lbs of muscle mass in dec and spent 5 weeks as an in patient in a rehab hospital and 7 weeks as an out patient. I have gone from totally crippled, unable to raise my arms, and unable to swallow to walking and independent again. However, my overall strength is no more than 40% of predisease strength. You should see my half sized arms, wimpy chest, shoulders, forearms, rear, legs, etc.

Since the first of the year I have come back a long way thru therapy but it is slow and difficult. The big caveat on any program is not to overdue it and cause a relapse.

I have done too much this week and will really take it easy this weekend.

My doc has reduced the prednisone from 60 to 25 mg but kept imuran at 150. After getting off prednisone the plan is to try and reduce the imuran which I will be on for at least a couple of years. Fortunately, I have not had any noticeable side effects from the prednisone but many have severe ones, including weakness and fatigue. I understand that side effect usually comes after taking prednisone for a long time.

Hope you feel better. Your doc is giving you the same type of advice I got several months ago....it worked. The head doc at the rehab hospital gave a talk on me yesterday as an example of a successful rehab. Wish I could be famous for something else....like winning the lotto!