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PMR or not...blood tests clear?

Posted , 6 users are following.

sue-bubbles
sue-bubbles

Hello all! I have spent a few days reading all of your experiences and your great advice..what a useful website this is - thank you! I was expecting to be registering this evening as a fellow sufferer as to me, my symptoms seem spot on to what you describe...but my bloods came back today 'as normal as can be' says the doc! Great news in many respects of course, but funnily enough that news didnt make my pains disappear?!?

I told her that I had been reading up on the topic and that it seemed quite common that bloods can come back normal, and some docs will commence steroids as a sort of back-up diagnosis and see how things go over a week or so. She was having none of that and is going to try me on anti-inflammatories...again...sigh! Im to give those a couple of weeks and if they are no good she will refer me to a rheumatologist.

A bit of background to my situation. Two years ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer and had a mastectomy and was thankfully given the all clear with a prescription for Tamoxifen for the next 5 years. Then around this time last year I had reconstructive surgery followed by 3 months off work to recover, and it was on my return to work that I realised that I just didnt feel right. I had suffered the pain on turning over in bed of course following my surgery, so I kind of accepted that and didnt take much notice when it kicked off again long after I was healed. I used to joke to people that I must be getting old (I am 51) as on waking I feel like I am paralised - the shoulders and base of my back...well...yow! I have to get up at least a couple of hours before leaving for work as it takes my body that long to be able to function. Then there was the stiffness across my back - from hip to hip, which has over the last months become progressively worse so that just an hour or so into my shift I am unable to take another step with so much pain. As it is, I am hobbling around all of the time. Much of my pain on walking is down just one leg...I think it is the way I am walking to try and combat the stiffness in the hips? I cant do stairs other than on all fours, as putting weight on that leg makes it feel like it will break in half. I have fatigue, feeling hot a lot of the time (where I used to feel cold all the time). Driving to work is reasonably ok, but driving home is a nightmare...having done a shift I am done in. I only work 5 hours shifts - in a supermarket zapping products. Its not heavy work but I am on my feet a lot. I told the doctor that after the week I have had, I cannot go on like this - things are feeling worse and worse by the day. The blood tests looked for polymyalgia and also rheumatoid arthritis with no sign of either showing up. I have also had x-rays to my hips and pelvic area, again all clear.

I already take cocodamol 30/500's and gapapentin for nerve damage to my arm following my surgery...but as strong as these are, they do not touch the stiffness and pain in the shoulders and hips.

I will give the anti-inflammatories a fair go and hope for the best, but I wanted to say hello, and ask...if these dont help, does anyone have any advice on how can I get my doctor on-side while I wait for weeks no doubt for a referral?

Thank you for being here folks!

Sue

0 likes, 17 replies

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  • Mrs_G
    Mrs_G

    Posted

    Sorry to hear you are suffering such pain

    Im not sure how keen a Dr will be to give you a cortisone inj as you have an appointment with a Rhematologist pending I had a friend several years ago with terrible hip problems and pain Had Xrays wear and tear on hip but no replacemant needed (NHS) Had cortisone inj ( Privately expensive !! )no help When she was on hols in South Africa so bad saw a specialist there New hip needed

    When she came home had it done privately Never a pain since !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Could you see a Rhemuatologist privately to speed things up Lizzie Ellen who is on here and I both did and it was the best money we had ever spent

    I just hope you get some help soon

    Best wishes Mrs G

  • MrsO-UK_Surrey
    MrsO-UK_Surrey

    Posted

    Hello again Sue and so sorry to hear that you are still suffering such pain especially whilst you are on holiday from work as well. As for having a cortisone injection, I think I would prefer to have either an X-ray or an MRI scan first to either confirm or rule out the sacroiliac suggestion and the MRI should show up any other possible injury. To this end I agree with Mrs G's suggestion to seek a rheumatology appointment privately if possible and especially if there is going to be a long wait on the NHS. In your earlier post you mentioned that the pains started after surgery and I do know of people who have presented with PMR following surgery. Although there is no known cause for PMR, the physical stress on the body of surgery can occasionally be a factor. I do hope you won't be diagnosed with PMR but if all the painkillers and anti-inflammatories have not given you any relief at all then it does remain a high possibility. I do feel in awe of you people who have to cope with such pain and still work. I do hope you get an expert diagnosis soon. Very best wishes. MrsO
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