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PMR & LORA

Posted , 5 users are following.

constance.de
constance.de

I'm an 'old' hand with PMR but new to RA.  Most of my pain (hips, knees, ankles) comes in the night.  Do others who have both these wonderful illnesses find the same thing?  Do you take extra pain killers for the night?

0 likes, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • erika59785
    erika59785 constance.de

    Posted

    Constance, I do have both, and just recently I suffered a RA a flare in my left hip at night which was very painful.  Tylenol helps.....prednisone more, however.

    I have not had this RA flare for a while, and I am considering to take a couple of Tylenol before I go to sleep.  I take prednisone for PMR around 2 am when I wake up for no reason at all....

    I do have to deal with both at times, and I know what you have to go through.

    Take care,

    Erika

     

    • constance.de
      constance.de erika59785

      Posted

      Thanks Erika!  It's a beast, isn't it?  I was doing so well with the PMR and then this hit me.  Now as far as pain is concerned I'm back to square one.

      I've never heard of Tylenol (I'll google it!).  I take co-codomol, but even that doesn't seem to be working at the moment.  I fear I may have to put the pred up, but I don't want to.

      Ah well!  Regards fr C.💐

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey constance.de

    Posted

    Constance, I remember someone posting on this site some years ago having been diagnosed with PMR and prescribed Prednisolone.  Some time down the line and feeling no better, her diagnosis was changed to that of Rheumatoid Arthritis for which she was prescribed Methotrexate which is the standard treatment for RA.  Perhaps if your symptoms worsen, you may need to consider trying Methotrexate to see if it helps.  PMR is quite enough to cope with without RA joining in the 'fun', and I do hope that at least your PMR disappears into the ether sooner rather than later. 
    • constance.de
      constance.de MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Morning Mrs O.  Tried  MTX - twice!  Was violently sick, and a few other side-effects.  Hospital took me off it.  Recently rheumy put me on Sulfalsalazine, took that twice, same thing happened (except I collapsed the second time - went right out!  So they are both a no-no for me I fear.  Good job I haven't a gas cooker!!  No, I'm too much of a coward for that!  Will suffer, not in silence though,  because of this remarkable forum.

      Regards fr C.💐

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey constance.de

      Posted

      Oh poor you, Constance - I don't blame you for not wanting to go down the path of DMARDs a third time!  Hopefully, once the pain of PMR is 'done and dusted', your RA pain will be more bearable, but there is always the option of the newer drugs to try such as the biologics.  Meanwhile, I'm sure it helps a little knowing that you are not alone in this and are able to at least share experiences with someone like Erika who is unfortunately going through the same and understands exactly what you are going through.  Hugs, albeit virtual, to you both.
    • constance.de
      constance.de MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      This seems to be a massive PMR flare.  After all this time!!!  I can't put my arms over my head, my shoulders are just not working, my hips are as stiff as boards - can't walk!  What a carry the on.  I thought I was over this.  The RA must have disturbed something.
    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey constance.de

      Posted

      Oh dear, Constance, those symptoms do certainly sound more PMR-like than RA, and only you can tell, especially if the pain is similar to that pre-diagnosis.  Increasing your steroid dose as quickly as possible will hopefully nip things in the bud before the inflammation takes further hold.  Whatever dose you are taking now, you need to increase it by a few mgs.  Some experts recommend a 5mg hike, but you may be lucky and get away with a slightly smaller increase.  I remember my worst flare which started around the 5mg dose and really erupted at 3mg needed an increase to 10mg to sort it.  That isn't quite as bad as it sounds as I was able to return back down to 5 via 7.5 and alternating doses fairly quickly, certainly faster than the first time around.

      ​It can be very confusing when you are suffering from more than 'just' PMR - in my case the confusion was sometimes between PMR and my spinal injury (spondylolisthesis), but at least you should have an answer as to which is which within a very short time of increasing the Pred.  I do hope so, and that you feel much better soon. 

    • constance.de
      constance.de MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      I'm going up to 7 1/2 mgs for a few days (5 in the morning, 2 1/2 at night) and see what happens.  If it doesn't work I'll up it to 10 for a few days - that should zap it.

      This being on the horizon is probably why the double dose a few days ago didn't work.  As I said before, what a carry on!

       

    • erika59785
      erika59785 constance.de

      Posted

      Copnstance, Sulfasalazine did not help my RA.  I was on Plaquenil 200 mg (the generic Hydroxyquinine ...sp.?) for a number of years and I had NO pain, only very few flares and  I was active....UNTIL the dreaded PMR started a year ago which is lots worse.

      MTX...so I hear...is terrible, and I did not want to take it.

      Anti-inflammatory foods help.  Actually my Rheumy prescribed 15 mg for both RA and PMR because it controls both, so he says.  I find 15 mg high, and I am trying to reduce to at least 10 mg soon.  I am taking 13 mg now.  Hope, your doctor can sort it out for you.  This forum, of course, is the best.

      Hugs to you and MrsO. 

      Erika

       

    • constance.de
      constance.de MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      Morning Mrs O.  I went up to 7 1/2 mg and already feel an improvement.  I thought of keeping at this dose for one week, then reducing by 1mg every week until I reach 5 again.  Or, do you think it would be better on the DSNS method?  You'd think I'd know by now, wouldn't you?

      C💐

    • constance.de
      constance.de

      Posted

      Hallo Mrs O.  re my message on Sunday.  I've been to the doctor's this morning and he has suggested I up the pred to 10 or 12 and then take it down by 1 every few days till I reach an acceptable, relatively pain free, level.

      Thanks for your interest.

      Constancd. 💐

    • MrsO-UK_Surrey
      MrsO-UK_Surrey constance.de

      Posted

      Sorry, Constance, I've only just seen your two recent messages.  Well, it's great news that you already felt better having increased to 7.5mg.  It sounds as though your Dr, in recommending you increase to 10 or 12, is among the many experts who believe that an increase of around 5mg is the right route to take when tackling a flare.  What have you decided to do?  10 or 12?  It sounds as though 10 may be sufficient if you have already felt better at 7.5.  You should then know after a few days if 10 is working, but if it does, if it was me I wouldn't start reducing again for a couple of weeks.  When you then start reducing again in the 1mg decrements, be sure to stop at a dose above where things went pear-shaped, ie the dose at which last felt comfortable, and stay there for a good few weeks before taking up the half mg really slow tapering method again.  Fingers crossed for you.   
    • constance.de
      constance.de MrsO-UK_Surrey

      Posted

      10, for 2 weeks, then continue as YOU suggested.  I don't feel the Dr's suggestion of 1 every few days is feasible.

      Greetings from a nice Spring like day here in Germany.

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