Replies to This issue of interplay between osteoarthritis and PMR has been addressed by my rheumatologist at last…

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Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: May 17 9:14am | Replies (20)

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@prestol

This issue of interplay between osteoarthritis and PMR has been addressed by my rheumatologist at last visit. I have severe DJD in lumbar spine (virtually all discs are compromised), in neck and both shoulders (right one is “bone on bone”). Like you, no obvious reason other than aging. She says there isn’t much to be done and I will always have some degree of shoulder pain from the OA, and has encouraged me to try to tell the difference between the two types, which isn’t easy. Initially she wanted me on fairly high pred dose , and now wants me to taper (currently at 17.5 and reducing by 2.5 every two weeks). It is interesting to me that the OA became symptomatic only about six months before the PMR diagnosis, although I’m sure it would have been visible on imaging.

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Replies to "This issue of interplay between osteoarthritis and PMR has been addressed by my rheumatologist at last..."

queensfaith8 | @queensfaith8 | May 15 7:55am

I am experiencing the same issues. I have osteoarthritis in my hips and knees with some changes in my lower back. It is difficult to distinguish between the two. Thanks for sharing

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DadCue | @dadcue | May 15 9:58am

I have severe DJD in my lumbar spine too. All the damage to my lumbar spine wasn't revealed until I was on a low dose of prednisone.

First I had pain in the area of my right buttocks. Someone said it was probably my piroformis muscle and related to PMR. That wasn't right because soon thereafter, the pain started to radiate down my right leg. I subsequently had right foot drop and dragged my right leg when I walked. The pain was so excruciating I had to go to the emergency room. An MRI was done which showed I had severe spinal stenosis and the nerves exiting my lumbar spine were compressed.

The pain was relieved when I took Prednisone but the spinal stenosis is still there and isn't getting any better. That sciatic nerve pain definitely wasn't PMR but Prednisone must have masked the pain for many years. I don't know how my lumbar spine got so bad. I told a doctor that I didn't know I had such a bad back. I even asked the doctor if he was sure it was my MRI.

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