wrists and hands hurt every morning, help
Posted , 11 users are following.
Have polymyalgia now for about 1 year. Am down to 4mg prednisone and 5 pills of methotrexate. Now my hands and wrists every morning hurt so bad can hardly use them. My fingers on 1 hand go numb. My other pain is there in the morning but goes some what away as day goes on. Anyone else have problem with hands and wrists or is this not related to the pmr. Any info would be great.
3 likes, 14 replies
pat38625 marilyn79703
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EileenH marilyn79703
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On the basis of what you have said here, I would say your dose of pred is too low - there are several ladies who have been put on methotrexate, reduced to these sort of pred doses and promptly developed flares of the PMR and had to return to higher doses. There is no reliable clinical proof that mtx helps in PMR and it has been removed from the latest lot of recommendations from the BSR. Is your doctor prepared to allow you to try a slightly higher dose of pred? To be at 4mg after a year is VERY fast, experts have assessed in the past that about a quarter of patients may get off pred in under 2 years but are at a higher risk of having a second dose later. I would prefer a bit longer on pred and less pain myself.
It is also possible that you have osteoarthritis in your hands that was being controlled by the pred and is returning now you are at a lower dose. Mtx does nothing for that. I also know a couple of ladies who experienced that.
tina-uk_cwall marilyn79703
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gillian81509 marilyn79703
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What Rheumy say and xrays show
barbara75814 gillian81509
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Barbara
pat38625 marilyn79703
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murray2 marilyn79703
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julian. marilyn79703
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EileenH julian.
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bobofbristol marilyn79703
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EileenH bobofbristol
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bobofbristol EileenH
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tony09890 marilyn79703
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EileenH tony09890
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I also had pain into my scapula and ribs which was (it was eventually worked out) due to myofascial pain syndrome which was causing referred pain into upper arms and legs as well. It can mimic a lot of PMR symptoms. It responds well to local cortisone shots into the trigger spots or manual mobilisation of these trigger points which are in pairs on either side of the spine in shoulders, about rib level and low back. These trigger spots are concentrations of cytokines - the same substances that cause the inflammation in PMR.
Since you have to wait so long to see a rheumy why not try a few sessions of Bowen - it may not sort it completely but it may well reduce some of the pain. You will know if it helps in up to 3 sessions, if there is no change by then it probably won't change and you can stop. Most people find a difference after the first - Lodger will tell you she had to be supported into the room by a friend on one side and a walking stick on the other - there wasn't room for the zimmer frame or wheelchair in the car - but she walked out after one hour and forgot the walking stick! It kept me upright in the 5 years I had PMR (definitely) but no pred.