PMR and Vascular disease
Posted , 5 users are following.
I was diagnosed with PMR 4 months ago and pain controlled reasonably on Predisone. I started have aching calves when walking and after seeing my GP went for a Doppler ultrasound which confirmed extensive hardening of the peripheral arteries with one in the calf being totally blocked. Seeing a vascular surgeon in 2 weeks time with possibility of operation looming soon. Is there a
link between PMR and peripheral arterial disease? has anyone else experienced this. Now Benin prescribed cholesterol meds which I have heard can cause muscle pain..... Really don't need that😱
1 like, 4 replies
EileenH maria49950
Posted
maria49950 EileenH
Posted
Thanks Eileen, makes sense as my CRP test was extremely high .... Over 120 and who knows how long It had been like that before I got started on Predisone. I just thought the calf pain was due to the PMR but the Doppler ultrasound proved otherwise. I suppose that's the nature of having PMR, every ache or pain is blamed on it.
EileenH maria49950
Posted
A CRP that high would be taken as a sign of GCA by many experts. GCA doesn't have to affect vision - it can appear in any artery in the body, especially the aorta so if I were you I would ask for some scanning to be sure it is OK - sometimes it will cause an aortic aneurysm. It's a bit late for a PET-MRI which would have shown if there was inflammation in arteries all over the body because once you are on pred the emissions they measure are very damped down.
jean39702 EileenH
Posted
Another gem for me to glob on to Eileen. When I was first diagnosed my CSR was 169.9. You may recall I was started at 20 mg with no noticeable result; began 25 mg a week later and had a total meltdown 2 days later (CRP of 48.3). Then they handed me 40 mg and it was a miraculous recovery within 12 hours.
I didn't connect with you and all the other knowledgeable folks until several weeks later. When we first started dialoguing you questioned why I was started at such a high dose. We traded a few messages and in the end concluded there was likely GCA in the mix without temporal involvement . I don't think the high CRP was every mentioned as a consideration of that fact.
New observations and conclusions being reached every day. A good thing. At least people are observing and learning. 😁