Has exercise contributed to our PMR?

Hi Bob

I dont think so, although I lead a very active life, work full time and look after my mum and grandchildren, I do very little physical excercise other than normal day to day. Never have done running/ gym or any excercise classes. So for me it is not the case.

Linda

Hi Linda, Don't think all that looking after, etc isn't exercise!!!!!!Some year's back I spent some time at Weightwatchers and they put housework up quite high with more obvious exercise, and as for gardening - providing it isn't just ladylike snipping off dead heads it uses up quite a lot of calories, which was important from Weightwatchers point of view, but also from ours. I, at 72, have looked after a largish house and garden,husband and son,

and walked everywhere and I felt very fit, had nothing else obvious the matter with me.

Complete digression there are 2 foxes playing in about a foot of snow outside. They seem to enjoy it even if we don't!

There does seem to be a pattern, to some extent, of PMR attacking people who are otherwise pretty fit, or maybe we are just more taken by surprise!

One thing I have mentioned before is that there seem to be an incredible number of people roundabout who have PMR, I mean here in Guildford. Are some areas hotspots, or is it one doctor? There are 5 neighbours within about 100 yards all with PMR to various degrees. I jus wish someone would do some more research! Especially as it seems half the population doesn't do enough exercise and gets obese! Keep warm everybody, Green granny.

Hi Green Granny. Loved the digression! There's a lot of playing around in the snow going on outside my window as well, but its two very grown up men (my partner and our neighbour) supposedly clearing the drives! And Linda, don't underestimate the level of excersise you do!! I bet its far more than I did doing 'pretty pushups' at the gym - full time job, a Mum and Grandchildren to look after, sounds like a lot of energy being expended there. And back to your Guildford theory GG, I live in Basingstoke and I haven't met anyone else in the area with PMR - but most illnesses seem to have clusters. This snow is making me take things easy and I do feel better, how boring is that! It seems I either have loads to do and no energy, or nothing to do (like just now) and energy to spare. That's life I suppose. I think I'll go to the holiday pages on the web and see if I can get to the Caribbean for a fiver!

Take care everyone.

Lizzie (snowbound and very bored) Ellen :D

Hi Green Granny - I suddenly seemed to be meeting more people with PMR and when I queried this with my Rheumatologist, he replied that it wasn't actually increasing, adding that there had always been a high incidence of it in this area. I live in Middlesex, my hopsital is in Surrey so I'm assuming he meant the South East of England, and certainly many of us contributing to this forum at the moment appear to be in the South/South East. It seems to raise the question of either viral or environmental factors being contributory especially when you suddenly hear of clusters as in your case. I suppose the only comfort we can draw from this is that the consultants must be experienced in dealing with our problems (I hope):wink:

Bob - I dont' feel exercise makes us more susceptible although I did at one time notice that quite a few men were posting who were incredibly active with one mentioning that he developed PMR after returning from a biking holiday abroad and another mountaineering.

What I feel might be more involved is a genetic predisposition, for instance although I didn't meet her my paternal grandmother was in a wheelchair with some arthritic condition (this was obviously before the advent of steroids) although both my parents were fine. Many people have also posted that their mothers had PMR or GCA before them.

I also know people who have developed PMR following surgery or an accident (in my case an accident further injuring an already damaged spine, hence a predisposition maybe). So any trauma to the body seems to be implicated.

With so many possible causes being thrown into the ring by sufferers, such as statin treatment for high cholesterol, I fear we will never know the real cause but the most we can hope for is that all the current research going on will eventually provide a cure, or at the very least an alternative to steroids - meanwhile where would we be without them?!

Do hope everyone is surviving this unusual weather in this part of the world....Lizzie Ellen if you come across that holiday to the Caribbean for a fiver, please can I join you or better still can we all join you?!!!

MrsO

Hi Mrs O. Still looking, if I find anything I'll get a job lot and we can all go!! At least we wouldn't run out of conversation :D .

Count me in please Lizzie Ellen!

Hi Mrs O

I was born and spent the first 21 years of my life in Middlesex, I am extremly fit and active (i ride about 4000 to 5000 miles a year on the bike) and have had PMR for just over a year. I meet all your criteria.

Andrew

Hello Mrs O et al

My rheumatologist, in line with the limited amount of research I have read, suggest a genetic link through the Scandinavian races, where the incidence of PMR is apparently proportionately higher. Hence, the observed slightly increased prevalence of PMR on the eastern side of England, particularly where the Vikings settled! Some connection with lack of sunlight, vitamin D, who knows?

I fit the bill on the genetic connection, as although I only returned to Lincolnshire when I retired, I, was born and bred here, and to my knowledge, my ancestors have always lived in Lincolnshire. Seems to be quite a lot of PMR around here too, but, as someone suggested that may be the vigilance in diagnosing by the medics.

I also fit the bill in having always been very active - intially thought my increasing immobility was due to too much exercise for a 67 year old!

Hope this is useful.

Thanks so much for being a listening ear.

Keep warm.

Jayeeh

Hi Jayhee - that's a really interesting bit of information from your rheumatologist and thanks so much for sharing that with us. So we can now blame those Vikings. Perhaps Ragnar is looking in and can tell us how high the incidence of PMR is in Sweden. I do so agree with that lack of sunlight and Vitamin D connection. I have read many little bits and pieces about the usefulness of Vitamin D in inflammatory conditions but we're certainly not going to get it from the sunlight in the present conditions outside the front door! Maybe more research needs to be done on Vitamin D supplements for people such as us. Snap with 67 by the way! Thanks Jayhee and do hope you're doing well.

MrsO

Mrs O, I see your post was just after midnight, and it conjures up a picture of what we all do in these sleepless nights. I know world radio backwards and pretty depressing it is too!

Back to the other thing. My mother had PMR and was I guess one of the first people to be diagnosed with it, as opposed to \"me rheumatics\". As for the Vikings, lovely thought, my family came from Yorshire's East Riding. As for the exercise and general health issue, maybe it simply means that PMR doesn't particularly attack people whose general immune system isn't great and who are seen as \"unhealthy\" in any other way. And maybe if one has been used to being fit, healthy and energetic it hits one more!

Perhaps we ought to do some sort of survey on line and present it to that Professor at Southend? Something for the small hours? As for Vit. D, it would be lovely to get it from the sun. It is in all those oily fish and has long been recommended for aching joints. Does sun through the window count, does anyone know? We have had a few glimpses now and then of some weird light up in the sky, through the snow! Am very bored but at least I don't have the awful frustration of not knowing what is the matter with me! I feel for Bob!!!!!Green granny

Hello Green Granny - yes I was very late posting last night and my husband was nagging me to get to bed! I told him about Jayhee's post and the Scandinavian link theory and so now he is looking to see if I am growing any horns!!

MrsO

Hello Andrew (Odiecass) from a freezing and snowy Middlesex. Do hope the weather is being a bit kinder to you in Massachussetts. What part of Middlesex did you live in all those years ago? Wow, I'm impressed with with the length of your bike rides - do you still manage to that distance with PMR? If so, well done you.

MrsO

Green Granny et al

What am I going to do with you all. There is an International Survey which has been running for nearly two years. It was designed by patients for patients and the results are free to all. Just for PMR and GCA.

There is also another Survey run by the Marike Foundation located in Holland dedicated to GCA and PMR.

If you look on back posts on this site headed International Survey you can then follow the link. It takes about 10 minutes to fill it in.

Alternatively, visit www.pmr-gca-northeast.org.uk and follow the links to both surveys from that site.

Also, it is well known that PMR and GCA affect mainly Caucasians. The incidence in the population is expected to rise because the baby boomers are just about to hit the age group. There are copies of the press release that went out with the Int Survey on the website and that release contains quite a bit of history of pmr and gca. OK, OK I know, I know, that mrs K is nagging again. But we must help ourselves. And Yes, the Prof does know about both surveys.

Keep visiting and keep us all informed. Still learning after three solid years.

I am planning a visit to London early March hope the snow has gone by then.

Sorry Mrs K - I have answered the surveys but haven't ever looked at the results. I guess I thought they were still ongoing and that results would come out after a set period of time! Green Granny

Hallo Mrs O

This winter has been the coldest and snowyest for a long time (today the temperature didn't get above 10f) I try to keep the mileage up, I think it helps with the PMR. I asked my Rhuematologist about exercise and he says do as much as you can without hurting yourself. Of course the pred.makes the muscles weaker but I'm down to 41/2 now so I am trying some strengh exercises. Anyway I was born in Ealing and grew up in Northolt.

Andrew