differant meaning
Posted , 9 users are following.
hi girls its me again. could anyone tell me if polymyalgia,and polymyalgia rumatica,
are different types of the same thing one being less than the other. only because, after reading all the posts on the forum, I am beginning to think that the pain I had when I was first diagnosed
with polymyalgia was the worst thing I had experiencd. I don't get all the other symptoms. like being tired. pain in the morning. not sleepingand all the rest. from 20 mg now down to 6 mg
and only the little bit of buttock pain remaining. did I have the full blown thing. and more to the point, would the chance of a relaps be less,wishfull thinking or what lol
1 like, 12 replies
marilyn46889 pauline36422
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ptolemy pauline36422
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MrsO-UK_Surrey pauline36422
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The chance of a relapse can be less if you taper very slowly and in smaller amounts from the dose you are on now, so that you don't miss the point where the inflammation might still be lurking and burst into life again. It's great that you have done so well, just don't rush it now, and good luck!
liam15153 pauline36422
Posted
Im recently diagnosed with PMR so I can't help you with your query but I'm very interested in how you tapered down from 20mgs to 6mgs.
I was initially prescribed 15mgs but it didn't work and I have been on 20mgs for 4 weeks. I'm also on AA 70mgs once a week as a Dexa scan revealed osteoprosis. I take 2 Calcicnhew +D3 daily and I'm on 1 Omeprazole 40mgs. All this change is hard to cope with as I was pain a drug free up to the onset of PMR.
My rheumy has just now prescribed the following reduction programme
17.5mgs for 2 weeks
15 mgs for 2 weeks
12.5mgs for 2 weeks
10mgs maintenance, not clear for how long.
im very nervous about proceeding at this pace as one day last week I took only 15mgs by mistake and the pain in both arms was pretty bad. Any views from fellow travellers (Eileen, Mrs O) would be greatly appreciated.
MrsO-UK_Surrey liam15153
Posted
Although your rheumy's recommended tapering schedule looks sensible, I have reservatons about going from 15 to 12.5 after just 2 weeks for the simple reason that you say the original 15mg dose didn't work. If it were me I would consider remaining at the 15mg dose for at least another couple of weeks then if symptoms remain under control just try a 1mg reduction to 16 for a couple of weeks. We have come across sufferers who have struggled trying to reduce from the starting dose who have been successful once trying this slower pace. If you are someone who had raised blood test markers at the outset, you should be having repeat blood tests, preferably before each reduction. They can prove a useful guide along with your symptoms.
I do hope you are feeling better on the increased dose.
EileenH liam15153
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liam15153 EileenH
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EileenH liam15153
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old_nanna pauline36422
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EileenH pauline36422
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You can have the symptoms that aren't "just" PMR - they can be caused by other things and then they often don't respond to a moderate dose of pred. Sometimes a higher dose of pred will make some difference but if pred isn't the best treatment then the symptoms may come back as soon as you try to reduce. But if it responded to 15mg or so of pred and quite quickly then it probably was PMR and some people are bad at first but are able to reduce steadily as you have done. Others aren't as bad - but have a hell of a time getting off pred. I suspect some of that is the body's reaction to pred rather than the PMR but who knows!
christine26681 pauline36422
Posted
What you have seems to be typical PMR as it responds well to steroids and the dreadful pain you describe is typical too!
Nefret christine26681
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I was first diagnosed with PMR in 2001 and I have never had raised inflammation markers, just a very good Rheumy who knew what was what.
All autoimmune conditions share some symptoms which is why PMR is regarded as a diagnosis of exclusion - if everything else is tested, discussed and discounted then PMR it is.