Did my appendix trigger my PMR

Posted , 6 users are following.

Dear All,

I am a sixty three year old male always in good health and active(but not a keep fit type), 5' 10\" 11 stone.

At the age of 43 I had acute abdominal pain that was not food related and despite extensive medical checks no cause was identified, I now consider that the problem MAY have been appendix related.

At the age of 61 I decided to introduce some exercise into my daily routine which included sit ups. Weeks after this new routine and over a period of weeks and months I developed pains in my shoulders and knees to the extent that I initially could not take of my jersey over my shoulders and could not rise out of my chair. ( I NOW CONSIDER THAT THESE EXERCISES AGGRAVATED MY APPENDIX) Having taken no more than a few bottles of pain killers over my lifetime I was now consuming maximum doses per day and the debilitating effect left me withe the view that having given the best years of my life to an employer my life in retirement was being stolen from me and I felt cheated.

Blood tests identified problems and eventually PMR was diagnosed and Prednisolone was effective in transforming me to normality. At the age of 62 I suffered an acute abdominal attack that resulted in my appendix being removed ( which was inflamed ) and ALL the underlying niggles of my condition have disappeared and I am confident that my reducing dose of Prednisolone (currently 2mg) will see me completely clear of this condition.

Apart from any thoughts that may arise from this post It would be interesting to identify what proportion of PMR sufferers still have their appendix !

Jim

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hello Jim and welcome!

    Well, all I can say is I've still got mine! :wink:

    In the absence of a known cause of PMR, in your case it does sound quite possible that your inflamed appendix could have been the trigger point as undue stress (physical or emotional) has often been implicated along with statins, viruses and the trauma of surgery. I am convinced that my PMR was the result of a bad fall off a train triggering inflammation in my already damaged spine which somehow spread into the blood vessels and tissues of my body.

    It's very interesting to hear that since the appendix removal all your \"underlying niggles\" have disappeared and at 2mgs you are well on the way to an imminent recovery. Do come back and let us know how you get on - we love to hear of successful outcomes.....a big boost for us all. smile

    MrsO

  • Posted

    Jim I still have mine lol but so happy to read that things are so much improved for you
  • Posted

    Hi Jim....I still have my appendix too, but did have a severe gastro bug a few weeks before I developed Pmr which may have been a \"trigger\"

    Glad to hear you are doing well and have got down to such a low dose of the steroids.

    best wishes, Pauline.

  • Posted

    I also still have my appendix

    Glad you are making such a good recovery A lot of people on here have developed PMR after other illnesses or accidents or traumatic experiences

    I was asked by the Rheumatologist if I had had shingles and I had shingles and very bad flu in the same year so I think a lot of different things trigger it

    best wishes

    Mrs G

  • Posted

    I don't have my appendix - but since it was removed when I was 16 I don't think it had any relevance to my PMR! It had also been a \"grumbling\" one as all the symptoms disappeared once it was gone. Both daughters have had similar histories with their appendixes.

    One of the theories about autoimmune diseases is that there is a genetic component involved - hence the fact it often appears in consecutive generations - but that an environmental or other trigger is also needed. In many cases this may take the form of an infection or severe stress and then the PMR surfaces relatively soon afterwards or, if it has been there at a low level as was my case, it then flares and hits you like the proverbial ton of bricks. This would account for the different presentations: sometimes it creeps up on you or sometimes it can be overnight.

    EileenH

  • Posted

    Hi Jim. I still have my appendix, and like you, until the onset of PMR was very fit, doing weight training every other day.

    I am almost sure that my PMR was triggered by grief and stress on the death of my beloved mum who died in February last year.

    It could possibly be the fact that I also dealt with the house clearence of her home almost single handed, as that's the busy 'get things done' type of person (I used) to be.

    I could never ever dream of doing anything like this now..

    I miss my mum, and there is never a day goes bu when she is not in my thoughts.

    Gilly.

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