Wondering how in the world I ended up with this disease. I’m nearly 75, white female who has been healthy my whole life. I’ve always been active and cook my own healthy meals. No fast food, no simple carbs, no fried food, some sugar but not a lot. Around the beginning of January I began to notice some carpal tunnel symptoms in my right dominant hand. Soon after I began waking up with aching biceps in both arms. Then one morning I woke up and felt like I had cement in my arms, shoulders thighs and hips. I literally couldn’t do anything. Luckily I have a husband in good physical shape who assisted me with everything.
I immediately started researching on line and found information on PMR. I got an appointment with my GP who is an internist and she examined me and ordered a full battery of tests. My symptoms and labs came back as textbook PMR. She gave me an urgent referral to a rheumatologist and started me on 15 mg prednisone and gabapentin for my arm and wrist pain. In a few days I was about 75% improved with the exception of my right bicep and inability to use my right hand. I was able to see the rheumatologist in about a week. After his evaluation he started me on methotrexate 2.5 mg 5 tabs once a week and folic acid and continued prednisone 15 mg daily. He said the methotrexate would help me with the titration of prednisone. I have osteopenia and I guess it’s supposed to help prevent more bone loss from the prednisone. I’ve put myself on a strict diet, no salt, no sugar (a little honey) and eat calcium rich food and 5,000 iu vitamin D. Some other support groups I’m in are trying to warn me about the terrible side effects of methotrexate. After my first dose this week I’ve had no side effects yet. I just try to keep moving and drinking lots of fluids. I’m still in a state of denial about the fact that this disease can last for years, in and out of remission, and that I may have to take either or both prednisone and methotrexate for the rest of my life, putting me at risk of dying from Covid or some other virus or infection. Is it the fact that I’ve come in contact online with so many others who have been newly diagnosed with this relatively unknown disease (even many doctors have had no experience with PMR) that I feel it’s something in our environment or vaccines that’s causing more of it to occur in the last few years? Anyone else having these thoughts ?