I have fully recovered from PMR - there is hope after all

I just wanted to let everyone know that after five and a half years I have eventually made a full recovery from PMR.  This forum was the most helpful part of my journey - the encouragement, shared knowledge and advice (especially on reducing prednisone dosage) was a lifesaver. I even introduced my GP to this site. Thank you sincerely, fellow sufferers.

?I was diagnosed at age 58 and seemed to get it rather severely but now it has gone without a trace,  I haven't lost any muscle strength, and my energy levels are back to normal.

?My PMR began suddenly one month after my mother died of cancer ( I cared for her at home while working full time and also looking after my husband who had torn his quadriceps tendons from his kneecap and was on crutches). My mother died in January, I had a flu jab in the first week of February, and in the second week of February I found one morning that I couldn't get out of bed without help.  What caused the PMR? Take your pick!  Both stress and flu vaccination together would be  my guess, but there's no way of knowing.

?For those of you who are having trouble reducing prednisone, don't despair!  I always took as low a dose as I could bear - always lived with a fair amount of pain because I was conscious of the side effects of the drugs. Halfway through I got stuck on 10 mg and thought I would be on it for life, but then slowly I reduced until I got stuck on 4 mg for about 3 months.  After that I reduced slowly, slowly as advised in this forum until after 5 years I could feel the PMR starting to let go of its stranglehold. 

?At the end I was actually taking half a mg every second day - nibbling a bit off a 1 mg tablet and saving the remainder for two days later.  After a fortnight I thought it was too ridiculous for words, so I stopped taking any medication.  Believe it or not, the rotten PMR flared up quite severely as if it was saying 'Hey - I was using that!'  I refused to go back onto prednisone because I'd have had to take a higher dose, so I persevered with the pain until it eventually dissipated and I returned to my old self.  I still can't do a full leg squat, but maybe that's old age working against me at 65!!

?It's a wonderful thing to be able to do the things that I couldn't do for 5 years.  I can use my heavy cast iron casserole dish because I can actually lift it out of the cupboard now.  I can wear a t-shirt because I know I can get it off by myself.  I can try  on new outfits  and new bras without help, and I can dry myself properly after a shower because I can swing my arms above my head.  No longer do I have to fall onto the bed after work to have a nanna nap, and I can enjoy a brisk walk and even my bicycle is getting used again.

?The only advice I can give to anyone who is newly diagnosed is don't push yourself to do stuff that you used to do.  You need to rest, accept your limitations, and look after yourself.   After years of swimming through treacle, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

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