Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Posted , 11 users are following.
My husband was diagnosed with PMR about 4 years ago. For months he complained of pains in his shoulders and arms and was generally miserable - very unlike him as he is usually a very happy soul. He was still managing to swim 20 lengths each morning after having struggled down the stairs, but was wiped out for the rest of the day. I finally managed to persuade him to see his GP .and a blood test was performed. He then received a phonecall from her at 08.00 hrs the following morning to say that his ESR levels were sky high and that he had PMR. He then commenced 45mgs Prednisolone and the improvement was almost instant. By that evening he was back to his usual sunny self! He was also put on bone-building medication to counteract the side effects of the steriods (although I don't think he probably took them on a regular basis!).
Over the next couple of years, his ESR was checked on a regular basis, and as it gradually dropped, the steriods were decreased. Until recently, he was managing without but has recently had a slight relapse, and is now taking 1-2 mgs in the hope that this is sufficient to deal with it. I think he probably needs to increase them as he's obviously in pain at times but is reluctant to pile on the weight again. His GP has not suggested an appointment with a rheumatologist. I think they only do this if there is any indication of Temporal Arteritis - an inflammation of the temporal artery - if not treated this can cause blindness - as it causes pressure on the optic nerve. The two conditions sometimes go hand in hand so if an individual with PMR experiences severe headaches they must seek medical help immediately. Again this is treated by large doses of steriods.
I work in a Sheltered Housing complex and three of my 45 residents have PMR - a couple of them for many years. With all three of them they initially had the severe symptoms for around two years or so, followed by
a long spell of being completely free of it. They all have had minor short-term relapses occasionally, and these generally seem to be mostly in the winter months.
Katie
3 likes, 18 replies
christine58469 katie.k.
Posted
I should be thinking baby steps i'm trying to run before i can walk plan is get pain under control then try part time see how that works well that's the plan all down to pred
thanks once again don't know where i would have ended up if it was'nt for this forum will post comment when i start pred
christine
tina-uk_cwall christine58469
Posted
TerryArtist48 katie.k.
Posted
Katie, I was diagnosed with PMR last Fall. I started with 20 mg -30 mg of Prednisone. Typical to the disease, the painful symptoms of PMR went mostly away on the Prednisone. I just did not like to take it. My spouse gave me a massage for Valentines Day. I did not get to use it until 3 weeks ago. I had a one hour massage focusing on my shoulders, hips, hands, feet and neck. This is where most of my pain is. Unlike many other people, my symptoms come on later in the day from about lunchtime on....and sometimes they are SO bad that I have to use a walker by 4 pm. This really has disrupted my life. However, after the massage, I was totally NORMAL. I told my Doc, who is fabulous, and he said to try the massage again in a week. I did. Again, NO PAIN. I have not taken ANY prednisone in nearly 13 days. This week my massage therapist could not fit me in until the 8th day. I had an extra day. My pain woke me up by 4 am. I gutted it out until I saw the massage therapist at 1 pm. It's 3 pm and I have had my massage. My pain is COMPLETELY GONE. I suggest you try a massage. My massage therapist is a neuro-muscular massage therapist with 26 years of experience and lots of training. And guess what? She treats a LOT of women with PMR. And NONE of them are on prednisone any more. They are on massage therapy. You might want to give it a try. Good Luck.