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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ginette1977
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ginette1977
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ginette1977
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EileenH ginette1977
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Ah well - so doctors would have it! We - the patient charities - don't all agree. I am sure that there are a lot of younger people out there with the label "fibromyalgia", "depression" and whatever who REALLY have PMR. But it is also not unknown for people to be diagnosed with PMR first and later they find other signs and symptoms developing that lead to a different diagnosis. Does PMR morph into the new thing? No-one knows - but if pred works to give you your life back - don't knock it!
jean1948 ginette1977
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Hi Gillette,
I don't know your age but PMR is more common in people over 60 more in women than men, according to reports it is unusual for anyone under 50 to get it. If your tests do not show inflammation then I think you are more likely to have a condition called fibromyagia, which can cause pain in muscles all over the body and the pain is also more severe than PMR. If it is fibromyagia then I don't think the prednisolone is going to ease your symptoms. I am surprised that you were prescribed steroids if your blood tests were negative for inflammation.
ginette1977 jean1948
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EileenH jean1948
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Many of us in the charities are of the opinion that the primary reason that people under 50 aren't diagnosed with PMR is that the doctors are not looking for it! We do know top rheumies who WILL diagnose younger people with PMR. There is documented evidence of a 37 year old male who had GCA - if you can develop GCA at that age, you can also develop PMR.
As for being given steroids with "normal" inflammatory markers - I had my symptoms for 5 years before being offered pred. It was never suggested it might be fibromyalgia despite having 8 trigger points that matched - even though my blood markers were in single figures which was why no-one was prepared to say PMR. I was given a 6 week taper of pred. Within 6 hours of taking my first 15mg dose I was able to walk downstairs normally, not like a toddler one step at a time, and walked back up carrying a cup of tea, instead of putting the cup as far up the stairs as I could manage and then crawling up on hands and knees. Within 6 hours of missing the first 5mg dose I was worse than I had been before. I am by no means the only person with similar experiences.
I know people with both PMR and fibro - and there are some who would dispute that fibro pain is more severe than that of PMR. One lady was unable to get out of bed and required ambulances to get to hospital appointments. PMR can be excruciating - not that I'm suggesting fibro isn't.
jean1948 EileenH
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I think you are probably right Eileen, because the "experts" assume it is an older persons complaint a younger person's symptoms may be overlooked, or presumed to be fibromyagia and only treated with painkillers not steroids. It seems to be the case with Ginette as a higher dose of steroids would appear to have had a positive effect. I hope she continues to improve.