bloods tests dont show inflammtion

Posted , 13 users are following.

Hi there just wondered if u can still have PMR even though your blood tests show no inflammtion.I have got widespread muscle pains which is worse in neck shoulders and hips but i hurt all over this has been going on for 18 months now ive had loads of  blood tests but they carnt seem to find a problem the doctors have started me on 10mg of prednisolone a day for 2 weeks to see if it helps the pain just seems to be getting worse.

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  • Posted

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

    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.

     

  • Posted

    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

  • Posted

    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.
  • Posted

    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.  

    • Posted

      Then it will take a little while.  Pred is not a painkiller as such.  It works by reducing the inflammation which is the cause of pain in PMR, and that doesn't happen instantly.  Hope you feel better tomorrow!

    • Posted

      Thanks I really do hope they help sick of being in pain now
    • Posted

      Get lots of rest.  And if the pred does work, don't overdo it - a lot of us start catching up on things we've let slide, and live to regret it! wink  

    • Posted

      Ginette - as Anhaga says, then it will probably take a little while. The lower the dose you start at, the longer it takes. But a study in Italy found that 75% of patients will respond well to 12.5mg within a month. It is quicker if you start higher - obviously.
  • Posted

    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!
    • Posted

      Hi amkoffee they checked my thyroid it is normal my gp did mention fibromyalgia I'll have to see how I do on the steroids but will ask why I'm not on 15mg or a bit higher like what other people said is usual dose is

  • Posted

    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, 
    • Posted

      Yep.  And in my case the first doctor I saw (repeated visits over the course of about a year) didn't consider my blood results relevant because of my advanced age, mid sixties at time, so she considered the results normal for my age.  As I believe most of us here would suggest increased inflammation with increased age is most logically explained by the fact that with increased age there may well be more inflammatory processes going on in the body, but that's no reason not to treat whatever the cause could be!

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