bloods tests dont show inflammtion

My ESR and crp were completely normal....But the pain disappeared immediately with prednisone.... The rheumy diagnosed PMR

Hi Ginette

Yes, from visiting this forum I know that not everyone with PMR has raised inflammatory levels. This can delay diagnosis.

As for the pain and stiffness worsening, it could be that 10mgs of Prednisolone isn't a high enough starting dose. 

Others will reply for sure.

 

Hi Ginette,

You sure can - although atypical, I am living proof. My 'story' is hip and shoulder girdle pain for 5 months and, like everyone a reluctance to accept Prednisolone. However, the pain won in the end and I have been on a very low dose for 3 weeks with wonderful results. I only wish I had accepted the need earlier as I feel like a new woman. The GP started me on 5mgs - I know ridiculously low and not the minimum recommended but having felt a difference and having been given access to a search project about dosage via this site, we have increased  to 7.5mgs and I am 'happy' with that, moving without thought and only a little shoulder pain. I am still waiting for a hopsital appointment to confirm the diagnosis but it's pretty clear really!  I have found this forum a magnificent are of expertise and support. 

good luck.

jane

Hi ginette. 10mg is quite a low dose for starters. the average starting dose is usually 15mg a day but in my case I had to go to 20mg and then a week later up to 25mg a day before I got the pain completely under control, so if you find that the pain is no better at 10mg I would suggest trying 15mg for a couple of days to see if it helps or even higher if needs be. The main thing is to get the pain under control so that you are pain free to start with and then worry about reducing afterwards (but not to quickly) as per suggestions on this forum of which there are many.

It's good you are getting the prednisone trial, but it would be better if you were getting a dose closer to the recommended standard to start which is usually 15 or 20 mg.  Some people do manage to do well at a very low starting dose, but most don't, so the doctors normally like to prescribe a dose which is likely to help nearly all the suspected PMR cases, which is more like 15 mg, prescribed for one week.  The initial starting dose is usually the most you will ever need to be on if you are able to follow a sensible tapering regime.   How many days have you taken pred?  It doesn't work instantly.  Some lucky people find some relief within hours but I wouldn't give up hope before a few days have passed.  If you still note no improvement, ask if you can increase your dose.  

I know everyone else on here has said that you need to be on a higher dosage and I would agree except you said that you are getting worse not better and I would think that you should see some improvement on 10mg certainly not worse if it were PMR. Has anyone checked your thyroid? What about fibromyalgia? There are other diseases that cause body aches and pain then PMR. Either way i hope you get help soon because living with pain is a terrible way to exist. Hugs!

There are some great resources on the front page of this forum:

https://patient.info/forums/discuss/pmr-gca-website-addresses-and-resources-35316

well ginette, apparently , you can still have pmr, even though bloodwork doesn,t show inflammation,in particular your csr levels, sed rate etc, at least that,s what i have read, and i have read and researched a lot, as well many other patients have said the same thing, such a hard disease to diagnose, i understand mostly diagnosed by symptons, so what they do is try to eliminate other diseases that could be present and cause similar symptons,