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Blood tests

Posted , 4 users are following.

jean50664
jean50664

when I first presented at ED with my PMR symptoms, my blood tests all came back...NAD....so besides feeling " nearly normal" how else do they test you for PMR after the event.

 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • EileenH
    EileenH jean50664

    Posted

    They can't "test for PMR", at any stage. The ESR/CRP are only indicators that there is inflammation in the body somewhere - they can be raised due to all sorts of things including UTIs and just a mere cold. Or an injury, operation - anything that causes tissue damage.

    And I don't quite get what you mean by "after the event". PMR isn't a one off, finished after a few weeks, illness. It goes on for months, years usually, up to 50% of patients are still on pred after 6 years. The only way you know it has gone is when you can reduce pred to zero and stop taking it without a return of symptoms. That is why you have to keep trying to reduce at intervals - otherwise you can't know the cause has burned out and gone into remission. Which may or may not be permanent.

    • jean50664
      jean50664 EileenH

      Posted

      So you are saying once you have PMR that you will never be cured ?
    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE jean50664

      Posted

      Yes, currently there is no known cause or cure,.  PMR comes when it wants and goes into remission when it wants.................and it can come back........and does.  I know people who have had it three times..........
    • EileenH
      EileenH jean50664

      Posted

      PMR is only the symptoms of an underlying autoimmune disorder. Like most autoimmune disorders there is no cure. Unlike many autoimmune disorders PMR does mostly go into remission - it burns out and the symptoms are no longer present. For 75% of patients that takes something between about 2 and 6 years, about 25% get there in 2 years. For some people it takes longer - but it doesn't mean life is awful - I've had PMR for 13 years, it doesn't really stop me doing much and is well managed. Because I won't compromise - I take the amount of pred I need to feel well.

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