Has anyone with polymyalgia managed it with just diclofenic?

Hello Sue. I am sorry your pain is getting worse every day. I, too have had two steroid injections for Polymyalgia, but the effect only lasted a week and I was anyway on 5 mg at the time anyway. I feel very ignorant but I don't know what Diclofenic is? I have self-medicated as well, usually increasing the steroid oral tablets from 4mg to 8 and then trying to gradually decrease. Generally I try and phone my Gp and ask him to let me do this. He and the Rheumatologist are so keen to get me off oral steroids, but as I have been diagnosed now with spinal stenosis, they are considering an epidural or as last resort surgery.

I am sure other contributors to these forums will be of more help about the Diclofenic and I do hope you can follow a regime that lessens the pain.

Best wishes Cosima

Diclofenac is an anti-inflammatory medicine, similar to ibuprofen. Self-medicating is probably not the best approach because it is not without risk either, and it's important to let your doctor know you are taking it. I've not really come across using oral anti-inflammatories in PMR as most tend to be on variable doses of prednisolone or other steroids. However others may have had different experiences.

Tarun (pharmacist)

Thanks Tarun - when I say 'self medicating' I am probably wrong because I have discussed this with my gp and she prescribed them for me told me to take them 'if and when I needed them'

Sorry I thought you meant you were taking them without prescription.

I think most if not all patients end up on prednisolone eventually as it's shown the best outcomes for managing symptoms and pain.

Yes I think I will eventually have to give in and take them - really don't wat to though

Hi Cosima - yes it would be great if the injections lasted longer. How have you been on the prednisolone.I am so reluctant to take it because my mother had pmr as well and I saw what the steroids did to her over the years. (Diclofenic is a slow release anti inflamatory)

How long have you had pmr?

Sue

I took Ibuprofen for about 7 months pre-diagnosis and at the end of that year was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease. It may have been a coincidence but I wouldn't be at all surprised if the Ibuprofen was to blame, in spite of the fact that I only took the smallest daily dose just to enable me to get off the bed to go to the loo and to attend my rheumatology appointments by ambulance and wheelchair. When PMR and GCA were eventually diagnosed, I was put on 40mgs of Prednisolone - no they're not fun either but they saved my eyesight and gave me back some quality of life. I believe Diclofenac is an even stronger anti-inflammatory than Ibuprofen, so please be very careful.

Sue

I have been on Prednisolone on and off for nine years with a gap of a year during that period. I was diagnosed with PMR in 2004 and put on 20 mg. I had the usual miraculous disappearance of all aches and began slowly to decrease. I think II actually came off them altogether but then the PMR came back and I started again.

I stayed on 3 mg for quite a time trying to manage with Nurofen. Last year I had a nasty bout of aching, and went up higher. Tihis year I have a new Doctor who has asked me to do blood tests, bone density, x-ray and MRI scan. The result of the MRI scan shocked me rather as it confirmed I have severe spinal stenosis. You can see the disc bulging out of the spinal canal (or between part of it). so although I do think I have had Polymyalgia as well especially the arms and shoulders, I have also had this degenerative thing going on at the same time - a double whammy as I think Eileen H said!

Sue I dont think I have had many side effects from Pred. I have put on weight but also managed to lose a stone a year ago but have put it on since! Maybe I was lucky that the dose was never more than 20 mg. I am not at all sure that I want to rely on Nurofen Plus and would almost prefer to take the Pred. I stupidly took to Nurofen in the middle of the night a month ago on an empty stomach (I knew I should not have) and felt very sick the next day.

Hope you get to feel better soon and best wishes

Cosimay

Hi Cosima

Thank you for sharing your progress with me - you have made me feel a little better about taking the steroids. This is such a horrible illness. All we can do is pray that it goes away one day.

God Bless

Sue

Hi everyone

My husband was prescribed Diclofenac for arthritis pain, three weeks on he developed a heart arrhythmia which if you look them up on USA medical sites is what Diclofenac can do.so be very careful of them. I certainly would never take them.

best wishes

Wendy