Esr results

Hi Ken as Eileen said it can burn itself out over a period of time.  My mother had her GCA/PMR for about 2 years and now is symptom free - seems the only pain she has now is where the Dr's botched up setting a broken wrist and that is only when there is rain about.  She is 88yo.  Take heart yours may burn out in a year perhaps 2 and again as Eileen said some last much longer.  Hope yours is the former- Good luck!

On the PMR GCA northeast group forum we have a "Club Zero" where people post to announce they are no longer taking pred. There are several members, some still post regularly even so.

We have noticed that men respond to both PMR and pred differently and often the PMR burns out more quickly. On the HealthUnlocked PMR forum there is a fireman from the northeast of England who was in a wheelchair just a year or so ago and who had been training for a half marathon. A few weeks ago he ran (I think) a 10k. I dont know if he is off pred yet though - can't remember I'm afraid.

In some people it possibly burns out quite quickly - they are the ones who have a steady run down the doses. In others it takes longer. It is thought about a quarter are off pred in under 2 years - but this group has a higher likelihood of it developing again. About half take about 4 to 6 years to get off pred and the other quarter need longer term pred to be able tofunction - sometimes just 1 or 2 mg.

Eileen

Of those who do develop it again do you know if there is a common stress factor involved.  What I'm asking is, if we all did yoga or somesuch to make us calmer individuals will that likelyhood lessen.  Have you any antidotal evidence?  I've noticed Mum doesn't seem to care about anything much anymore just does as she pleases ( which is great) and has shown no signs of a reoccurence

One lady feels she did overdo it a bit in the few years between attacks and this time is vowing not to repeat the error! 

It isn't just stress that triggers it though - the triggers aren't known but are probably a mix of chemical/environmental, genetics and probably stress. It just seems that many people develop it soon after some form of stressful period. Yoga isn't going to help greatly with dealing with family illness/bereavement - and to be honest even now at a fairly well with PMR I know that I couldn't do much yoga! The knees wouldn't let me after ligament damage from skiing - it even makes Pilates quite difficult! 

One of the nicest things about being older is you can do as you please to a great extent :-) ;-) ...

Thanks for your insights.  I agree that we can't escape stress altogether.  My triggers were definitely a combination of genetics as Mum had GCA and stress - trying to fit too much into an already full schedule - so I'm not going down that path again.  I can retire next year if I want, however we have decided to keep the farm - cause we love it - and just potter around until we can stand the untidiness no longer  - I can hardly wait!!

Love to all