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Is nerve pain part of my PMR?

Posted , 6 users are following.

debbie27473
debbie27473

Hi. You know how painful it is when you get a nerve in your tooth that 'jumps'? Well I am getting this horrid pain all over the place. It started in my foot and I could only do a slow (even slower than usual)! hobble for nearly a week. Then I got it in my arm. Now it's in my back, around the kidney level, especially if I lean back on a cushion. Haven't a clue what's going on now! Any thoughts from anyone would be gratefully received. please. Take care, Debbie.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • margo25238
    margo25238 debbie27473

    Posted

    debbie, my PMR came on suddenly, three months ago; my limbs and torso - overnight - i could not get out of bed...  BUT there are some bloggers here who have been delaing with it much longer than i and they have wonderful tips to share and information with doctors, etc.  I have to say i got immediate relief as soon as i saw a Rheumlotologist and was prescribed Prednisone.  ON the other hand the Pred has its own bothersome side effects, including appetite increase, bloating, and a 'moon' face (for me at least)

    Don't give up and keep up with your contacts here...

    • erika59785
      erika59785 margo25238

      Posted

      You are right.....moon face and all. At the early stage and  a lower dose it will not show much.....but later on. sad
  • erika59785
    erika59785 debbie27473

    Posted

    Hi Debbie, horrid pain.....I had it recently when I could not get out of bed because the nerves in the muscles in my back --- around kidney level--- hurt so much.  The horrid pain  m o v e s , this is why it is called Polymyalgia Rheumatic...the pain moves from place to place....shoulder, back, groin etc.

    . Only prednisone can help --- the side effects are not good ---but it is  better to have a quality of life.  It is life limiting, but not life threatening.  I do admit, this disease is a challenge and one simply has to deal with it ---- and not give up.

    You will get lots of advise from this caring forum. All the best to you, Erika

    • debbie27473
      debbie27473 erika59785

      Posted

      Hi Erica. Thank you for replying. Yes, this forum is fantastic. I've been gleaning advice for just over a year now. I have been on pred since Jan '14 and am now down to 10mgs a day. As you know, polymyalgia rheumatica stands for 'many muscle inflammation' so I was not expecting nerve pain at this stage. As both you and jon are suffering with it as well, I will just have to accept that it is 'par for the course' as they say! Thanks again. It is ,at least, a relief to know that I haven't got yet another separate condition to cope with! Take care, Debbie
  • jon02168
    jon02168 debbie27473

    Posted

    I too have had assorted, random nerve pain along with my PMR. One DR attributed it to restless syndrome and prescribed a drug (I can't recall) that did not work. The nerve pain moved around and another DR DXd me with restless arm syndrome. More nerve pain in my lower back, shoulders, neck, groin, ulmar nerve (both hands/arms). Now prescribed Gabapentin which works quite well but makes me feel as if I have a hang over in the morning. OK for weekends but very hard to function with during the day at work. Just my thoughts.
    • debbie27473
      debbie27473 jon02168

      Posted

      It is interesting that your doctors have diagnosed restless syndrome for your nerve pain. I have suffered with restless leg sydrome for 30 years but it has never effected other areas. The symptoms are quite different with this current problem, e.g lots of pain, whereas with rls my legs jump around of ther own accord and the nerves 'spasm'. This is extremely uncomfortable and frustrating and can keep you from sleeping at times but it is not painful as such. The only thing I have found to help is Tramadol but even that is not helping with this new pain! Thank you so much for replying. As I have said to Erica, it is a relief in a way to know this is part of the pmr and not something new to contend with! Take care, Debbie
    • jon02168
      jon02168 debbie27473

      Posted

      The Rheumy DR I have now is very patient and has taken the time to put the pieces together that other DRs just wanted to mask with some medication. I have multiple autoimmune issues but no one had made any connection in the past.

      I started with restless leg syndrome which morphed into restless arm syndrome (I didn't know such a thing existed) to nerve pain everywhere (probably pretty much as you have described). The Neuro DR wants to do the nerve and muscle stimulation test (I don't recall the proper name) because I had sever pain in my neck and left arm and later the same in my right. I too have been on Tramadol initially for the lower back pain (six x daily) but I have weaned myself to 2x daily. I feel Tramadoll does help me in a very limited way with my sleep issues (insomnia). I'm sure all of these thing are related and it just takes a good DR to help put the pieces together. I do also appreciate this forum because it helps you realize that others are going through the same thing and maybe I'm not really crazy at all. Thanks.

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