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ESR, CRP - ups and downs!

Posted , 3 users are following.

EileenH
EileenH

Hi all!

Remember all the discussion there has been over the months about ESR and CRP? I just found this quote on another page in Patient Experience UK which has a \"patient plus\" article about acute phase proteins (this is an article aimed at healthcare professionals so is more complex but has info useful for patients):

\"•The ESR is more useful than serum C-reactive protein (CRP) for diagnosis and monitoring of polymyalgia rheumatica or temporal arteritis and is more frequently elevated during relapse.\"

Anyone got any thoughts about how their lab results have reflected how they feel?

EileenH

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey

    Posted

    Hi Eileen

    Just to be awkward :roll: , I don't fit the quotation in your post in that my CRP has always been more elevated than the ESR during inflammatory periods.

    At the outset, my ESR was 92 and my CRP 157. One year later with the arrival of GCA (and now with a diagnosis of PMR for the previous year) my ESR was 46 and my CRP 65.2. During the worst flare my ESR was 54 and CRP 56.

    On each occasion, my ESR was the first to return to normal.

    My rheumatologist agreed that my blood was highly sensitive to the disease process as each time I had a flare in pain levels it was reflected in raised blood test markers.

    I had believed that the CRP was in fact a more reliable marker of inflammation than the ESR and I'd welcome any further thoughts or research findings that you may have on this.

    Do hope some less awkward people respond :lol: .

    MrsO

    • Butterfly2323
      Butterfly2323 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Hello all

      I had some stomach problems since Dec 3/15.

      I lost 15 pounds since then. I had all the tests done a d I have a Hiatal hernia and end. I was getting better and over 2 weeks got the flu and I got so much mucus out. Then after 2 weeks with the flu I was getting pain in my lower back and inside my tummy by the pelvic bone plus I was getting very warm at night like fever like.

      I went to my Dr on Tuesday this week and he sent a blood,test and kn Wed this week he was calling me back about my elevated era and crp. He sent me 2 strong antibiotics un case it's an infection. I already cannot tolerate the metronidazole

      The ciprofloxaxin I will keep taking. I will see my Dr tomorrow. I know I don't feel well. Pain and feeling tired.

      I am 60 years old. I also have high cholesterol all my life. Hereditary.

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey Butterfly2323

      Posted

      Butterfly, the elevated ESR and CRP point to some inflammation going on in your body but unfortunately will not pinpoint the cause.  The people in this community are patients with an inflammatory condition called Polymyalgia Rheumatica and/or Giant Cell/Temporal Arteritis.  The former causes pain in many large muscle areas, often around the shoulder girdle and the hip girdle, and the latter often results in head pain among other symptoms.  If your antibiotics don't resolve your pain and your fever-like symptoms at night, then do ask your Dr whether s/he thinks that you might have Polymyalgia - certainly the lower back pain and the night-time fevers sound reminiscent of PMR and were certainly among my symptoms.  If PMR is suspected then a trial of the steroid, Prednisolone, may provide an answer one way or another.  Keep in touch with your Dr and I do hope you will soon start to feel better.
    • Butterfly2323
      Butterfly2323 MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Thank you very much. My doctor think it's diverticulitis but I don't think so.

      I will talk to him on Tuesday again after I have another blood test on Monday.

      It's very frustrated because I am in pain and Advil help a bet.

      How do your doctor came to the conclusion you have pmr?

      I had gone twice To rheumatoid specialist and she don't even send me for test. All she does is give me a paper about fibromalghia.

      My main problem is both side of my hips and pelvic inside is very tender and hurt.

      Thank you and I will keep you post

      I am in Canada. Also do you think changes in temperature contribute also to the pain?

      We had a crazy weather This year

  • EileenH
    EileenH

    Posted

    That's right MrsO, that CRP is \"more sensitive than ESR\" is the perceived wisdom - and that's why I started this thread. My markers have been stubbornly normal. MrsK has been moving to the vit D dance which I outlined (albeit roughly) to her last spring and it was pooh-poohed by the medics. It's worked for her and I suspect that if she had presented with her muscle pain it might have been given the label of PMR secondary to GCA if she'd seen the \"right\" doctor. We're all \"anecdotal\" (no, not demented :lol: :roll: ) but I'd like the opportunity to sit down with our \"experts\" and talk about our experiences.

    After two and a half thousand miles, 3 weeks in other people's beds and experiencing the vagaries of climatic change (wind, hail, wind and more ...) I'm sore and tired. Have missed taking vit D and MSM for 3 or 4 days and it's not a wonderful experience. Is it all in the mind???????? :roll: :lol: :wink:

    A very nice Lagrein (our local very dark red grape which I CAN drink) is helping - there are some reds :redwine: I can still enjoy despite steroids. There's far more to this disease process and steroids than is thought of in thy mind Horatio...

  • Mrs_G
    Mrs_G

    Posted

    Hello Eileen

    I think you need a few glasses of wine and a good rest !!

    I have checked my records and all my achey times in the last few years have resulted in a bigger increase in CRP than ESR I do try and keep good records with this bout as because I sailed through PMR the first time I only had records in my old diaries to go by and I didnt have any blips

    With my first bout of PMR it was only my CRP that was raised and at the outset of this bout ( now over 2 years ago ) my ESR was 37 & my CRP was 45 ( a mere nothing compared to Mrs O )!! As Ive said before to feel really good I need to be about 5 for each ( 4 for both on last blood test !!!)

    It looks as we will be having snow before you this year !

    Best wishes Mrs G

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey

    Posted

    Yes, Eileen, this is certainly a complex disease process and made even more complicated by the steroid treatment (though Heaven knows where we'd be without those steroids!). Yes, wouldn't it be wonderful for all of us on here to be able to air our experiences with the \"experts\" - do you think any of them are looking in? :wink:

    It sounds like you could do with a jolly good rest after your hectic few weeks - I really don't know how you managed all that and I know I would be \"sore and tired\" too. Hopefully you will be able to pamper yourself for a few days and get back to your comfort zone without having to increase the steroid dose.

    Take care and best wishes,

    MrsO

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