Does PMR ever affect the hands?
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I have had PMR for over 2 years, and am now on a low dose of pred. The last few weeks my fingers really hurt. I know there are other possible reasons for this, but just want to find out or eliminate- has anyone else with our condition had this? Thanks
0 likes, 29 replies
gillian_25383 Herbo
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dea13 gillian_25383
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so glad you said this Gillian, I was also having a lousy grip also dropping things and it was getting so annoying not knowif it was the PMR
fran2498 Herbo
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EileenH fran2498
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fran2498 EileenH
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EileenH fran2498
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The Abstract from an article in Rheumatology (the journal for the field) says:
"Carpal tunnel syndrome and polymyalgia rheumatica have been seen together in 12 elderly patients. In five patients the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome preceded those of polymyalgia rheumatica. The most likely cause of the carpal tunnel syndrome is a local tenosynovitis, but oedema due to bilateral shoulder stiffness might play a part. In the three patients who underwent nerve conduction studies, the results confirmed the clinical diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The routine use of electrodiagnosis in polymyalgia rheumatica may show a much higher incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome than hitherto realized, or indicate that the association is purely fortuitous, both conditions being common in elderly women."
i.e. in plain English - the tenosynovitis that is so commonly part of PMR is probably part of it but the shoulder stiffness can also lead to oedema. Or it may be coincidence - but I don't think they really think that!
If it is any consolation to anyone - a Spanish study expressed the opinion that the hand/feet/carpal tunnel type symptoms are not found in someone with pure temporal arteritis (as they put it) so if your hands are bad - your eyes seem to be safer. Doesn't mean you won't develop the other versions of GCA affecting the rest of the body though.
jo42444 EileenH
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EileenH jo42444
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So a moderate dose of pred works and there is no evidence of RA?
I really don't get why they will hand out naproxen and other NSAIDs like sweeties but won't use low dose pred - which used properly is what you are looking at and has no worse potential side effects. I was at a rheumatology meeting in Whistler in May - and we had a very lively discussion about the use of pred from PMR patients point of view. There were really good rheumies there who fully agreed with our view. Which I did find quite a relief! I wouldn't mind if the other drugs did something, anything to help. They don't. So please don't condemn me to a life of pain because YOU are scared of pred - I'm not and I do know what it can do.
jo42444 EileenH
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Anhaga jo42444
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All the information I gather here makes me thankful that I only deal with my GP. On the other hand I was undiagnosed for over a year by a previous GP, who in her defence was quite young and may never have encountered PMR before. I also suspect that towards the end of my time with her she had "baby brain" as she was pregnant.
LayneTX Herbo
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Yes, mine too. It's frustrating. Sometimes I fear it's true RA setting in, my mother has it, but I've also read it's really not hereditary, as doctors think. Same with hypothyroidism.
i kept wondering was I using my hands too much while trying to exercise, but perhaps not.
someitmes I wonder if it's when I go off my diet and eat gluten or sugar...maybe.
It's frustrating.
jo42444 LayneTX
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gillian_25383 LayneTX
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jo42444 gillian_25383
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EileenH gillian_25383
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About 1 in 6 people who get a diagnosis of PMR to start with have it revised at some later point - mostly to LORA (late onset RA). Usually it is the fact patients aren't responding well to pred, can't reduce the dose - or, the really clinching factor is finding erosions in the joints on x-rays. The hand pain in PMR is less IN the joints as down the sides of fingers and can spread up the tendons in the forearm.
It isn't hereditary as such - but all autoimmune disorders have a certain degree of a genetic component. If others in the family have one - you are more likely to develop one than someone in a family with no history of such illnesses. Needn't be the same one - but it IS in the genes. That just means that you are more likely to get it when exposed to certain (unknown) environmental factors than someone who doesn't have the gene. But then - you are likley to experience similar things to the family.
"Researchers have established that certain genetic markers may increase your risk of developing RA. The genes in question are related to the immune system in general, to chronic inflammation, or with RA in particular. It is important to note that not everyone with these markers develops RA"
gillian_25383 jo42444
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gillian_25383 EileenH
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