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" I'm 49, could this be PMR" update on meds

Posted , 9 users are following.

Snoopboxermidge
Snoopboxermidge

I have had 3 doses of the 20 mg Prednisone and I already feel somewhat better. Not 100%, but definatly better. I can lift my arms almost up all the way, my right shoulder hurts when I do it. I don't feel like I have the flu, but I am really tired. my hips don't hurt as bad. Just really glad my dr. took a chance and ordered the prednisone even though technically there was no way I could have PMR. Now we'll have to see what the rheumatologist says when I see them (who know when that will be). Hopefully they won't insist on taking me off of it.

1 like, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • kathy61958
    kathy61958 Snoopboxermidge

    Posted

    why is there no way you could have PMR?

    • lynda62707
      lynda62707 kathy61958

      Posted

      I agree with Kathy! Why is there NO way? sounds like a very REAL possibility.

      since you've responded so quickly to prednisone, I'd say the chances are fairly good you do, indeed, have pmr.....

    • Snoopboxermidge
      Snoopboxermidge kathy61958

      Posted

      I talked about this in previous posts

      sorry, I guess I should have explained. I'm 49 and all labs came back normal. My dr. at first didn't want to order the prednisone because it didn't fit the requirements for pmr. But I wasn't getting better and talked him into doing a trial just to see what happens. I follow up with him on Thursday.

    • kathy61958
      kathy61958 Snoopboxermidge

      Posted

      My Rheumatologist has a PMR patient who is 36. It's not the norm, but it does happen. If the prednisone is helping you, then your doctor needs to do what my doctor did. my sed rate was "normal" the first time, so he did it again a few days later and it was 64.

      I'm glad you're getting some relief.

    • BettyE
      BettyE Snoopboxermidge

      Posted

      I sometimes wish the bell curve had never been thought of. A molehill curve would be better because it would extend further at both ends and allow the extremes to show and the poor souls who have PMR before fifty would get back years of their lives. It's no fun waiting to be allowed to try Pred.

      I was one of the lucky ones who was diagnosed quickly ( at 67 ) and who responded within 4 hours but, even with that good luck, I'd had enough.

    • lynda62707
      lynda62707 BettyE

      Posted

      BettyE... I too was dx'd a few months ago (at 67), and responded positively to prednisone within hours!

      of course" now I'm suffering all the incredible horrible side effects of said medication.....go Figure!!

  • ptolemy
    ptolemy Snoopboxermidge

    Posted

    Sounds like you may have PMR if your arms have improved so much. Only a lucky few get rid of the pain totally, 70% is considered a reasonable result. The important thing with PMR is to rest, rest, rest. It is a life changing disease and we just have to slow down a bit.

  • celia14153
    celia14153 Snoopboxermidge

    Posted

    I so agree with the others. You can have PMG at an early age and it doesn't always show up in blood tests. That's why trying pred is the best way of diagnosing polymyalgia . If you're getting relief then it looks as if you indeed have PMG and a way of coping with its nasty symptoms.

    • kathy61958
      kathy61958 celia14153

      Posted

      i have been on high dose of pred since July of '17 three months ago My rheumatologist added Actemra injections once a week. i started tapering the pred 2 1/2 mg every ten days. I have been completely off pred for five days now with no return symptoms (crossing my fingers)

      I will soon start tapering the actemra. Hopefully the GCA won't return either. This has been a gawd awful experience.

    • kathy61958
      kathy61958 Snoopboxermidge

      Posted

      i believe she meant PMR. now GCA is giant cell arteritis which often accompanies PMR. it is swelling of the temporal artery. I was one of the unlucky ones who have both. PMR, itself, while miserable, isn't dangerous, but GCA can cause a stroke and or blindness.

    • EileenH
      EileenH celia14153

      Posted

      Several people have done so for some reason - but the internationally recognised abbreviation and the one that will turn up info online is PMR.

    • celia14153
      celia14153 EileenH

      Posted

      What does the R relate to as there is no r in polymyalgia? Probably something screamingly obvious ..

    • celia14153
      celia14153 Snoopboxermidge

      Posted

      Thanks. I suspect because it's abbreviated to polymyalgia people are abbreviating the acronym too!

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