PMR Flare with New Issues

Posted by marilyncarkner @marilyncarkner, Feb 12, 2024

I have had PMR for 5 years and GCA for 3
Years.GCA seems under control or gone now PMR flared when I hit 3 /4 mgs alternating.
Additional symptoms with Flare are burning in upper arms and itching like my nerve endings are on fire. My rheumatoid doesn’t see the connection to PMR.
Very very irritating
Anyone else experience this ?

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@richardab

After a rheumatologist visit last week, I went from 15 mg daily to 12.5 one day and 15 the next. Unfortunately, my PMR has been flaring more and more each day, lots of body aches from shoulders to knees. Ran a fever all day yesterday, down a bit today. I'm going to stick with the new regime until my body gets used to less Prednisone. No burning, sounds like some type of neuropathy which you should consult with your rheumatolgist regarding. Best of luck, I hope you get your condition under control.

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Fever? Does PMR come with fever? Total amateur here but I associate fever with infectious disease.

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@knyhus

Fever? Does PMR come with fever? Total amateur here but I associate fever with infectious disease.

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To the best of my knowledge and readings, spiking fevers can occur with PMR. An persistent fever, however, would indicate a condition which should be investigated.

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@knyhus

Fever? Does PMR come with fever? Total amateur here but I associate fever with infectious disease.

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Ues. Mine came with a persistent low fever every afternoon

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@knyhus

Fever? Does PMR come with fever? Total amateur here but I associate fever with infectious disease.

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I believe that fever is the result
Of an immune system cranking up In response to something it is fighting - which could be some variety of inflammation including infection. Here’s a definitive explanation.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6047205/

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Hi, I had severe burning, itching pain and stiffness in hands a couple of months after starting Prednisone for classic PMR. It has continued now for 5 months regardless of Prednisone dose. The other PMR symptoms disappear on higher doses but the hand symptoms remain. Rheumy says its PMR but it feels different, more like a sudden onset arthritis. Pain, stiffness and weakness in the morning, improves slightly as day progresses. It could be Rheumatoid Arthritis but I'm seronegative for RA at this stage.

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@richardab

To the best of my knowledge and readings, spiking fevers can occur with PMR. An persistent fever, however, would indicate a condition which should be investigated.

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PMR is a systemic disease and many people experience fever as a symptom. I ran an intermittent low grade fever when my PMR was active.

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When I taper down I get itchy hands, pain and excessive fatigue for a few days. If it does not go away in 3 days or is extreme I go back up and try again in a week.

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Something set off my immune system about 3 weeks ago. Low grade fevers, body aches. Taking Advil or Celecoxib for topical relief, Prednisone isn't cutting it. NSAIDS last for up to 8 hours. Had a massive blood panel run by my Myeloma specialist several weeks ago, several Myeloma markers are elevated as is Sed. Rate and Beta 2-Microglobulin. He said it's a chicken-egg thing: is reducing on Prednisone causing Smoldering Myeloma to spike? Is PMR spiking on its own? How are other PMR patients coping when they get these issues? Thank you.

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@mtr2601

Hi, I had severe burning, itching pain and stiffness in hands a couple of months after starting Prednisone for classic PMR. It has continued now for 5 months regardless of Prednisone dose. The other PMR symptoms disappear on higher doses but the hand symptoms remain. Rheumy says its PMR but it feels different, more like a sudden onset arthritis. Pain, stiffness and weakness in the morning, improves slightly as day progresses. It could be Rheumatoid Arthritis but I'm seronegative for RA at this stage.

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mtr2601:
I had various intermittent hand, wrist, and finger pains and spasms while tapering batween 10 and 5. Xray showed mild osteoarthritis in wrists.
Now down to 0.5, and those issues have disappeared. Good luck.

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I have had same issues with itching. Started on back and chest, eventually spread to head and arms. Mine was diagnosed as Grover's disease. I use a steroid cream which helps some. Started during taper going down from 10 mg.

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