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Sharp pain in hands on certain movements. PMR-related?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Jan 30 10:55am | Replies (21)Comment receiving replies
My PMR started as carpal tunnel in my right hand and wrist. I thought it was due to some painting I was doing in my house. It subsided for a while then I woke up one night with aching in my biceps and shoulders. I have not been able to make a fist with my right hand since and the pain is always there in my biceps. Stiffness and aching has spread to my shoulders and pelvic girdle. My left hand and bicep is stiff and aches also but I can at least brush my teeth with this hand. I am dependent on my husband for almost everything else.
Five days ago I finally got diagnosed (actually I diagnosed myself) by my GP and she was willing to start me on 15 mg of Prednisone. It’s helped with some of the stiffness and aching but my right hand is still useless and aches at night along with my right bicep with milder symptoms on my left. My doctor has referred me to a rheumatologist but I may have to wait awhile to be seen. She prescribed gabapentin for my carpal tunnel pain and I’m scheduled to see an orthopedist next week about my inability to close my right hand.
This has turned my life upside down. I’m a 74 year old woman who was active and busy and hardly ever got sick. I’ve kept up with all my vaccinations and have cooked my own nutritious food. I’m worried and depressed about my condition. I’m glad I found this site to read other people’s journeys through this terrible debilitating disease.
Replies to "My PMR started as carpal tunnel in my right hand and wrist. I thought it was..."
What kind of paint were you using? In my 40's I painted the floor of a room with xylene to seal bricks and in a day or two came down with terrible pain in my hands, wrists and shoulders. I got to the doctor quickly and he prescribed Celebrex, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) which took 2-3wks to get rid of the pain. At the time I knew it was caused by the xylene as I felt nauseous, weak and dizzy after painting the first coat, and the joint pain followed a day or two later. Like you, I initially thought the pain was due to the exertion of painting, but the pain was on both sides, not just the arm I used to paint.
The doctor said he hadn't heard of such a reaction, but I knew it had caused it. I later found it is a documented reaction to xylene. I still have the tin of xylene in the shed, but the second room will never have the floor sealed. No way.
Some of us likely have PMR from exposure to a new toxin of some kind, either inhaled or consumed. And I do wonder if quick action to reduce the inflammation may stop the ailment from settling in. These days we are made to wait ages to see a doctor and get treatment of any kind.
I relate to your journey. I was a healthy and active 66 year old until PMR reared it's ugly head in mid-November.
After weeks of blood work to eliminate other diagnoses my GP started me on 20mg of Prednisone. That helped for one day only so she assumed it wasn't PMR. When I got in to a rheumatologist he said some PMR patients don't respond well to Prednisone. He started me on 8mg of Methylprednisolone (Medrol). Again, one good day and then worse than ever. He upped my dose to 48mg stepping down by 8mg every 2 days with the goal being down to 8mg after 10 days. I've had to stall at higher doses a bit to manage the pain/stiffness but for the most part I'm now on 8mg most days. All this is to say that every patient is different and you may need a higher dose for a short time to get your pain under control.
I hope you're able to get in to a rheumatologist soon. In my case it was a three month wait. I told scheduling I was in dire need and got on a waitlist for a cancellation. Thankfully, I was seen 10 days later!
Best to you in getting relief and regaining your independence.
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Welcome @jiffaw, PMR can definitely turn your life upside down even if you are not an active person. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with anti-inflammatory foods and exercise definitely help as long as you don't overdo the exercise part. I was started at 20 mg prednisone for both my occurrences of PMR and it pretty much took care of all of my pain within a few hours until the next morning's dose. I also have carpal tunnel that hasn't gotten a lot better over the years but it's not bad enough to consider surgery. I have had a cortizone shot a few years ago which helped.
Have you discussed the possibility of the carpal tunnel being a separate issue from the PMR with your doctor or rheumatologist? Or maybe even bumping up the initial dose of prednisone since the average starting dose is 15 to 25 mg prednisone and we are all different.